discussion SimonT - Tamiya 1:35 Sturmmorser Tiger (AAGB)

[SimonT]

Made a start on cleaning up a few track links last night

 

[Steve Jones]

You should have them done by Christmas but which year?? LOL

 

[SimonT]

O ye of little faith....

after a marathon (or should that be a snickers :thinking: ) six hour session during which 3 films were watched, lots of tea was drunk, 880 holes were drilled and 220 links were sanded, the tracks are now cleaned up


220 links and 440 track pins ready to install


a short length assembled


properly recessed pins on the inside edge


raised pins with retaining collar on the outer edge

Links were drilled with the recommended 0.6mm drill bit but this has left the pins a little slack - they are supposed to be a tight dry fit but I shall have to stick them in to stop them wriggling free

 

[Steve Jones]

You da man!! Well done sir!!

 

[Jim R]

Hi Simon
Now that is what I call persistent dedication.
Jim

 

[rtfoe]

"Your usual magic Simon, done when most of us are sleeping!" Andy mentioned this...sure he doen't have Rumplestilskin helping him :smiling6:

The tracks are crazy Simon but well worth the effort. I checked out a few pages back and couldn't recognise your work on the engine fans and fuel tanks...couldn't believe you can actually simplify scratch stuff, well done on the restraint.:thumb2:
I don't normally like this version of the Tiger but you've made it interesting...I wonder what you're going to do with the crane and winch arm loader.:thinking:

Cheers,
Richard

 

[Jon Heptonstall]

Tracks look great.Are those the Masterclub ones you mentioned earlier?
Jon.

 

[SimonT]

Cheers Steve

Jim - or stupidity

Richard - thanks. Have wasted too much time on builds detailing things that won’t be seen so trying to be more restrained

Jon - ta, yes these are Masterclub resin. If you can get hold of them now they seem to be metal but with the same resin pins. I prefer Masterclub to Friuls as the track pins are much more accurate than the brass wire
Harder to find and range not as extensive though

 

[Steven000]

Nice work on the track links Simon :thumb2:
Well worth it

 

[minitnkr]

Me arse fell asleep just reading about your marathon session. Look very good though. I'd think the fit will let them sag & follow terrain better though? PaulE

 

[Guest]

Nice job on the track links Simon your a slave to the hobby. :thumb2:
Pete.

 

[Jon Heptonstall]

As a quick aside. I was well impressed by Meng's workable tracks for their Tiger II.
Hard plastic links with metal inner and outer pins with good bolt detail on the outer pins.
Jon.

 

[Mini Me]

Nice work Mr. T, how many of Pete's Minions did you borrow to get those links done so quickly?:smiling2:
Cheers, Rick H.

 

[Graeme C.]

That's a lot of work on those tracks, worth it though, they look good.

 

[SimonT]

Steven - thanks, hopefully will look the part

Paul - :smiling5: they are fully articulated so should conform nicely but they can get gummed up when painted

Pete - cheers. Track links are not my favourite thing to clean up

Jon - they sound good. R Model tracks do turned metal pins for theirs but at £40+ a set they are just a tad expensive

Rick - I have quite a few from the pewter mines helping out

Graeme - very time consuming. I have quite a few builds on hold until I get the tracks done. Been doing a few more tonight for an Egyptian JS-III


have assembled some more tiger track links - yet more time consuming stuff

 

[rtfoe]

Can't take a shot like you Simon, I'm in my shorts with hairy legs...too hot to wear jeans at the bench. :smiling6: Nice millipede. :tears-of-joy:

Cheers,
Richard

 

[SimonT]

filled all the pins marks on the inside of the engine hatch - five of them!


added the remaining etch grilles to the engine deck


I then made a start on the exhausts but only got this far before falling asleep again :sleeping:

 

[SimonT]

filling the pin marks turned out to be pointless - when I checked photos of the real thing I found that the hatch should not have the raised rectangle inside so I sanded it all off taking the entire pin marks with it

I then added some of the details on the inside - still needs a bit more work including a weld bead around the ventilator aperture

 

[rtfoe]

Hi Simon, overkill with the filler at one point but alas pointless...still neat work. :thumb2: Would the receiving opening have a raised lip at the edges then?:thinking:

Cheers,
Richard

 

[SimonT]

Hi Richard - yes it does, or at least it will by the time I have finished