This is my first day as a member of these forums and I am using the Armour/AFV forum initially, a bit strange given that I am a retired RAF pilot!.
I have 3 principle AFV themes: British (Western desert), WW1 and Cuban armour.
When I build a model (1:76/1:72) some are older designed products from eg: Airfix and Matchbox and I tend to design and print 3D corrections and enhancements.
Amongst my earliest efforts were parts for the Matchbox M7 ‘Priest’. I realised that the howitzer was woefully undersized and, using details and diagrams from a book on the howitzer, I designed and printed a comprehensive replacement. The more involved I got the more detail I could produce, in particular the style of tracks found on the British ‘Priests’ required me to design my own along with better detailed driving sprockets etc.
I’ve always had a soft spot for the iconic Airfix Scammell tank transporter although it most certainly isn’t ‘SNOW WHITE’! Indeed, the trailer is a version not introduced until after the desert campaign. I did make some efforts to improve the tractor unit using traditional methods but, with the advent of 3D CAD and printing and the availability of more reference books, I was able to undertake some major re-creations:
As you will see, there’s not a great deal left of the original kit! I did, however, ensure that I retained the option of wheel articulation.
I think that’s enough for now. Tomorrow I’ll cover the Airfix T34/85 and the Airfix Mk1 ‘male’.
First question, can anyone see the photos I’ve posted - I can see them, but am I using the wrong method?
In case all is OK, I shall continue:
I have an interest in Cuban armour simply because it is fairly eclectic with tanks and AFVs sourced from USA, UK and USSR. My first endeavour was a T34/85 from Airfix and I was unimpressed with the ‘look’ of the elastic-band tracks. The 3D printed tracks are made of alternate plates and placed around a track run measured from the kit wheel centres/diameters and designed with ‘sag’ on the return side:
I also designed and printed a replacement 85mm barrel as the kit part measured too small.
A more recent build is a mobile SA-2 ‘Guideline’ missile that the Cubans have mounted on a T-55 chassis. There are quite a few components 3D printed for this build, but the most obvious are the front ‘horns’ and the cable reels mounted at the rear.
Many of us have built the Airfix Mk1 ‘rhomboid’ tank with aficionados noting the many errors - I’ll not list them here. Over the years I’ve used traditional techniques to try and correct the errors but 3D CAD and printing opened up a whole new option. I’ve slowly been working on corrections for the kit, starting with the tracks, roof and wider cab. More recently, I decided to design ‘male’ gun sponsons to correct the geometry and position of the ‘turrets’, close the gaps and add missing details. I also designed a corrected balance/steering tail frame and associated wheels and I am working on the fitment of correctly spaced springs and armour shield:
The advantage of CAD and 3D printing is that the parts are stored as files and can be printed time and time again. Everything I design is done for me, but I am very happy to supply the components to other modellers.
I see them.
I presume you are posting from the UK
and I presume that Littorio is in the UK as well.
Some social media exited Britain since they could not or would not
comply with some age restriction rules in the UK.
You are so right! For my Airfix Scammell tractor, most of the components are discarded! However, I’m not going down the route of completely replacing it as I’ve neither the time, resources, references or desire so to do.
I use one of my grandchildren(12 years old) to set me up, using NYM VPN with a small cost I have now been able to get the pictures on both my devices, I’m able to register 10 devices to one account.
By the way, all the kids bypass the government security on day one.
