Post by konrad on Apr 14, 2019 15:56:57 GMT
If you did not make the meeting April 13, this is the model I was showing, but unpainted. Here are some shots of the details I added to it. Basically I thought I could follow my rule of 10, and keep the number of adds down around there, but ended up going a little overboard - here is what I added and some comments on how worthwhile it was:
- Bolt detail on lower hull sides - largely invisible due to shadows, only shows in IMPS Death Ray mode.
- Bolt detail on tailplate (idler mounts) - visible but only in photographs.
- Filled the molded in voids in inboard HVSS spring housings (all the housings are identical, but the voids are hidden on the outboard ones) - seems dispensable, but very worthwhile - and easy to do in the scale. I caught a glimpse of these in some overhead shots in my photo session, and if I had not done this the model would look toy like, and be easily discounted in competition. NB - the 1/35 kit has the exact same issue, only easier to see!! I should talk to Ken about mastering a part as a club fundraiser.
- Eliminated ejection pin mark/holes in sponson bottoms - not hard to do, very hard to see.
- Added weld detail to turret splash guard and T26 turret vent. Visible, worthwhile - though some vents did not have large attachment welds an look exactly like the stock part when its mounted.
- Added drain holes to turret and fuel cap splash guards - all visible, worth it
- Added fuel cap latch rods - very visible, and worth doing
- Added smoke mortar to turret - very visible and worth doing.
- Brass brush light and siren guards - probably the biggest improvement I made - mine are scratch, Hauler just released a set.
- Headlight plug holders - a small detail on the guards, but worth adding
- Added the steps welded to the tow shackle brackets on transmission housing - very visible, worth it
- Added the braces to the front fenders - very visible, worth it
- drilled additional cooling holes in bow MG - very visible, worth it
- Tie down straps on sponson mounted tools - very visible, worth it
- Stowage brackets and tie down strap for Sledge Hammer - only worthwhile if you are not piling stowage there
- Added missing forward tow cable hold down bracket - strangely missing on kits of all scales - visible and useful in attaching the tow cable.
- A note on the tow cable material in the kit - she material unravels easily. Stiffen the material with some Future or scenic cement, and hang it up to dry - that will make it easy to work with, not to mention better looking
- Added a clamp handle on the MG stowage bracket on the turret vent and MG stowage details to the angle irons on the turret rear - very visible - very worth it
- Detailed MG post mount with a bit of half round and clamp handle - very visible, worth it
- Tricked out M2HB MG with RB barrel and some scratch do-dads, added 3D Printed ammo can - very very worthwhile - this is the topmost thing on the vehicle and the Tamiya part is nice but simplified
- Replaced all moulded on handles on the kit with brass craft wire - easy to do and a great addition
- Added missing episcope to loaders sight housing on turret, and added an opened episcope to the driver's hatch - the latter from a left over Dragon 1/35 Ferdinand part and it fit perfectly ! Worthwhile, both quite visible
- Thinned the luggage rack braces - tiny parts made tinier - worth it, the stock ones look clunky
- Undercut the stowed cleaning rods - very hard to see
- Removed one stowed spare link and added brackets - nice change to distinguish my build
- made both commanders hatch and pistol port workable - fun to do, useful posing options. Oddly all other hatches moulded shut :-(
- added a filler plate to the back of the gun mantlet, and added the splash guard and bolts to the turret opening, and the weather guard to the mantlet. Hard to do as I figured out this was needed after the parts were assembled, but very worth it - the kit looks hollow up there without these mods if you depress the gun.
And that's all I remember right now
- Bolt detail on lower hull sides - largely invisible due to shadows, only shows in IMPS Death Ray mode.
- Bolt detail on tailplate (idler mounts) - visible but only in photographs.
- Filled the molded in voids in inboard HVSS spring housings (all the housings are identical, but the voids are hidden on the outboard ones) - seems dispensable, but very worthwhile - and easy to do in the scale. I caught a glimpse of these in some overhead shots in my photo session, and if I had not done this the model would look toy like, and be easily discounted in competition. NB - the 1/35 kit has the exact same issue, only easier to see!! I should talk to Ken about mastering a part as a club fundraiser.
- Eliminated ejection pin mark/holes in sponson bottoms - not hard to do, very hard to see.
- Added weld detail to turret splash guard and T26 turret vent. Visible, worthwhile - though some vents did not have large attachment welds an look exactly like the stock part when its mounted.
- Added drain holes to turret and fuel cap splash guards - all visible, worth it
- Added fuel cap latch rods - very visible, and worth doing
- Added smoke mortar to turret - very visible and worth doing.
- Brass brush light and siren guards - probably the biggest improvement I made - mine are scratch, Hauler just released a set.
- Headlight plug holders - a small detail on the guards, but worth adding
- Added the steps welded to the tow shackle brackets on transmission housing - very visible, worth it
- Added the braces to the front fenders - very visible, worth it
- drilled additional cooling holes in bow MG - very visible, worth it
- Tie down straps on sponson mounted tools - very visible, worth it
- Stowage brackets and tie down strap for Sledge Hammer - only worthwhile if you are not piling stowage there
- Added missing forward tow cable hold down bracket - strangely missing on kits of all scales - visible and useful in attaching the tow cable.
- A note on the tow cable material in the kit - she material unravels easily. Stiffen the material with some Future or scenic cement, and hang it up to dry - that will make it easy to work with, not to mention better looking
- Added a clamp handle on the MG stowage bracket on the turret vent and MG stowage details to the angle irons on the turret rear - very visible - very worth it
- Detailed MG post mount with a bit of half round and clamp handle - very visible, worth it
- Tricked out M2HB MG with RB barrel and some scratch do-dads, added 3D Printed ammo can - very very worthwhile - this is the topmost thing on the vehicle and the Tamiya part is nice but simplified
- Replaced all moulded on handles on the kit with brass craft wire - easy to do and a great addition
- Added missing episcope to loaders sight housing on turret, and added an opened episcope to the driver's hatch - the latter from a left over Dragon 1/35 Ferdinand part and it fit perfectly ! Worthwhile, both quite visible
- Thinned the luggage rack braces - tiny parts made tinier - worth it, the stock ones look clunky
- Undercut the stowed cleaning rods - very hard to see
- Removed one stowed spare link and added brackets - nice change to distinguish my build
- made both commanders hatch and pistol port workable - fun to do, useful posing options. Oddly all other hatches moulded shut :-(
- added a filler plate to the back of the gun mantlet, and added the splash guard and bolts to the turret opening, and the weather guard to the mantlet. Hard to do as I figured out this was needed after the parts were assembled, but very worth it - the kit looks hollow up there without these mods if you depress the gun.
And that's all I remember right now
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