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Post by mikeh on Mar 4, 2023 17:47:26 GMT -5
The "small side unit" is the exhaust for the auxillary generator motor that turns the turret. This unit was scrapped on the J model and replaced by a hand crank, the lack of this small exhaust is the easiest way to tell a J model.
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Post by Whiterook on Mar 5, 2023 10:26:51 GMT -5
The "small side unit" is the exhaust for the auxillary generator motor that turns the turret. This unit was scrapped on the J model and replaced by a hand crank, the lack of this small exhaust is the easiest way to tell a J model. That just gave me goosebumps! Any good recommendations on what to read to learn that stuff  |
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Post by mikeh on Mar 7, 2023 9:09:51 GMT -5
The "small side unit" is the exhaust for the auxillary generator motor that turns the turret. This unit was scrapped on the J model and replaced by a hand crank, the lack of this small exhaust is the easiest way to tell a J model. That just gave me goosebumps! Any good recommendations on what to read to learn that stuff  Well it's not this one, got it off Amazon and while it's a beautiful magazine on heavy paper the author makes mistakes and has trouble telling H from J models. May explain why it was marked down to 8 bucks from 30. While I don't have a copy and I'm not even sure there is one the best would probably be a Panzer Tracts magazine. |
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Post by polishbrigade12 on Mar 7, 2023 22:30:45 GMT -5
Looking good, Ruck On!
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Post by Whiterook on Mar 8, 2023 14:59:48 GMT -5
Thanks guys! Planning to finish this off after my trip…I’d like to show it at an IPMS show at the end of March, but I thought I’d be further along by now; I’m only rushing for the show, ‘cause I’m donating it for a prize for the first place winner of an wargame tournament in August.
Ikm gonna have to look into some reference books or magazines, to get a better handle on tank parts. Hell, I may have a book or two here that might be of value in that, haha!
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Post by Whiterook on Mar 27, 2023 15:58:43 GMT -5
Returning from my trip last week, I finally got back to my workbench today, spending a couple hours assembling road wheels and a persnickety tow cable (very delicate cable hooks, where one broke off…ugh…got it back on). Lots of sprue connectors and flash to clean up… these older kits can be a real pain! Yeah, there are some errors with the suspension but, mud and snow will be covering much of the underside of the tank and will hide some of my faux pas!  …used an old trick, having used a Sharpie marker on some of the road wheels, until I realized, I’ll be priming and painting later, so I stopped where you see them done. I’ll be honest, there are some hiccups in my restart back into building… not paying close enough attention to instructions… shaking off rust from my building chops; some of that is to be expected but, I need to up my game soon. I know that sounds a bit harsh on myself, but I generally hold myself to high standards, including my hobbies.  Cut and cleaned up upper road wheel attachment parts  Everything went together fairly well… the instructions weren’t real clear on a couple things and had to back track a bit but, overall everything went together well.  Yeah, a road wheel fell off, but reattached afterward I took the pic below  Coming along. Getting more and more back into the swing of things! |
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Post by Whiterook on Mar 28, 2023 11:46:23 GMT -5
Another couple hours this morning, continuing with the drive components and work around the front plate and sides. I try to spend a few minutes every time I do a session at the workbench to go through some of the piles of stuff that has amassed itself in the area after a couple home renovation projects and two water damage events last year… had to hurriedly move stuff somewhere, and my work area seemed to take part of the brunt. I’ve also been moving gear and purchases into the general area for reorganization and storage.  So what I’m saying is, it’s a mess down there in my basement furnace room and I need to attack it in small chunks of time so as not to get overwhelmed! The drive sprockets and idler wheels went on nicely… all components needed trim and sanding, but luckily, this kit doesn’t seem to have a lot of sink marks. I’m loving the new Tamiya Extra-Thin!!! …though I still find I need the Model Master pipette delivered glue for certain parts, but that has only been about 2% of my usage, so I would say I’m a TETc convert! The tow cable came out pretty good… as you may recall, one of the hooks broke off, and I was lucky to salvage the situation! I wasn’t planning to put the cable on at this early stage but, the decision was made for me!   Next up was some of the most fiddly work I’ve had on this kit so far… the front sides were persnickety to get in place, with some tricky dry fitting to get placement correct…this is where the TETc is far superior to what I’d used previously, as I was able to tack a corner in place, adjust grip and hold, and then glue the rest. Brilliant stuff, this glue! There are a few gaps that will need tending to later… nothing due to misplacement of earlier parts, but rather errors in manufacturing (it’s an old kit!). The front plate assembly set my mid at ease, on initial worry upon restarting my building endeavors, that my dexterity had suffered too much over the years (I especially have a bit of a wonky and rebellious left thumb, with suffered strength issues, likely for all the computer typing done over the years of working)… I can confident say that though I’m not as sure handed (or fingered, as the case may be) as I used to be, I can still pick a lock if I need to! The machine gun setup is a gem…the best of any armor kit I’ve ever worked in! Set in a true ball mount assembly, the end result is that of a MG that is movable! Pretty sweet!!! Though now that I think of it, I better paint that sucker before I seal the hull up!!!   …it’s starting to look like an actual tank!!! |
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McCoy
Sergeant
Posts: 227 
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Post by McCoy on Mar 28, 2023 12:05:34 GMT -5
You clearly haven't made a Dragon tank with the entire MG setup for the radio operator...
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McCoy
Sergeant
Posts: 227
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Post by McCoy on Mar 28, 2023 12:21:19 GMT -5
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Post by Whiterook on Mar 28, 2023 12:42:48 GMT -5
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McCoy
Sergeant
Posts: 227
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Post by McCoy on Mar 28, 2023 13:03:35 GMT -5
Indeed considering that there's nothing else under the hatch...
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Post by Whiterook on Mar 28, 2023 17:17:17 GMT -5
Indeed considering that there's nothing else under the hatch... I know, right? …I was thinking after I said I should paint the machinegun before sealing things up, Ah, who’s gonna see it!?! (Inside, anyway) I’ve wrestled with this in the past… just how much do you want or need to paint something no one will ever see. |
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McCoy
Sergeant
Posts: 227
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Post by McCoy on Mar 28, 2023 20:07:15 GMT -5
I do stuff that doesn't show afterwards but as long as I know that it's done I'm fine with it.
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Post by Whiterook on May 10, 2023 19:49:54 GMT -5
Just so ya’ll know, I’ve not abandoned this beastie! I’ve been prepping for a wargaming expo, which I’ll be leaving for next week…I’ve three games in particular that I’ll be playing, that I have to reacquaint myself with the rules (I’ve not played them in awhile…two, in a looooong while!). And I’m play testing three games for different designers/companies. When I’m back from the expo, I’ll be diving back into this build.
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Post by Whiterook on Jun 7, 2023 16:22:05 GMT -5
Just to let you know, I’ve not abandoned this (or my other ongoing) build… I went to a wargaming expo, where I was spending a lot of time leading up to that, studying rulebooks… now, I’ve had sciatica in my left leg for the past four days and that’s not gonna let up anytime soon. So, things have been a bit on hold, but I do need to get on this one, as it’s due for donation the first part of August; plenty of time still, but the clock is ticking!
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