Takom Chieftain Mk10

[Gauzer]

I made a promise when I got back into this that I would only have 1 kit on the go at once. That lasted all of an hour.

So while I try and get my camera working I have started this which arrived this week.

Even though I have nearly finished the Tamiya GB and have finished a few helicopters and and an old A10 kit, these were all kits I have had for years, this is my first new one and I am foolishly excited to see how new kits compare to old ones.

The following are the obligatory sprue shots. All bagged in their own little plastic bags.
Wheels and suspension with some boxes.







Close up of turret, the casting on the armour is quite nice, even if a bit too even IMO, the details are nice though.



Split barrel, hopefully will not be too much of a pain to get it looking smooth.

Individual track links, IIRC these can be a bit of a nightmare to get right, last did something like this back in the 90's with an old Tamiya Tiger 1.

To cap it off the little bag has the individual track pads, so that will be fun oh and some more turret bits.

Transfers, PE and an addition to instructions of a but to be removed from the turret. The transfers seem quite thick.


The plan so far is to maybe make a Diorama of this and have it next to the Berlin wall, maybe incorporating a bit of the wall in the model of the wall.

The other options are zombie tank from Walking Dead, Battus or target on Warcop ranges

[schweinhund227]

Looks like a nice kit !!!

[Augustus]

Looking forward to this. Always had a soft spot for The Big Chief, like the Churchill, it just looks like a tank should.

[Gauzer]

So made the wheels and suspension units, pretty straightforward, the rings for the smaller "idler"??? wheel was actually the ring in the turret, took ages to find it. No rubber grommet things so I have taped up the axle things so paint, glue will stick.
The wheels consisted of 5 parts, why, I have no idea, they do look good though, so I suppose that is why. The locating pins were pretty meh, tiny little things with a bit of wiggle. I ended up putting no glue at all on the pins as the wheels it did the pins just vanished and I had to guestimate. I ended up putting glue on the main part and not near the pins so this fixed it.



The hubs were a bit of a pain, they way they were on the sprue meant that taking off excess was more fiddly than needed, the sprue was attached at the front edge of the separate hub cover thing rather than on the back edge, you can see where I nicked the edge a touch on the picture.


2 of the twelve wheels where I have scuffed up the rubber, I didn't think you would want to see all 12 of them. This will be smoothed out after a brush up with my brass brush.

[Gauzer]

So I thought that I would get some PE for the kit, after all it's 1/35th scale, I used PE on 1/72nd scale so this will be easier as it's bigger....... right.....

I forgot that I used the PE many years ago when I could see without glasses and that I only used about a quarter of it as it was too small. I may just use the larger bits and the grains of sand can go in spares box, never to be used.

[Davethepitch]

It looks like you have your work cut out there

[Gauzer]

I don't think I will be using a lot of this PE, my bending tools are a floor tile, steel rule, a razor blade and crappy eyesight.

[Davethepitch]

I really struggle with PE and end up making a mess.

[Gauzer]

So made up the searchlight housing and added 13 bits of PE, well supposed to be 13 but one of the little arms went away when SWMBO picked it up to have a look.



The box at the back of the turret and if you squint really hard you can see the grain of sand with a hole in it for some bar contraption and the other thing with 5 bits of PE.


Roughed up the pads for the tracks.


I am all over the place with this build, having the PE while detailed and tiny it does mean that building is not easy as I keep having to check what PE and where, maybe I have bitten off too much for second kit after such a long break.

[SergioSolo]

Wow, that really is tiny! And it's coming along nicely. I also like what you did with the pads

[Gauzer]

So slowly getting on with all the boxes, however one thing that causes me problems is the way they have set up the sprues. Things could have been put in less visible places.

[Gauzer]

More pics, hope I am not boring you with random pics of just small bits.

So this is the rear box where exhausts come out and the barrel rest is, was no way going to make that out of PE, so added the lazy boy bit which was only 3 pieces glued together and stuck in the middle. The filled bits are where the track hangers will be going.


Some cover for back rear of turret with 2 handles. One of the rear boxes with the locking/padlocking mechanism, only 15 minutes to do that. Some turret mirror, sight housing/cover for turret, part of the drivers hatch holder another turret thing (drum) 2 boxes with 4 hinges on each (still 2 more locks for these)


Some little folded bit in front of drvers hatch and the angled things carved, sanded off.


Turret boxes made up and a little bit of bashing of the mesh. The 2 front things for the front of the hull, to be placed where I had cut off the angled bits in above pic.


Rear deck with some pre shading before the PE gets put on. The bottom 2 filling caps have had the detail carved off and one has the PE handle on. Only another 4 to go.


One of rear boxes, with almost all the PE on now, only 4 more bits, but it took me an hour to get this far.


Painted the wheels, glossed them, oil wash, drybrush. Nice to get some paint out.

[Nige1940]

Cracking start on this mate ! a Great kit and a really interesting subject being Berlin Brigade .
Looks like you re handling the etch masterfully .

[SergioSolo]

The detailing is superb!

[GollyPo]

Really like the worn rubber on the road wheels!

[Gauzer]

Not been doing much as I got Man flu and nearly died. SWMBO says it was a little sniffle.

So whilst placing some PE around the engine deck I became aware that the wheels should not be green, so black they were made.


Grills for deck, bashed a bit then glued on. A few more bits of PE on the filling caps.


Few more bits of PE and some clear window masked up.


Rear mudguards with the storage boxes on.


A storage box for left hand basket, the 2 brackets for between the front boxes on either side. commander and loaders hatches. The commanders cupola with the front of the wiper boxes (x9), the vsion blocks, sanded and smoothed with Ultimate sticks, really made them very smooth and shiny, masked them up then stained them green with green games workshop ink. Had to go back and key the clear parts as the ink needed rough not smooth.

[digger303]

In awe of your Pe skills and huge amount of patience you must have....

[Quax]

I agree with Digger, the pe looks amazing! I'm watching with interest to see how the barrel turns out with that sleeving.

[privatepete]

Hi it's certainly comeing together very nicely, top skills.
Pete

[Kevthemodeller]

I'm watching this one, looking great so far

[Gauzer]

Thank you all for your encouragement, anything anyone sees that could be done better, differently etc, shout out

So headlight assemblies, the PE set instructions were a bit vague, finally worked out what had to be removed. I decided to wire them up (not lights, just wire), tried stretched sprue in hot water, no good, tried stripping some electrical cable Finally found an old packet of fuse wire and used that.
I softened the raised bit for around the lifting ring and scraped some welding marks in.
A couple of small bits of PE round the drivers hatch are and I also filed off the casting numbers and letters in preparation for me sticking on the Slaters ones.
The left hand mudguard you can see the crappy attempt at non slip, will be trying something else I think, baking soda and liquid glue I reckon will be good and will scale well.



Engine deck with handles and mesh covering on and bashed up a bit. Used the Takom mesh and handles for the ones nearest the turret and the PE set for rear. The rear handles were not just cut and stick, I had to roll little bits to make the circular handle bit that was...... anyway, drove me mad so I used the easy for the rest, SWMBO asked though, why bother if you can't see it


The half round bits with the dents in the top are representative of rubber edging to help reduce damage to the engine covers. The are actually hollow so I drilled out the ends to make them appear this way.


Made up the three extinguishers and holders, my skills with milliput and rolling are not very good, will be fiddling some more to make them a bit better.
The drivers hatch with my attempt at non slip and a bit of PE (it's bloody eveywhere, I may try a plane next time with no PE)
Searchlight housing for the commanders hatch, a combination of plastic and PE. Now I look at this picture, will be wiring this up too.
The 2 larger boxes are still in need of 8 bits of PE each, I keep finding other things to do on this kit rather than do that.

[Davethepitch]

how you guys work with that small PE i will never know as i have failed miserably with it.

[Gauzer]

So made up wire tow cables rather that the stiff plastic things that the kit came with. Added a bit of lead foil at ends as a collar. The little bits of PE are the parts for the cable bracket, there could be quite a lot of swearing.


After many hours I have just placed the barrel on the turret while the muzzle dries, I know its a bit of a boring update but I was quite excited when I placed it on, and makes it quite long too. Oh and I have added the anti slip on the rear box (NBC?) Radio box(can't remember correct name) and welding to the lifting hooks.
So the barrel, sanded off all the detail, straps and then PE'd them back on again go figure.


If you turn your head left, screw your eyes up you will look daft and people will wonder what you are doing, but hopefully you can see the rifling , quite pleased with this, 1 hour ish total, was ready to give up many times but on seeing it am glad I persevered.

[Topcat]

I know this 1/35 but pics make the turret look enormous, then again is was a big tank. The detail is excellent, well done looking good.

[privatepete]

There is a lot of PE your going to be a expert when you finished, just one thing there is a picture of all the PE isn't that a copper tow cable amongst all of it,can I ask why you didn't uses it.
It is certainly looks good.
Pete

[Gauzer]

For some reason Takom only provided plastic tow cables. Go figure.

[digger303]

You must have fingers of a pianist and the agility of a gymnasts....

[Gauzer]

Anti slip on turret.


Gunners hatch on and first part of commanders hatch.


Anti slip and some numbers on hull front.


One of the tow cable brackets.


Commanders MG with ammo box. Bloody box had 11 parts, PIA and looks crappy, just as well the other side is going to be hidden.


Boxes, had to redo all the clasps and brackets as they were in the slightly wrong place.


This what I have been using to bend handles and my old Boots magnifier.

[privatepete]

Hi are those small number's part of the kit or after market one's, not seen them before, be very handy for Sherman builds they look really good.
Pete

[Gauzer]

https://slatersplastikard.com/index.php

This is where I got the letters and numbers from.

[privatepete]

https://slatersplastikard.com/index.php

This is where I got the letters and numbers from.

Thank you for getting back, what size did you use 2 or 3mm, I've ordered both anyway they got some nice stuff
Pete

[Gauzer]

The ones I used here were the 2mm, word of advice they break and ping away (fragile), I ended up placing masking tape on the back of them to help hold them down when cutting them out.

[privatepete]

The ones I used here were the 2mm, word of advice they break and ping away (fragile), I ended up placing masking tape on the back of them to help hold them down when cutting them out.

Thanks for the head's up, top tip
Pete

[Gauzer]

Hull pretty much complete, will be leaving off the boxes when I paint I think as it could be quite complicated to paint round them all.

The Anti slip is not too bad I think round drivers hatch the "T" of engine deck and at the back too. I also removed the wading ring thing from the rear as it was not on a lot of these mk's and was the wrong profile, I should have carved the whole thing off and replaced it from around the drivers hatch back but forgot till to late, still may though. My skills may not be up to it though.
Still have to wire up the extinguishers from the brass things near the front (the thing will be in between the boxes) its just a wire running from a handle to a hole near drivers hatch.
And of course the rubber mudguards, don't know if I'll use brass or lead yet.



The rear where the brass fenders are on, had to rub down a small bit as I forgot the reflectors (2 bits of PE) each side.


A crappy pic where I try and show the roughness of the exhausts and my hand wobbled and I am too lazy to walk back 15m with my phone to take another picture.


Turret showing barrel after a few more rubs down and filler, it's not too bad for a 2 piece moulded barrel.


The next 3 show the anti slip on the turret.
The turret rear shows the bar thing and my crappy gluing job so did not notice that, will rub this down and make good. What does not show is the chain on the end of the bracket... really PE chain, that won't last with my ham fisting come painting. Also added the handle on the underneath of the turret, this was for the driver to use when the turret was in the rear facing position.
You can also see the wire coming from the moulded details on the turret through the smoke grenade bracket.




The turret and hull boxes PE'd up and primed, well worth the effort I think, it does look better than the moulded detail, even if I spent more time searching for bits, removing them from wrong areas, sanding it down, hearing that "ping" and giving up and cutting out another one, thank god the set gave a couple of spares. Hence my asking on Saturdays show if any of you had a good idea. Will be getting a big bag, an apron and the biggest help will be keeping floor swept.
The circular thing has it's own double semi twisted D10 cable wrapped around it,


Tracks, I did not take a picture of them primed but they were exactly the same but instead of being black, they were white.


This is just to show the unweathered contrast between the tracks and the track pads.

[privatepete]

You are certainly putting the hours in on this one,loving the detail work,it will be worth in the long run
Pete

[SergioSolo]

Looks superb! Very detailed work

[AdamLuscombe]

Great work so far, the PE work is excellent

[privatepete]

https://slatersplastikard.com/index.php

This is where I got the letters and numbers from.

Hi got some thought i'd let you,thanks again.
Pete
[url=https://flic.kr/p/Qekh8d]2016-

[Gauzer]

they are quite quick at posting I found, a weird website, olde fashioned. Are the first couple of "A" a bit off on yours too?

[privatepete]

they are quite quick at posting I found, a weird website, olde fashioned. Are the first couple of "A" a bit off on yours too?

Hi I actually got mine from Stockton Models Ltd,ordered Tuesday am,arrived pm today £5.49 all in, the other place £10 min order, as for the "A" yes the first couple are a bit off, have to do a mod on a upside "V"
http://www.Stockton modeller.co.UK
Pete

[jjab99]

I love the Chieftain and this one is a great example, well done and best of luck with the rest of the build.

[Gauzer]

So after the move from one side of Berlin to the other, new job, am now able to get back to this.
Have to redo other links with Flickr, but that will take forever, may just make one new post with it all.

Anyway, undercoated with Vallejo white, then masked off and some bit's sprayed others free hand with Mig brown and grey and Vallejo off white.

[TheNordus]

Looking interesting, this is a camouflage that actually existed/was used?