Gern's Sherman

[Gern]

Just as a break from painting the figures for my D-day build, I thought I'd have a go at this one. i've had a good look at the parts and it all looks straightforward and I can do 95% of it before digging out my paints.

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Gern

PS Don't expect anything special with this! I don't think I'll be adding any sort of base as it's only there to give me a break from the small stuff I'm doing!

 

[Gern]

I joined the tracks using this:

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It's a two-part glue. You coat both surfaces with the primer and leave to dry - a matter of seconds as it's some sort of solvent and you can see it evaporating. This apparently affects the surface of the polythene and allows the CA glue to grip properly. A drop of CA on one surface and hold them together for a few seconds and the joint is done. It's worked really well and created a very strong joint.

I bought this some time ago when I was doing a few 1/72 figures made of soft plastic and said I'd let you know when I tried it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-x-CLEAR-ADHESIVE-GLUE-GEL-FOR-PP-Polypropylene-PE-Polyethylene-PTFE-Silicone-/281227720573?pt=UK_Crafts_Cardmaking_Scrapbooking_Glue_Tape_EH&hash=item417a7a777d

Gern

 

[tanktrack]

PS , go on build a base you know you want too!

 

[Polux]

Yeah!! The Calliope one!!

Excellent choice

I'm glad you take part on this SIG, Gern. With or without base....

 

[Gern]

Got the wheelie bits ready for painting. This is a fairly old kit so there's flash and mould seams to be dealt with but nothing a few swipes with a sanding stick didn't sort - OK the tyres took a lot of swipes! I did have to remove a couple of the locating pins between the outer halves of the bogies as they didn't line up correctly. Once the pins were gone though, I got everything lined up OK.

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Gern

 

[geegad]

looking good never seen that glue before hope it works well..and like the wheelie things like the way your going to spray them nice idea

 

[Gern]

Some more progress. No problems with the turret except the carpet monster ate one of the grab handles. Easy enough to make a new one from some wire. I removed the locating pins from the back of the rocket assemblies so I could file the surface flat ready for the firing mechanisms. That way, they'll hopefully fit flush and look like one continuous length of tube for each rocket.

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Gern

 

[Polux]

Wow!! you are going so fast with this one Gern

Looking very good so far.

Polux

 

[yak face]

Nice start Dave and thanks for the link about the glue, cheers tony

 

[Gern]

Thanks for the feedback folks. All going smoothly with just a few bits of clean up to do at the front of the rocket tubes (every time I blow away any sanding dust off them, I get the chorus from Zorba the Greek!). I got the turret and wheels primed with Halfords Grey - then Polux had to comment

about how fast it was going!

There's a problem with the fit of the hull. Have a look at the pics and you'll see there's a massive gap at the front end. I think I can fix it by putting in some wedges between the glacis plate and the hull sides. Fortunately I managed to break the glue joints there so I've got hopes.

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Gern

 

[flyjoe180]

Interesting subject Dave. This is coming along nicely, looks good

 

[monica]

looking good Dave, coming along nice ,

you going to refit the hall or just fill it ? hope it turns out ok for you

 

[Gern]

Sorted! Some trimming on the inside of the lower hull and a piece of micro strip.

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I have a slight step which doesn't seem to be there on the real thing but I can live with that.

Gern

 

[papa 695]

Looking good Dave

 

[Gern]

I've done all the building apart from the ancillary bits like tools etc which will need painting beforehand. Got the hull and rocket assembly masked and ready for priming.

For those who may not have seen this, paint and glue don't mix very well. That's why I've masked off some of the parts - it gives me clean bits of plastic ready for glueing.

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Gern

 

[Polux]

then Polux had to commentabout how fast it was going!

Gern

Errrhhh....I said with my best intention...sorry if I said something out of place :oops:

 

[Gern]

No worries Polux - just my weird sense of humour. It's just that every time someone says things are OK - that's just when things start going wrong for me!

Gern

 

[Richi72]

Hi Gern,

looking good so far,

good idea with the masking tape for clean glue spots. I used to sand or scratch the paint away with the scalpel.

taking this one home

Cheers Richi

 

[Kressy_13]

Coming along nicely mate. A menacing looking tank with all those rockets.

 

[Gern]

Coo look - it's gone all green! I used Model Air 043 Olive Drab which looks very dark to me. Still, I assume Vallejo know what they're doing so that's the colour it's gonna be!

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Gern

PS Somebody please tell me they spotted my 'Zorba the Greek' reference!