Nick's 1/35 ICM T34/85

[therapy]

I know we're not starting until next week, but I thought I'd set this up today as I will have limited access to a proper computer next week. So, here is the introduction as it'll likely be quick updates only for the first week or so of the official start.

The kit is the T34/85 from the ICM Battle of Berlin set which also includes their Tiger II:




I'm also intending to replace the horrible ICM rubber tracks with some individual link items from MiniArt.... guess we'll find out soon enough whether that's a success or not....




ICM thoughtfully bag the kits separately in their sturdy box. Here are the instructions:


And small decal sheet:


MiniArt's instructions are on the back of the small box:


Sprue shots, ICM first:



And the horrible rubber bits plus a couple of clear parts:


And MiniArt:





That's it until next week - I've got something else to try and get finished before we kick off on Tuesday........


Nick.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Nick looks good thanks for an great sprue shots

 

[therapy]

Well, I have made a bit of a start....

First job was to remove all the parts ICM say are not required.



I dare say Dave W. will be using these on his build.

There followed the prep of the upper hull....



And then some build up of parts onto the upper hull....



So far all very nice. The usual ICM delicate moulding with just some minimal flash here and there...

We're off!


Nick.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Good to see a start on this one Nick

 

[GerryW]

Going through the stash tonight, got one of these with the riders included - but will stick with the aerosan, as I've started.
But will be watching with interest.

 

[therapy]

Not a lot of progress today. Made the most of the mild weather and got out on the bike for fifty or so miles this morning and then had a couple of hours on household chores this afternoon.

So just a few more pieces added to the upper hull.



I noticed that the MiniArt wheel set also has a couple of exhaust covers so I have a choice of these or the ICM versions.



Also thinking about replacing ICM's exhaust pipe stubs with some tube...



Hopefully get a bit more done tomorrow.

Nick

 

[scottie3158]

Nick,
Your off to a great start I will follow along.

 

[therapy]

Cheers Scottie - this won't be anything like your level though.

Nick

 

[GerryW]

Miniart exhaust covers are a fair bit bigger, aren't they?

 

[therapy]

They're certainly a bit wider Gerry, but the shape seems more natural somehow...

Nick

 

[therapy]

Another little bit of tinkering today. Glued the 'spring boxes'? into the lower hull. Maintenance and repairs must have been a right pain if that's how they were built!



ICM provide a couple of steering levers and two seats to locate in the forward part of the lower hull..


these parts were all consigned to the spares box.

There are a few very small parts that are fitted to the underside. These were on the T34/85 specific sprue. I thought they were like a protector for the bolt-on covers underneath to protect the fasteners if the tank hull bottomed out, but then they suggest one is fitted where there is no cover. Couldn't find a relevant photo with a quick search, so went with the location suggested on the instruction sheet.



There is a small fillet piece with a couple of tie down points that fits between the upper and lower hull at the front. The instruction sheet suggests this is fitted to the lower hull at this point, but along with the rear transmission cover, I will leave this until the two big parts are brought together..



Couldn't resist a little mock-up...



The turret is a lot bigger on the /85! Rear mudguards were removed from the sprue and cleaned up, but will be left off until I've looked at how the tracks will fit.

Next up will be the outer final drive covers and all the axles, but I'm at work Friday and Saturday so that will probably be it until next week.

Thanks for looking in folks.

Nick.

 

[therapy]

Not a huge update, but a bit of progress nonetheless. The upper and lower hull parts have been brought together and the axles fixed in place. All that is, except for the idlers. These will be left off until I have ascertained how well the tracks are going to fit and can adjust them accordingly.



And on that note, all the wheel and track parts have been removed from the runners ready for clean-up. Then I need to decide which set of wheels to use. And that will depend on whether the tracks fit nicely on the ICM wheels and if the MiniArt wheels will go on the ICM axles...



More after a marathon of parts cleaning.


Nick

 

[scottie3158]

Nick,
Moving along nicely.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Nick I’m following right along everything’s looking good Nice progress

 

[therapy]

Just a little more progress before going back to work for the next couple of days. Mostly doing the easy stuff, so most of the hull is done and started on the turret....



Looks like I'll be going with the ICM wheels. And I made a tentative start on the MiniArt tracks...



More next week.

Nick

 

[JR]

Looking good Nick, have fun with the tracks .Even though I find them hard they do look better than the band's.

 

[therapy]

Well, there has been some progress this week, despite some disruption on the home front. I started off, like some of the other guys, dealing with the fuel tanks...



Then all the wheels were prepped..



The hull construction was completed without too much drama. I used some 0.5mm rod to fill up a few gaps in the hope it would emulate welds..



And I did some more with the track links. These four sections comprise one full track of 72 links so I'm half way there on those...


The turret and tow cables are down the garden in my workshop where I had the Araldite out to glue in a metal barrel and some stripped auto wire.

Had quite a nice display fromthe bench earlier in the week...


That's it until I finish work on Saturday night. Perhaps next week I'll be splashing some paint about.

Thanks for looking in.


Nick

 

[Lee Drennen]

Nick thanks for sharing your updates looking good. I really like the rainbow I needed that today.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Nice progress Nick, looking good….

 

[JR]

Looks good Nick .