More superb detail John. This is really going to be something special.
One of the things I do as a Volunteer Modeller at the Tank Museum, is help youngsters learn how to build kits. We arrange this through a local school. We started with a couple of new lads today and the chap I’m mentoring chose the Tamiya Chieftain as his build project. I spent a pleasant hour or so this morning helping him make a start on it. He’s a fast learner! I’ll show him some of your work in progress pictures next week, which I think will inspire him very much.
I didn’t like the potential RH side of the cradle I made yesterday… So that went into file 13 and I started again…
Now, in this image the top piece has the moulded kit part I sliced off (elevation gearing) which is glued to the white strip. That white strip will get cut right back close to the gearing and that will form the outer plate of the LHS cradle side that sits on the main upright.
The long piece below that with the raised curved rear will be the RH side of the cradle.
To the right of that piece is one of the main uprights
Reshaped the bottom mounting plate to as near as I can get from ref images available…
I sliced off the bolt head from washer from the MENG set, as with the washer attached they looked to big… These are still probably a bit over scale but they work.
The front of the cradle has a slightly smaller box insert welded there which houses the front GPMG mounting pin, and the lug for the elevation rod connector… Need to do all that as well.
Yeah I saw it was posted here a while ago. To be honest, I dont think it will be of any use for me as I know what needs to be done on mine and where to detail, alter/change. I am sure non user Cr1 modellers will find it helpful. It would be interesting to see what this book brings to the table in regard to the many Cr1 ref books/images out there already. Is it just images or in depth tech info as well ?
Started putting the cradle together…
I have to try and get it all lined up with the upright pivot points, but it’s bloody hard with it being so small and my sausage fingers…
Once I get the cradle sides sorted, I can add the tiny extension at the front for the front mounting pin (will need to drill holes first in whatever card I can find that’s thin enough …)
I haven’t measured it up against the GPMP yet, but I have a niggling feeling it may just be a bit to big… Definitely length wise which will be an easy trim … but will need to measure it up first before I decide what needs to be done.
There is a pile of minuscule slithers of plastic that are not making the cut lol … thank god I restocked a while ago … and this is my 3rd cupola MG mount … I should be getting the hang of it by now !!
Also cut a micro micro sliver to make a lip that is on the bottom of the LHS cradle side. ( For anyone interested its about 0.1mm or smaller in width - don’t ask how many attempts I made to slice bits lol )
This definitely about my limit for actual detailed building … even with a visor… the other issue is handling bits that are 2mm or smaller … Saying that mate, the inside of your Ferret is looking the dogs !
Thanks erik @Erik67 much appreciated
Feel free to ask anything about it. I like how it turned out and the time it took was worth it I think. I like that the PE set allows you to have just the ammo box holder which gives it a better look. The spent link guide on the RH cradle side is just a spare bit of PE bent to shape…
Cheers Peter. I will admit that it isnt as neat as some peoples scratch building here, but once the primer is on and then painted, I think it will look ok
)
