Tamiya British Army Chieftain Mk5 MBT

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Mon Dec 22, 2014 7:02 pm

Evening all

Finished the Night-Shifts this morning, and rode home from works with a tired head but blissful heart.
Off for the week now

.
I added up the other day how many Christmases that I have worked since starting work at 16 (now 49).
I worked for 7 years in Catering / Chef and that was 7 Christmas worked.
4 1/2 Years in Army and had one Christmas off in that period.
I remember going through a bad time with a Girl and not wanting to come home one year for Christmas from BAOR.
I spoke to a lad on the squad Guarding the Barracks that Christmas, and for a lucrative sum I did his guard duties.
Stood in the pouring cold rain, with water dripping off helmet and seeing maybe two cars in a two hour stint (this was a time of High Security status due to those pesky chaps from PIRA causing a few explosions and shootings in BAOR

).
This was not the best Christmas.
Then having come out of Army in 92, worked for Chevron Oil UK in London and looked after two buildings maintenance and Security In the West End.
Being single, I didn't care and worked more and more Christmases so chaps could have the time off with families.
I think totting it up, I have had 6 Christmases off since 1981.
Anhoooo.
Sat here with glass or two of Port (Dows Vintage), and Mrs DW down stairs wrapping presents.
It makes me realise how many folks work Christmas this time, and how many spend time away from families and also are alone.
I don't take the "Time Off" for granted.
I have spent a wee bit of time this afternoon adding some more locks and Hasps & Clasps to Stowage Lockers and trying to fathom out where the bloody Chiefs Drivers Hatch Retaining Clip "Actually" sits, and not how Eduard thinks its should sit.
The instructions are very vague. This is because Eduard have crammed in to much PE for plans.
I managed to attach the chain for the Drivers Hatch and a very tiny piece of PE folded 6 times into a box with a lip.
3 hours

You can't even see the bloody thing in photos

.
Music to listen to was one of my favourite albums, Lee Hazelwood and Nancy Sinatra Best Of.
Lee Hazelwood (RIP) has the most extraordinary voice.
Anyway, love and best wishes kids and speak soon.
John

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 6:28 pm

Hello peeps

Hope your all well?
A very quick up-date (I had done a longer up-date but the Internet crashed and the whole of my spiel disappeared in a puff of Web smoke

).
Further to my previous post. The Drivers Scope Block cover has now been bent to shape with the highly innovative and technical tool called a Tooth-Pick.

Due to my piss poor Photography skills and even worse Lighting in MC, I have started to lose the ability to capture some of the PE detail being added to the Turret.
The tiny handles are being lost in a sea of shadow and fuzz.
I have filled and sanded the Tamiya position for the L/H Smoke Discharger and this will be relocated further forward on Turret.
Holes filled and sanded are indicated by arrows,

The Gunners Scope Block has had a nice bit of PE added to enhance Wipers.

This is the opposite side (R/H) Smoke Discharge position and these moulded wiring areas will be removed and then replaced with Plasti-Card and Florist Wire.

I'll leave it at that and add a bit more tomorrow.
Have a good evening all.
John

Post by **chief5437** » Tue Dec 30, 2014 1:33 am

More more more!!

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Tue Dec 30, 2014 5:42 am

Lol, greedy boy

Working as fast as my pudgy sausage fingers can go.

Good health to you in New Year.
John

Post by **gustavlekstal** » Tue Dec 30, 2014 10:11 pm

Getting my daily modelling kick here! Great work!

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:30 am

Good evening chaps and chapess

Well I can't decide if this will be the last Chief up-date for a while.......

The Tamiya Tiger 1 or Panzerkamfwagen VI Tiger 1 Ausfuhrung E (Sd.Kfz. 181) Fruhe Produktion (what a mouthful

), taps me on the shoulder from the shelf behind me as the clock ticks down to Midnight and the start of the Coen GB).
I can't decide.....
I sure have not the time for more than one build.
A glass or two of a very expensive Single Malt Mrs DW bought me for Christmas will help the grey stuff decide.
So this afternoon I had a little free time to get on with some more fiddling again (steady), with this model.
I have not done much work with Resin Parts before (in fact the only bits I have played with were some tiny bits for the 1/48 Jackall I built).
I bought a kit replacement barrel from Accurate Armour (Part No B35011), Chieftain 120mm L11 3 Resin Gun Barrell.
The Thermal Sleeve detail is exceptional in its detail.
The joy of this barrels design, is that I shall not have to fashion more teeny, weeny PE from the Eduard PE set to up-grade the Tamiya supplied Barrel (we were talking masses of strapping and locks all along this barrel, and all fashioned out of PE

).
As the barrel is not in two halves, this leaves us with no join lines, except.....the barrel does need some Cut & Shut to get it to correct length and appearance.
The Blue Arrow denotes the join of Resin to the Tamiya supplied Part, and where, using a Razor Saw, I cut the Tamiya part down to accommodate the Accurate Armour barrel.
The join is not to bad, and the barrel and Tamiya part were carefully lined up with an engineers mini T-Square to make sure they were "Pointing in the right Direction", so to speak.
The Join may need some filler or some Mr Surface (not sure which yet, as this part is ribbed and needs to retain the "Ribbing").
I can't say the word "Ribbed" without the phrase "Ribbed for her pleasure" popping in my head (what a child I am).
The Red Arrows (not the Acrobatic RAF chaps

), denote the piss poor joint that arose when joining the two halves together, and that no amount of squeezing or cajoling would eradicate this join when gluing

.
This hopefully won't be seen to much, as most of this part is hidden in the Turret, and I intend to replicate the canvas cover around this area with some tissue soaked in PVA

Once painted up, and some nice Ultimate washes used, these details of the barrel should pop out.
This should look brilliant........notice my use of the word "should". My confidence in myself never ceases to amaze me

Except, most of the reference photos and my remembrance of these vehicles in real life, has the barrel covered in British Army Camo Net

We'll see closer to the time, what route to take.
Final photo for today, shows the other two parts of the barrell with the end piece (needs to be cut away from its mould block).

Hopefully

, fingers crossed and all that (I regret what I am about to say), this should go together all without a hitch

Damn it, should not have said that

.
Anyway,
Just keep plugging away.
Happy New Year to you ISM people.
Thank you for a wonderful 2014, filled with the smell of plastic and glues and Carpet Monsters gobbling those tiny but very important bits up.
May you and all your loved ones, have peace, happiness, health and love.
Bless you all,
John

Post by **Coen** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 10:39 am

Oooo.... That's a really nice upgrade John. Lots of awesome detail.
Hopefully your plans will work out. Fingers crossed.

Post by **alextheblue** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 11:38 am

Great attention to detail John and I really admire your patience, some great work there.

A very happy New Year to you and Mrs DW!

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 11:55 am

Hi Mike and Alex

As always comments from yourselves are greatly and humbly taken.
I do hope it comes out okay, as I have put some work into it (time on it is being eaten up by work and now the biggest project will be in January getting some major work done on abode, so much so I have to get out of MC and move stuff elsewhere and that is gonna be a bore).
I wish you both for the New Year and your families, a really safe, healthy and downright wonderful New Year.
I hope that troubles that do come (and they do), are borne by the love of friends and family to help you through crap times.
Love and Peace to you both, and all our very fondest wishes from me and Mrs DW x
John

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 6:13 pm

Hello all

Another bit of work this afternoon.
I have attached the PE Front Mudguards to both fenders this afternoon.

Quite tricky to get these right

.
They came as flat and quite thick pieces of brass and with no bend lines.

It meant sticking one edge on, and then leaving it to dry.
It was then a case of pliers and bend smoothly around the hull fender. Titivating as I bent.

I have just finished adding the three strips of fixing bolts that run along the top edge, to replicate the bolts that hold the fenders on.
Note, Christmas present from Mrs DW of Hair-Dryer, not for hair, but just for drying paint and any other model related drying jobs

That's it for the day.
Off to roll Short-Crust Pastry (Home-Made), for a Christmas Pie.
Its basically all the left-overs chucked into a pie

.
The only thing I left out was the Bread Sauce and Christmas Pudding.
Look after yourselves.
Love and Peace,
John

Post by **chief5437** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 7:37 pm

More great progress on this DW, that resin barrel looks the dogs! Be a shame to cover it with a cam net.

Looking forward to more, kutgw

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 8:29 pm

chief5437 wrote:More great progress on this DW, that resin barrel looks the dogs! Be a shame to cover it with a cam net.

Looking forward to more, kutgw

Kutgw......eeeeh?
Have you hit the bubbly later than u should

Love your comments.
All the best,
John

Post by **Coen** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 8:52 pm

Those mud flaps are probably the best I've seen. Nice work on those John, I had a bugger of a time with those on my chally 2.

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 9:07 pm

Mike
They are a bugger. Like I said, no bend lines so its all by eye and a few pencil lines.
Anyway, they seemed to bend in the way requested.
Hope you and family are well tonight.
Look after yourself.
John

Post by **chief5437** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 2:01 am

Donkeywalloper wrote:
chief5437 wrote:More great progress on this DW, that resin barrel looks the dogs! Be a shame to cover it with a cam net.

Looking forward to more, kutgw
Kutgw......eeeeh?
Have you hit the bubbly later than u should
Love your comments.
All the best,
John

Lol!! Keep Up The Good Work!

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 6:39 am

chief5437 wrote:
Donkeywalloper wrote:
chief5437 wrote:More great progress on this DW, that resin barrel looks the dogs! Be a shame to cover it with a cam net.

Looking forward to more, kutgw
Kutgw......eeeeh?
Have you hit the bubbly later than u should
Love your comments.
All the best,
John

Lol!! Keep Up The Good Work!

See your down with hip, cool speak.
I'm up with the barely managing to string a conversation together.
Bear in mind, this is the chap who had a massive hissy fit yesterday afternoon for a good 15 minutes, because his new R&B C/A Applicator went missing

Yeah, I found it.....................

Stuck to my jumper elbow, where I had leaned into my little blob of C/A on the ceramic tile that I use for decanting C/A (Basically put a blob of C/A on ceramic tile

).
Mrs DW asked what I had on my elbow........?

John

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 4:43 pm

Hey oop folks.

Well little bit more ramblings to add to this thread this afternoon.
Mrs DW is downstairs with a glass of Baileys (a bottle I was given for Christmas).
Mrs DW is a bit upset and a very tearful after a trip to the local RSPCA.
Our beautiful black cat Marlene (old at 14 years) disappeared 7 weeks ago.
Despite a large local poster campaign, and searches all over the area, no sign has been found of her. The realisation is my little Black, Furry Pal is gone for ever

.

We went up to the RSPCA with a weird idea of maybe re-homing an old cat (old cats whose owners have passed away are many, many at the RSPCA).
What we found there were many, many black cats that looked like Marlene and left Mrs DW crying all the way home from the centre.
To be honest it really broke this big guys heart, and left me coming up to Man-Cave with a huge glass of Single Malt and having a weep over the keyboard for the loss of my very dear friend.
I have left Mrs DW to have a lovely big glass of Baileys, a log fire and a hug and cuddle.
Back to the "The Lady".
The 120mm L11 less the Muzzle is now complete.

The Turret halves have not been able to be joined together until the barrel was assembled.
This afternoon the turret base and the main turret casting was glued together (very tight fit with no gaps).

I was reading, that at the time the Chieftain was in service, the barrel was the longest barrel on any tank in the world.
Even in 1/35 scale, it sure is a big bugger.

A few more PE replacement handles added (plenty more to add and a bloody lot of flash on the Eduard PE handles).
I have also (and now I have done a few), managed to finish a couple more of the Upper Hull Storage Bins. I have had to fill a large 1cm recess with filler and Plasti-Card.

The Bins have been finished off with Hasp & Clasps.
So as I sit typing this with a very expensive Single Malt that Mrs DW bought me for Christmas, I salute my lost cat.
I loved her company and even her naughtiness, when she used to jump on Bench, purring and begging for strokes and cuddles.
She is very, very, very badly missed.
We cannot replace that little furry girl.
Why should we replace her.
She was a one in a million and we loved her very much.
Night night Marlene.
John

Post by **FishBowlMan** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 6:21 pm

Great work on the Chieftain, especially with all that PE.

Concentrating on the fiddly bits, with a whisky sounds like a great way to take your mind off your furry friend.

Only a cat? Not a bloody chance! I still miss the two that my parents had, and we lost those several years ago. My mum is house-proud and will do as much cleaning as she is able for someone who is nearly 80. On my parents' lounge wall, above the bureau, there is a prominent muddy streak that has been there for years, where Chrissie the tabby tried to catch an insect. That mark will not be removed and mum still smiles with the memories when she sees it.

Later, with my dinner, I will raise my glass of beer to Marlene.

In the meantime, KUTGW!

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:24 pm

John
That is the nicest and warmest thing said for many, many weeks.
Thank you.
Mrs DW is very, very moved.

John

Post by **PaulAyrey** » Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:39 pm

Coming on nicely, great details too.

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 7:36 pm

Hi Chaps and Chapess

Well ordered the Accurate Armour tracks for this kit this morning and a set of Oil-Cans (Chieftains needed Oil like chips need Salt & Vinegar

).
Also treated myself to the Accurate Armour Ariels.
http://www.accurate-armour.com/ShowProd ... oduct=1852
God, its Pay-Day and the missus knows I have to treat myself at the start of the month.
Pictures to follow on arrival.

John

Post by **alextheblue** » Mon Jan 05, 2015 9:20 pm

Hi John, I was absolutely gutted to read about your loss of your little furry friend. As someone who grew up with dogs I was never a cat lover,but 20 years ago my beautiful wife persuaded me that getting a cat was better than having no pet in the house - how right she was. Sadly 3 years ago at the ripe old age of 17 he sucummed to a stomach tumour and passed into the dwindling light. As an ex-marine I'm supposed to be hardened to certain situations and not show emotions, but just between you and me, I passed a tear on his passing. A year later, we felt the time was right and after several trips to Battersea we re-homed a 5 year old cat. She came with a bag full of problems as she had been mistreated and had been re-homed 3 times, but almost 3 years later she is a loving, playful member of the family.

The Chief looks fantastic by the way, but I wanted to raise a toast to Marlene, for you to remember all the good times, and let's not forget, getting another cat is not a replacement, but a new chapter and a chance for a new cat to experience your loving family and home.

I hope 2015 brings Mrs DW and yourself all the love and joy that you deserve.

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 3:30 pm

Alex

Well after a long day at work yesterday and not getting home until 22:00.
Me and Mrs DW were stood in Kitchen and I was chatting about day and she was telling me about hers, and whilst this was going on I was flicking through emails on tablet.
Mrs DW and I read this, and I looked at Mrs DW and tears were rolling down her cheeks.
She looked at me and said "Not a bad lot at ISM, are they",
I just nodded.
Later in bed, she said that even if we would pass each other in the street and not recognise each other, the true warmth and kindness that you showed in your words blew us away.
Thank you Alex from the bottom of my heart.
Not least are you a good bloke, your a very fine modeller. You really are a top bloke then.
Best wishes,
John

Post by **AchtungPanzer** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 4:11 pm

Go forward John ! Time is money

Post by **JayCub** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 5:29 pm

Very enjoyable build log John with lots of banter and entertaining updates, and pets are like family, and the loss is harder the longer you have them, and there is always the good times they bring
Tom

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Tue Jan 06, 2015 5:42 pm

Cheers Eryk, your right to say move forward. Trouble is the Tiger 1 (Coen Build is starting to tap me on shoulder for a start).

True Tom, so true.
Better to have loved..........

John

Post by **AmbientFish** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 10:35 pm

Great thread, I have one of these to do in my modern british armor fetish, Centurion, Chieftan and Chally 1, I am absolutely not using PE (alergic to brass) but your build is an inspiration, just ordered the Friuls for all three plus a set for T-55 Enigma 114 euro direct from Hungary, bargain, can't wait to see the finished build.

Post by **Coen** » Tue Jan 13, 2015 11:23 pm

Though I can't count myself among the lovers of cats, I can certainly understand losing a friend. Of those I've lost many. Condolences John and Mrs DW.

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Mon Jan 19, 2015 1:43 pm

Hi all and especially AF and Mike.

I have dropped off scope so to speak due to illness.
Normally a fit old soul, but last weekend the lurgies crept up on me and floored me.
I was outside on the Saturday morning in Rain and Cold and got literally soaked to the socks cleaning out Rabbit Hutches.
Mrs DW and I went out for a rare meal, and I sat in a very draughty position (unable to move as Restaurant was packed), near front door and as Smokers from tables launched themselves out into minus temperatures between courses, I could feel myself getting colder and colder.
By the time we got home the chill was deep into my back and I felt really fecking lousy.
By the Sunday I knew I was deep into a illness.
It hit me bad.
Fever, total lack of any get up and go.
Spent all the time in bed (Sunday through to Tuesday).
The worse though, was a mouth infection that has left me with pustules and ulcers all over the inside of my mouth, and unable to consume anything that is not mushed to a paste or not too hot or cold. Really left me depressed and drained.
Today is the first day I have seen the M/C.
Just thought I would place these two pictures of the Accurate Armour Oil Drums and Chieftain Mk5 Tracks I received some time ago.

This though will be a final up-date for a while.
I cannot do two or more models at one time, so one build has to give way to another.
So Goodnight Lady and Hello Tiger 1......
Love and Peace,
John

Post by **chief5437** » Mon Jan 19, 2015 11:03 pm

Hope you feel better soon buddy! Sorry to hear about your furry friend, I love cats, so funny!

Good luck with those resin tracks, they're not my favourite friends! Very delicate.

Post by **Hank** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 12:21 am

Brutal. I hope you get well soon, man.

Great tank, by the way. Love the PE details.

Post by **AmbientFish** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 2:21 pm

Hope you feel better soon, I agree with the chief those tracks are very delicate, thats why I work with the friuls, they are better for old sausage fingers like me, I'm in the process of painting my Zelda and next up is the Centurion, I might do a thread here on it.

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 6:42 pm

Hank wrote:Brutal. I hope you get well soon, man.

Great tank, by the way. Love the PE details.

Thank you Hank, much appreciated.
I used to hate PE, but now find it very therapeutic and calming you need good lighting and the right tools and glues, and then some peace and quiet.
Thanks for best wishes on health, getting there slowly

John

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Tue Jan 20, 2015 6:46 pm

AmbientFish wrote:Hope you feel better soon, I agree with the chief those tracks are very delicate, thats why I work with the friuls, they are better for old sausage fingers like me, I'm in the process of painting my Zelda and next up is the Centurion, I might do a thread here on it.

AF
Only Fruils I have are for Tiger build and they are in box

I could have gone with Fruils, but comes down to cost.
If these don't work out I can always save pennies and get some"Metal"

Thanks for kind words mate, good on you.

John

Post by **MamaChrissy** » Sat Jan 31, 2015 12:38 pm

I'm following this thread with great interest; on a whim I bought the same Tamiya kit and following some research I also have the Eduard PE set and the Kagero book, as mentioned here. I'm not quite mentally prepared to start work, though, and anyway I have a Tiger demanding attention....

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Sat Jan 31, 2015 2:16 pm

Hi MC

Hope your well? and thanks for dropping by on my thread.
Its an old kit, but a really great kit, and the book and the PE really are the way to go.
I am the same as you, and as you have read, I have had to resign the Chief to the side whilst embarking on some Tiger build.
As I write, I have just finished some work on the Tiger i.e. C/A'ing the Engine grills and building up the rear deck area.
I am not gonna kid you that the PE on the Chief is substantial to say the least.
Worth it, but take your time and be prepared for a touch of madness, poor eyesight (already buggered), and loss of all realisation of the world around you, and the pure concentration on that tiny piece of PE between your tweezers

Look forward to your build mate.
A couple of decent finished Chiefs on here would be brilliant.
Have a great weekend.
John

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 4:55 pm

Hola pals

Well propelled from the Shelf of Doom, here comes the lovely lady called the Chieftain

The Coen SIG Tiger 1 is 97% built and complete and the idle hands needed something to play with

This kit was re-boxed and packed away up on the Top Shelf back in January.
Since then things have changed in Mr DW world, as those who follow my inane ramblings. I have a new job and a fresher outlook on life. Waiting out to start new job on Monday so have a weeks leave to get my Brad Pitt together and generally enjoy the beautiful Spring weather enveloping the UK.
So I had a choice of kits in either the Academy Gal Batash or the Dragon Pz. Kpfw. 1 Ausf A.
But no............................

Its back to my Chief.
The three sheets of PE are not gonna stick themselves to this kit without sausage fingers and crook eyes

.
Some of the PE work on the Upper Deck Storage Boxes may have cropped up on previous posts.

Each Storage Box is stripped of it's moulded locks, and replaced with either a three piece or two piece PE Hasp & Clasp, and in some cases a Padlock.

This work has tested my eyes, fingers and patience to its limits.

Not moaning cuz I didn't have to do it

The Wading Foil at the front between the lights was a bugger to work. I had to thread the straps through light cages and back around then stick onto to Wading Foil. Tried my patience mightily.

The turret has had all of its moulded handles removed and replaced with Eduard PE handles. They are a absolute bugger to bend. Tiny as a small nail clipping (Yuck) on a Babies Little finger. Each requires four bends to produce the desired shape.

The Commanders Cupola is complete with PE ring between the Searchlight. Also all nine Periscopes have the desired wipers in place.

So that's your lot for a while.
Need to go and have a drink of Weston's Cider and a lie down in a cool place, till sanity returns.
Love and Peace.
John

Post by **shortCummins** » Wed Apr 15, 2015 9:52 pm

very cool

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Wed May 20, 2015 7:17 pm

Hello my little friends.

Sorry not been around.
I have been around but just been observing from afar.
Some of you may or may not know, that I left my job after 17 years to join a large Engineering Consultancy company in the Midlands looking after Secondary Schools and Primary schools.
Travelling 40 mins each day there and back (as opposed to a 20 minutes bike ride).
Its going brilliantly and loving the new challenges that everyday are being thrown up.
Not having much time modelling, but hoping this weekend to show you progress on Chief.
Best wishes all.

Post by **Coen** » Wed May 20, 2015 8:12 pm

Yay!!!
John's Baaaack!

Post by **martin57** » Wed May 20, 2015 8:56 pm

nice to have you back, and its good to see the old chieftain back .

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Wed May 20, 2015 9:08 pm

Hello my little friend across the blue.
How are you and the loved ones.
Yup, Johnny's back

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Wed May 20, 2015 9:09 pm

martin57 wrote:nice to have you back, and its good to see the old chieftain back .

Cheers martin, hope your well mate.
Can't wait to show progress on the Old Tub.....

John

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Mon May 25, 2015 7:25 pm

Evening all

Well as expected, the work I really wanted to do on the Chief dissolved into the mundane hum-drum of life.
The amount of PE from Eduard and the minutia of the fiddly brass bits has yet again completely taken over a relatively easy build. As you will know from my OCD, I have to take it up a notch.
Anyway, more painting done on a new Side Gate than on models.....

I have though taken some photos of progress.
The Turret is complete.
The only disaster was a Eduard Smoke Discharger on the left as you face barrel completely braking apart (despite annealing process

).
I had to resort to kit part.
The really fiddly bits are masses of Bazooka Side Skirt attachments and PE attachments for the Towing Cables (one side complete).
Here are the photos anyway:

So, there you go.
I have to admit that tonight I have purchased a new kit, quite different from my normal Armour love.
I have purchased through http://www.emodels.com the Takom 1/35 Skoda 42cm M1917 Heavy Siege Howitzer and Miniart 1/35 German Artillery Riders.
Now which section does that go in?
Keep dabbing the glue and stretching the sprues.
From Rupert and me.................

John

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Sun Jun 07, 2015 10:07 am

Good morning all

Greetings from Burton upon Trent on a beautiful Sunday morning.
I have been planning this day all week.
In my mind, I had a perfect day of me time, my bench and time a plenty (or at least till Mrs DW arrives home), to do some work on The Chief.
My work has been really full on lately but so enjoyable and for the first time in 17 years I have a thirst for work and enjoy the 40 minute drive and whatever the day throws at me (and believe me no tow days are the same).
Yesterday was House-Work (yup, I'm the liberated man), and cleaning out Rabbits, Guinea Pigs and Laying Turf in the Garden.
I stripped our Range Oven and cleaned that, and then numerous little jobs that build up in a week, that could be done daily, but after a long day at work who can be bothered

By 18:00 last night I was absolutely shattered and only the help of a few very cold bottled beers and a long shower could help me (that and a very good Indian Take-Away, with one of the best Madras curries ever), could bring me to this morning.
So with coffee in hand a some Staffordshire Oat-Cakes, its off to the MC for some work of the most enjoyable type.
So.....yesterday I picked up my new bit of kit which is the RP Toolz Handle Bending Tool.

I have been after one of these for a while, and having picked up some Florist wire recently, and although having the 1/35 Eduard PE for this kit, the Side Skirts handles needed something a bit more

.
The moulded on handles are woeful

.
The Eduard PE handles are really very difficult to work with, and have some awful flash, which on a piece of brass that is already as thin as it could be, is almost impossible to remove. I have tried to remove but to be honest life is to short

Soooo, this is what I have done.
I took the S/S plate and using the moulded plastic handles as a guideline, using a Engineers Metal Ruler I drew lines across the S/S.

I then drilled holes at the end of the moulded handles through the S/S.

Once all holes were drilled, the moulded handles could be removed with a liberal rubbing of a Ultimate Sander, with a final polish with the polishing pad.
Then its the job of bending bits of Florist wire with the RP Toolz. Cutting the handles a wee bit proud then threading through the S/S.

Picture shows the wire pushed through and left some spare wire at rear of S/S prior to glue.

So enough chatting and typing and time to stride on with multiple handles to bend, snip, glue and re-snip.
Take care everyone and enjoy the Sunday whatever your up to.
John

Post by **JediBoer** » Sun Jun 07, 2015 10:55 am

Stunning detail work mate!

Thank you for sharing!

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Sun Jun 07, 2015 10:17 pm

Both Side-Skirts complete.
Great Sunday

Ready for snip & trim.

Have a great week chaps whatever your doing.
John

Post by **Coen** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 2:14 am

Excellent work!
I really hope the sanity remains.

Post by **Donkeywalloper** » Tue Jun 09, 2015 6:10 pm

Coen wrote:
Excellent work!
I really hope the sanity remains.

Sanity?
Overrated mate.
Rather be mad and bad with the smell of glue and paint than walking the boring path of life.

John

Post by **AmbientFish** » Tue Jun 16, 2015 7:36 pm

Looking great DW, hurry up for the big reveal lololol