I think that this is going to be a lot more FUN than that last Luchs Build.
This one has already been an adventure. I ordered it from Lucky Models . Com on February 2nd. they hade it for $122 plus $100 for Air Shipping, not to bad average price here is about $250. Well I ordered it they said about 2 to3 Weeks for delivery.
Well after 3 weeks still no kit so after checking with them It turns out it was still sitting in their ware house. They finally shipped it and I received it yesterday.
It is really nice as far as I can see, so here goes the build and we will find out.
Finished for Now
Donald
7 Likes
So i continue on, all by myself.
Finished for today
Donald
6 Likes
Looking good. That casting texture is excellent.
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Looks great!
Are you gonna sand down that copyright?
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I have no idea what you are talking about.
Donald
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That’s a factory casting number, not the kit maker’s copyright.
You can see it just barely on this example:
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Actually those are Foundry casting marks used to tell where the part was made, and by what company.
They didn’t CopyRite Sherman tank parts.
Regards
Donald
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Note the Turret side.
This looks like the same type tat I’m building.
Donald
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It struck me as odd, but I’ve been building 70s and 80s kits lately, and most of them have external copyright marks like that.
I never knew the real thing had that. One of my favorite things about this hobby is how much I learn. You guys are WAY better than the History Channel 
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Continuing on, I Masked and Foiled the Periscopes, only 2 are needed for the Hull hatches the other 3 will go in the Turret when I get there.
The Hatches didn’t have a really good fit, so i glued them closed. There’s nothing to see inside the Hull anyway.
The Upper and Lower Hull parts are joined, If you are careful you can get a really good fit.
There that finishes the Major Hull assemblies, I think that I will do the Trucks assembly next.
Regards
Donald
4 Likes
I have the Trucks assembled and painted.
Next some detail painting and the wheels.
Regards
Donald
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Here is how I did the Trucks, All the Info is on the Pics.
The Trucks on Andys Sherman E8 Kit are a lot easier, having the Springs in there was just a pain and it complicated things.
I found it easier to remove them and just glue everything in place.
I don’t play with them once they are finished.
I’ll be starting the Track next, and that looks really complicated.
Regards
Donald
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For picture #60, could you use some foam, like those ear-plugs that you squish? Would provide some cushion but not as aggressive as those springs. There doesn’t seem to be a change of geometry from removing them, and then I read that you glued it all so might not matter.
EDIT: Here’s a quick snap of a kit on my bench to show what I was talking about earlier with copyrights. I’m not crazy about the old kit itself, but the subject matter (X-15) limits my options, and I cannot do scratch, so one must take what one may get.
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I have been thinking, and Maby I could have done it differently.
Maby if I just glued the Horizontal shock absorber in a fixed position, that is the left and right end together and freed up the joints Maby it could work like the ones in Andys Sherman kits.
I’m working on the Track now and it is really complicated there are 10 pieces to each Shoe.
and 79 Shoes in each run.
Regards
Donald
2 Likes
Please accept my regards on those shoes!
I did 1/35 tracks in separate parts (sorry I do not know the specific terms) for a Pz4, Bradley, Panther and Merkava in 2024. The early panzer came with the rubber-bands from Tamiya, I decided to go aftermarket and they were a PITA. The Bradley and Merkava went together pretty well, took a few links to get in the groove so to speak, but no issues. The Panther’s kit tracks were a mess, so I used the white metal ones from Fruil/Friul and they were awesome!
I am one of the million (give or take) in-line for the 1/16 halftrack from Andy’s coming in May. But I do aircraft primarily, and have never tried a car (1/20th is the largest) or armor (1/35 is my largest) in the big sizes before. I am looking forward to your updates, I have much to learn!
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Is I Love Kit affiliated with Border Models? I ask because I discovered on the BM 76w thread that BM probably used the M4A1 75mm digital design to make the 76mm hull by simply adding the hatches and they ignored the sharper corners/shoulders at the front of the 47 degree large hatch hull. I’m looking at these images of the I Love Kit hull you’re building and it looks like they ILK might’ve done the same thing that BM did? Their 75mm M4A1 also came out before the 76mm, hmmm…
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No, I Love Kit is Trumpeter/Hobbyboss. No connection to Border.
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