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Pete's Cromwell Airfix 1/76

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  • stillp
    • Nov 2016
    • 8106
    • Pete
    • Rugby

    #1

    Pete's Cromwell Airfix 1/76

    Well, the garage is occupied by a 1:1 project for Management, so I can't do any airbrushing, but I've made a start on my Cromwell. Here's the box shots:
    [ATTACH]324592[/ATTACH][ATTACH]324593[/ATTACH]
    Skill level 1, so I should be able to manage. Two sprues, with pretty good detail, and nearly flash-free:
    [ATTACH]324595[/ATTACH][ATTACH]324596[/ATTACH]
    A couple of oversize sprue gates on the drive sprockets though.
    [ATTACH]324597[/ATTACH]
    Luckily those two go next to the hull, so won't be seen much, but they're going to be a challenge to clean up.
    Anyway, construction starts with the hull.
    [ATTACH]324598[/ATTACH]I realised that when the outer sides are added it would be impossible to paint the suspension, so I slopped some thin paint on with a brush:
    [ATTACH]324599[/ATTACH]
    They don't look quite that bad in real life! Then on with hull assembly, ending like this:
    [ATTACH]324600[/ATTACH][ATTACH]324601[/ATTACH]
    I'm sure I built one of these in the 60s, and the tracks were 'rubber band' types, but these are single piece mouldings. Airfix would have you paint them a 'gunmetal' colour, but I think they should be more brownish to represent manganese steel. I might mix some brown with the 53 supplied, and see how it comes out. I don't think I can add the tracks after the mudguards have been fitted, so the painting sequence will need a bit of thought.
    That's it for now, thanks for watching.

    Pete
    Attached Files
  • PaulTRose
    SMF Supporters
    • Jun 2013
    • 6565
    • Paul
    • Tattooine

    #2
    will watch with interest as this is on my list of 'maybes' for the starter kit GB

    i think this is the 'new tool' kit as it has the moulded tracks but i remember building the rubber band tracked one many many moons ago back when you did
    Per Ardua

    We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no ones been

    Comment

    • Graeme C.
      • Apr 2018
      • 1613
      • Graeme
      • UK

      #3
      Talk about quick off the mark, I haven't even got mine out of the plastic bag yet! Yes, the paint sequence will need thought, painting the running gear first & masking off before the upper hull & track guards was an idea for mine, but not without problems.

      Comment

      • stillp
        • Nov 2016
        • 8106
        • Pete
        • Rugby

        #4
        Hi Graeme, problems as in how do you get the masking off? I'm wondering if the track guards can be painted separately and added later.

        Pete

        Comment

        • papa 695
          Moderator
          • May 2011
          • 22788

          #5
          Nice start Peter

          Comment

          • Steve Jones
            • Apr 2018
            • 6615

            #6
            I will take a pew if I may Peter. I too will be interested in how you tackle the painting on this one. Good luck

            Comment

            • stillp
              • Nov 2016
              • 8106
              • Pete
              • Rugby

              #7
              Hi Steve, and welcome - make sure your pew has a good cushion on it, it'll be a while before I can finish the 'real life' work and get the airbrush out again!

              Pete

              Comment

              • stillp
                • Nov 2016
                • 8106
                • Pete
                • Rugby

                #8
                I've added some more parts to the hull:
                [ATTACH]324984[/ATTACH][ATTACH]324985[/ATTACH][ATTACH]324986[/ATTACH][ATTACH]324987[/ATTACH]including 6 of those tiny towing shackles. I've come across a few problems: the main gun barrel isn't circular in cross-section, but is 'flattened' on the sides, even before sanding the mould lines. I've run a bead of Mr Surfacer down each side and will sand that when it's hardened.
                [ATTACH]324988[/ATTACH]You can just about see that the side facing the camera is rather flat. A periscope (or is it a ventilator?), part numer 6, has a sink mark on top, easily fixed with a blob of Mr S again:
                [ATTACH]324989[/ATTACH]
                Now for the bigger problem. The turret. It's twisted.
                [ATTACH]324990[/ATTACH][ATTACH]324991[/ATTACH]
                I managed to fit the base of the turret by gluing one side at a time, but it's still distorted so the rear panel doesn't fit properly. I'll have to cobble up some kind of clamping arrangement to force it into shape.

                Pete
                Attached Files

                Comment

                • Fernando N
                  • Apr 2018
                  • 2448

                  #9
                  Great start and I’ll be looking on too Pete.
                  Good luck with the twisted turret.

                  Comment

                  • stillp
                    • Nov 2016
                    • 8106
                    • Pete
                    • Rugby

                    #10
                    Thanks Fernando, I'll need it!

                    Pete

                    Comment

                    • Tim Marlow
                      • Apr 2018
                      • 18958
                      • Tim
                      • Somerset UK

                      #11
                      Hi Pete
                      I made this a little while ago, and you’re right, you cannot get the tracks on the wheels if you put the track guard sides on first (at least, I couldn’t). I painted the tracks, wheels and hull first, painted the sides, added them, then masked it up and touch-up painted the top....bit of a faff really...might be easier if you are brush painting though.
                      Yours is coming on well, pity about the turret....good luck with the rest....

                      Comment

                      • stillp
                        • Nov 2016
                        • 8106
                        • Pete
                        • Rugby

                        #12
                        Thanks Tim.

                        Pete

                        Comment

                        • papa 695
                          Moderator
                          • May 2011
                          • 22788

                          #13
                          Yes a pity about the twisted turret

                          Comment

                          • Steve Jones
                            • Apr 2018
                            • 6615

                            #14
                            Bummer about the turret. Hopefully it should straighten out okay.

                            Comment

                            • Mickc1440
                              • Apr 2018
                              • 4786

                              #15
                              Its not a bad little kit, built mine straight oob and it looks ok, keep going Pete you can sort it.

                              Comment

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