SimonT - Tamiya T34/76

[Jim R]

Hi Simon

Next task is to add track pins to all the links with teeth, ie half of them - the moulded pins were either missing or very indistinct so I removed all traces as I cleaned up the links

Madness, sheer madness but this is the stuff that defines your modelling.
Jim

 

[Lee Drennen]

Always enjoy your builds. It makes me a better modeler to take it one step farther.

 

[scottie3158]

Simon,

Great skills as always mate.

 

[MikeC]

Simon,
Looks like another star is on the way.
Cheers, Mike.

 

[Deleted member 6559]

I can only bow and scrape in honour at your feet. Don't know how you do it Simon.

 

[Steve Jones]

Interested in the nutter punch. My supply of resin nuts is diminishing. I take it this is on the back burner while the Hummie wheels are sorted??

 

[SimonT]

Steve - you won’t be when you see how much they now cost, over £100!!!!!!!
Mine was expensive but that is ridiculous and I don’t think they are worth it. Much better to get RPToolz punches as they can be used with multi materials and thicknesses.

The Nutter is tied to using their lead foil which is a bit thin for most things - I only bought it as normal punches were not readily available at the time and it was in a sale. It is ok for the little track pins but if I didn't have it I would be happily using the RPToolz

The track pins are getting there slowly......

 

[Graeme C.]

Hi Simon, just caught up with this build, impressed with your improvements to an older kit, as always!

 

[BattleshipBob]

Good god what work Simon. Superb!

Bob

 

[SimonT]

Graeme / Bob - ta. Just a few simple mods really

Have done some more track pins today. There are about 70 links that need modding.

I am now down to 12 that need the first step of two flat pin heads

Once they are done I need to go through all 70 again and add the open pin ends, again two per link

 

[JR]

Slight difference in bikes flying past to modifying plastic track pins !
The latter is more exciting

 

[SimonT]

There actually seemed to be more support cars, motorbikes and police than competitors John - not really my thing the bikes but my sister and brother in law wanted to watch

Have finished off the heads on one side of all links and now started going back down the other side of each link with the second type

If I can manage a few each evening I may actually get them done by next weekend so that I can then start track assembly

 

[Steve Jones]

Nice to see you up bright and early this morning or have you not gone to sleep yet. LOL

Really looking forward to seeing the tracks. I admire your determination to get them right

 

[SimonT]

Hi Steve - did the usual, fell asleep 11pm, woke up in a heap 01:45, got to bed 02:45 and then couldn't get to sleep until some time after 04:00. Alarm has kindly just gone off 05:45

 

[Steve Jones]

I was wondering with you being the Lord of the Darkside whether or not you do actually need to sleep like us mere mortals

 

[JR]

I was wondering with you being the Lord of the Darkside whether or not you do actually need to sleep like us mere mortals

This is an unknown fact Steve, but it is thought that they take their energy from a mix of Bats wings and Frogs legs soup , ( NOT currently available at most super markets ).

Sorry for daring to break into your thread Master.
A humble peasant from the Fens .

 

[SimonT]

Unfortunately I do still need sleep - generally about 3pm at work after a night like last night

 

[SimonT]

Morning all,

looking at the date of the last post it h as been a while since there was anything to report on this one

I have (very) gradually been doing the track links a few at a time

Decided to have a push yesterday to finish the last thirty or so off whilst watching Guardians of the Galaxy 2

I am Groot



Made a start on assembling the links and now have two bottom runs completed

Made a mistake with the first run though - put all the links in the track vice then washed them with cement
Stuck fast to the matt surface and also dissolved the detail off the link faces
Luckily with them being bottom runs this isn't a problem

For the second run I glued the links together then just put the resulting length in the vice to keep them straight as they dry out

Added a couple of towing hooks to the tank hull and filled pin marks in the turret hatches

This one is now edging ever closer to paint

 

[Steve Jones]

Slow down Mr T. I am struggling to keep up

We should start a blog on what is the worst film you can watch while making up tracks

 

[JR]

Simon sorry to read that re the tracks sticking, mind you that bottom run will be ok with some mud.

I like to work off a chopping board when doing tracks, they don't stick to the surface, the same applies if using CA.