Note how the track segment is secured to the main sprue by lots of thick and difficult to get at others. These are the same tracks you’ll get in the Amusing Hobby Jagdpanzer Kanone too. Now, my sprue cutters are of a fairly decent type but I could not get access to snip them off cleanly enough. I suppose an extra sharp scalpel blade might have done the trick but my frustrations clearly got the better of me.
This is not a huge engineering problem and more adroit modellers than I will find a fix, but as I say, I found it very frustrating, especially as I ballsed one up when I eventually did manage to remove it; I trashed most of the end connectors.
Anyway, as I say, those more adept will not suffer, but I thought I’d mention it. I think when I do tackle my Jagdpanzer Kanone (and remember I have the Revell one waiting) I’ll purchase the AFV Club separate links.
I have the Das Werks version of the KaJaPa / Beobachtungspanzer (JagdPanzer), I’ll check the tracks when I find it!
Search For Trumpeter 09917 Razor Saw Set, the orange parts are handles for the very fine & very sharp PE razor saws, perfect for Mirror Models/Thunder models, and bits like these for parts removal from the sprue.
Or ASK Ultra And Extra Smooth Asymmetric 70/43 Teeth 2pc ASK 200-T0002
Warning!, these are very sharp!!! I bought some at a hobby show, put them in my wallet, & forgot about them! They cut themselves loose & vanished!
Doesn’t necessarily have to be age related.
When I was 23 I lost my model bilding side-cutters for about 4 weeks.
I had gotten some sticky water soluble goo on them when I used them
to open a tube of glue to get at the last dregs.
I washed them off and hung them to dry on the arm for the desk lamp
over my hobby desk.
A few days later I needed them and had forgotten where I put them.
Searched everywhere, first the usual places, cleaned off the whole
hobby desk (which was needed anyway …), searched all the unusual
places. Finally gave up and bought new (cheap) cutters.
The next time I sat down for some quality time, new kit and new
side cutters, I happened to look at the arm for the lamp and there
they were. I had been sitting at that desk many times in between
with the dang cutters literally 3-4 inches from my forehead …
That reminds me: how many times have I been working on a project, have forgotten that I had say, certain accessory kits and ordered the same - which all along was hiding quietly in the stash.
That’s why I keep an excel sheet listing all the stuff and what it is intended for.
Five sets of AM-tracks listed individually for five different Pz IV’s.
One line/row in the sheet lists a complete set for that specific project.
This avoids the danger of double or triple booking the same AM product for
several projects. Unassigned resources are listed as unassigned.
A quick update – this time on the second vehicle I plan to display with the RU 251 – the mighty M103A2, which I shall call an M103A2G as I plan to model this as a “What-If?” in Bundeswehr service:
This is the Takom kit, the only game in town for the A2 version, which I will Germanize with smoke dischargers and a searchlight box, or at least that’s the plan. A complex kit, especially the suspension which has taken some time; infuriatingly, I lost two road wheels, or rather parts of them, and just could not locate them; the perils of being a dining-table-top modeller I suppose. I ended up robbing the Takom A1 version (loitering in the stash) but will have obviously to think of a replacement some time; I’ve assumed – not yet checked – that the M48 wheels are one and the same? That means a resin replacement set may, may be the solution when I tackle the A1.
Afterthought: If the wheel components fled the table, I just wonder if…….
The M103 is building to be quite a monster and the finished kit may look a bit congested on the same base as the RU 251, but with a bit of careful figure-placing, some feng shui and a good back story I might bring it off(!)
I had a labour -intensive thought of depicting it and the Takom version, having modified as much as I am able (probably not much and will certainly not even approach Pavel’s magisterial fix) bit I can use the Takom version as a guide and fix where I can. Not to hoodwink the modelling punter at shows or anything, but the 2 side by side might be quite interesting. A range scenario might work, something like this:
Great to see you making a start on the M103 Brian. I’ll keep a close eye if you don’t mind, to give me a heads up for my build (not sometime soon). I’m only just back at the bench this weekend after an extended break due to much building work in the house. I need to finish off my two M41’s and the little M24, all three at the weathering stage, then they’ll be followed by a Meng AMX-30 waiting for primer, plus a Tamiya Japanese Type 74 under construction. Oh, and then there is the early M60 and M60A1 still being constructed. The early version (rounded turret) is destined to become IDF, but the A1 could well end up as a MASSTER scheme. We’ll see. Those are all 1/35, but I also have some 1/72 AFV’s to complete. Only then will I look at the M103!
On the subject of your Dragon M103, perhaps that could become a rather rusted range target …?
Frank, that’s exactly what I’ve in mind; after a somewhat lengthy (well, I do sometimes woffle on) pre-prepared back story I’ve put:
The model shown is the Takom one, depicting an M103A2G on this work-up exercise, in a meadow, looking for targets. The heavy tank was not the only new equipment making its debut: the new reconnaissance tank – the RU 251 was also deployed; here, the recce tank has stopped to appraise the M103A2G crew of the lie of the land. RU 251 was merely its developmental identification; it was more formally known as Spähpanzer Füchsin (Vixen) and would serve until 1975 when it was replaced by the Luchs. Both vehicles are heavily camouflaged with scrim netting and foliage.
I may not actually have a recce commander stepping across but I’ll try and animate the crews so the interaction is, hopefully, obvious. The 2 models will be deployed more or less as shown above; the bases I use for larger grouping of models are a tad smaller than the cutting mat displayed.
Bloody hell Terry, and I thought I had a modelling queue!
Personally I’d be tempted to put the bog standard M60 in MASSTER, but then I would.
I’m not really one for depicting rusted out vehicles, though your suggestion makes perfect sense, however, I don’t feel I have the skills, let alone the inclination(!)
Verdict on the Takom M103A2 so far: I think the suspension is a bit over complicated; certainly the instructions needed close study, but the fit and engineering is superb. It also makes sense to skip the fitting of lots of small parts to later on, and get the main build out of the way, particularly as the suspension is sort of a working one, so lots of fiddly handling which can take its toll on any small details fitted in accordance with the kit instructions’ sequence.
I’m going to take a bit of a break from the suspension and tracks (rather sucked the life out of me the last 2-3 days) and have a dabble with the turret. The overall kit is a bit of a scale monster, and will, in a way I suspect, dominate the display tables a bit. Hopefully, I’ll have it done in time for Yeovil - Sun 7 Apr; we’ll see!
