discussion Si B’s-Miniart T-60 1:35

[Si Benson]

Had this on the bench for a few weeks. Thought you folks would like to see how it goes together.



As with with quite a few Miniart kits this has an interior. Being a scout tank, there isn’t that much in the interior so builds up pretty quickly.
Has a nice looking engine, transmission etc..









Everything primed with AMMO acrylics primer.



More in a mo......

 

[Si Benson]

Continued....

Interior painting starts with an off white all over...




All painted and weathered
More in a mo...

 

[BattleshipBob]

Looking good Si, looks a tiny wee beastie!!
Bob

 

[Si Benson]

Continued....

You can see quite a bit through the opening...




More in a mo....

 

[Si Benson]

Turret is quite busy and a little fiddly...




Then onto the running gear...



Tracks are small with a fair bit of clean up, but are well defined and go together nicely.

Mor in a mo.....

 

[Si Benson]

Tracks made in two halves for easy paint and assembly.




Not the biggest tank!

More in a mo....

 

[Si Benson]

Primed up the tub and bits....started the colouring in:smiling4:








So that’s where I’m up to. Just got the tracks to paint then I can get some weathering done.
Thanks for looking.

 

[Guest]

Damn it you make those tracks look so good !
Tis a great method to use thank you for suggesting it, even when the tracks are on the wrong way round, but I just about managed it :smiling::smiling:
Looks a cracker of a build so far Si, how do you get on with the soft plastic ?

John

 

[Guest]

Damn and damn double now you get the tracks off ! If you glue them from the inside while on the tape how come they don't stick when they are wrapped around the spockets ?

Having suspicions this is another black art :smiling2::smiling3: any way it looks brilliant .Well done mate .

 

[Dave Ward]

Si,
I did the MiniArt T-80 a few years back - no interior to that! Very similar in appearance, but a larger turret - I seem to remember that was a well fitting build, albeit over-engineered as MiniArt is inclined to do.................
Dave

 

[Si Benson]

Damn it you make those tracks look so good !
Tis a great method to use thank you for suggesting it, even when the tracks are on the wrong way round, but I just about managed it :smiling::smiling:
Looks a cracker of a build so far Si, how do you get on with the soft plastic ?

John

Morning John,
The plastic is softer than other brands,but good sharp snips and a fresh scalpel blade help tame it.
The tracks....well of course there is a little hocus pocus, magic glue and fairy dust.....and a lots of secret stuff that I just can’t explain without an abacus and algebra:smiling5:
I always use thin, quick set glue TET or Mr Hobby S, using it sparingly is the key and only where it’s needed.

Si,
I did the MiniArt T-80 a few years back - no interior to that! Very similar in appearance, but a larger turret - I seem to remember that was a well fitting build, albeit over-engineered as MiniArt is inclined to do.................
Dave

Morning Dave,
Yes the early ruskie stuff looks very similar to me too.
This is my first miniart vehicle and I’m pleased with the fit of parts...the suspension arms and wheels could have been better but certainly not the worst I’ve seen. I don’t mind the more intricate builds, in fact that’s what drew me to this kit....but understand not everyone will appreciate the complexity, especially if you have dexterity issues.

 

[Guest]

Si.
Interesting that you use TET , I was under the impression that Contacta was used for the bends ? Maybe that's where I'm going wrong .
Perplexed of Lincs

 

[Si Benson]

Si.
Interesting that you use TET , I was under the impression that Contacta was used for the bends ? Maybe that's where I'm going wrong .
Perplexed of Lincs

I used to use contacta for tracks many moons ago as it seemed to give a longer drying time and more time to fiddle.
I rarely use it for anything nowadays.
I’m no expert John but think the quicker drying stuff is pulled into the joint (where it’s needed) by capillary action and evaporates from the surface, where you don’t want it....so fits the bill better?

 

[Guest]

Looks great Si.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Si
Great looking kit. Seems to have gone together without any isssues. Nice job of the interior. MiniArt have certainly come on in leaps and bounds these last few years, I have always used Contacta on tracks as I was told it gave time to wrap the length around the sprockets and then it "set" in the shape. Must try your idea of using thin stuff.
Jim

 

[Si Benson]

Looks great Si.

Thanks Ralph :thumb2: Still a way to go , hopefully I won’t loose interest like I normally do at this stage!

 

[Guest]

I used to use contacta for tracks many moons ago as it seemed to give a longer drying time and more time to fiddle.
I rarely use it for anything nowadays.
I’m no expert John but think the quicker drying stuff is pulled into the joint (where it’s needed) by capillary action and evaporates from the surface, where you don’t want it....so fits the bill better?

,
Yes I can see that , had thought that the idea of a slow setting glue when it was used with out the tape you would let you after a short while carefully wrap the tracks around the sprocket. It must have been at this point that some of the glue would stick to the sprocket it's self ,thus stopping me from removing the track .
Going to try this method with the TET next time I attack the little b*%%%ers.
:thumb2:
John .

 

[Si Benson]

Hi Si
Great looking kit. Seems to have gone together without any isssues. Nice job of the interior. MiniArt have certainly come on in leaps and bounds these last few years, I have always used Contacta on tracks as I was told it gave time to wrap the length around the sprockets and then it "set" in the shape. Must try your idea of using thin stuff.
Jim

Cheers Jim,
I heard bad things about Miniart kits being rubbish plastic and difficult to built so I’m happy to find not the case. I got this for around £20 so very reasonable for what’s in the kit. Admittedly it’s no Tamiya, as mentioned it’s a little complicated and challenging.

With regards to the glue, I have had tracks just fall apart during final assembly so thin stuff isn’t infallible!

 

[Si Benson]

Looking good Si, looks a tiny wee beastie!!
Bob

Morning Bob,
Sorry I nearly missed you there! Sure is ‘compact’ shall we say:smiling5:

 

[Mickc1440]

Just had a catch up with your build Si and very nice it is too. Certainly plenty of detail to play with.