discussion Si B's MENG 1/35 Renault FT-17 light tank (cast turret)

[Si Benson]

Hi Si I'm afraid I to have only just caught up as well, you have made a great start, the over all tooling looks really sharp the engine and transmission are very well detailed, how much of it can you see when the closed up ?.
Good luck with the rest of your build.
Pete :thumb2:

Hi Pete,
I’m leaning towards leaving the hatches opened so a reasonable amount can be viewed.
I know quite a few modellers feel an unseen interior is a waste, but i always take pictures of my builds and can always refer back if the need takes me.

Thanks for your positive post:thumb2:

 

[Guest]

Hi Si I'm afraid I to have only just caught up as well, you have made a great start, the over all tooling looks really sharp the engine and transmission are very well detailed, how much of it can you see when the closed up ?.
Good luck with the rest of your build.
Pete :thumb2:

Have to agree with Pete et al detail is very nice indeed. Great stuff Si.

 

[Guest]

Si .
Great engine detail, glad some of it might be able to be seen.
John.

 

[Guest]

Nice work Si - all those parts make my head ache!

 

[SimonT]

Hi Si - dinky little things but packed wth detail

I've got the riveted turret version in the stash

 

[Si Benson]

Afternoon all,
Thanks for looking in....glad you enjoying watching the progress.

Still a couple of small parts to add on the inside....I’ll get back to them. Next up was the roof as per instructions...
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Not too tricky at all....a small piece of PE left to add and a few more parts needed to make up the hull.

Moved onto the running gear next...
The wheels are moulded in an unusual orientation on the sprue
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Doing them this way removes the need to be two parts per wheel...clean up is a little more involved but not difficult.

Making up the individual bogies next....
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So progressing nicely.
Hopefully more bench time tonight and an update tomorrow
Thanks for looking...all comments welcome
Si

 

[Fernando N]

Hi Si, just caught up too.
Nice looking detail on the parts and fine work so far.:thumb2:
I have a couple of pics of a cast turret variant with interior from the NMM here in Holland if you want them?

 

[Si Benson]

Hi Si, just caught up too.
Nice looking detail on the parts and fine work so far.:thumb2:
I have a couple of pics of a cast turret variant with interior from the NMM here in Holland if you want them?

Yes please mate :smiling4:

 

[Fernando N]

Here you go:
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Although not a complete set, hope they can help you on your build.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Si
Engine looks great. Really sharp detail.
Jim

 

[Steve Jones]

Nice to see the build is going so well Si. Looks like a quality piece of kit:thumb2:

 

[Si Benson]

Fernando.....you are an absolute star ️ Thanks ever so much:thumb2:

Jim/Steve...it is a nice kit for sure! My eyesight is stretched....I hope I’m doing it justice:flushed:

 

[Si Benson]

Long weekend = extra modelling time:smiling4:
Plenty of tinkering on the bench.....first thing I had to tackle was a mistake I made on the interior.

I had fitted the mg magazine racks by mistake. it shouldn’t be there for the version I’m building....just for the later German variant
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So off it cameView attachment 312701
It left a bit of a mess so needed a bit of a clean up....
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With that fixed I moved on to the running gear assembly....this step consists of joining together the previously assembled bogies into a housing as per pic below.....
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It’s a tricky part to assemble but with plenty of dry fitting I got it together ok. The bogies are free swinging and the wheels free to turn as per instructions, although there is apparently no real benefit to be had from not glueing.


The last bit I managed was the top row of return rollers....again all wheels free spinning
View attachment 312704

A few more steps to finish left side....then same again for the right
As usual all comments welcomed
Cheers
Si

 

[Guest]

Si .
That last section looked a bit scary, certainly would make me panic. You managed it well .
John.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Si
Well done with the running gear. Looks great but I'm sure needed care and patience.
Jim

 

[Tim Marlow]

Hi Si
Nice start on this one. I may also have pictures of the one at Bovvy. Do you want me to look them out?
Tim

 

[Steve Jones]

Nice update Si. Now that you have glued the wheels you wont be able to push it along like a little tank any more :disappointed::smiling3:

Si not happy that his wheels wont go round any more:smiling2:

View attachment 313059
(For comedy purposes only)

 

[Si Benson]

Thanks for looking in gents:thumb2:


Some progress. Interior painted up using the colours called out in the instructions, with a few alterations :smiling:
I used humbrol for the metallic parts, the silver went on nicely but the brass was a PITA....the slightest dilution separated it and undiluted was like syrup. Need to invest in some decent brushable metallics!
View attachment 313542View attachment 313543

Not going to go overboard with the interior so now got to start glueing up the hull.
Thanks for looking
ACW
Si

 

[Steve Jones]

I am looking to do the same. Vallejo do a nice range now but a bit pricey at £7 a pot. I see Dark Star do a range of molten metals but know nothing of them. The one I am after is an Iron look paint.

Nice work on the interior especially the white walls:thumb2:

 

[Jim R]

Hi Si
Interior painting is very nice indeed. I have some Darkstar metallics. Not tried them through the airbrush but they brush paint nicely.
Jim