Looking forward to seeing this one progress, Mark! I think there's a thread here I created showing how to add a plastic turret ring to the DEF turret, since it has none and is impossible to locate properly on the hull otherwise. Personally, I think that the back of DEF's bustle is a little sharp in shape, but my eyes may net be calibrated the same as yours (or anyone elses).
"You could probably use some armor. A Sherman can give you a very nice...edge!"
Post by Mark Aldrich on Mar 20, 2017 8:27:31 GMT -5
Greg,
I just ran two pieces of .10x.250 strip styrene around the inner opening. I am only planning on having a Commander figure inside so nothing will be seen. There is much more wrong with the DEF turret (size wise). See a review here.....
I am still up in the air about the Commander's cupola. Luckily, I have the Dragon Operation Cobra ring but I might just use the Tasca split ring to make it more odd. I have to research the radio antenna bases for this one. Not sure if they were still using British ones or the more modern American looking ones.
Yes, I knew that the bustle was .160" too short...forgot about that in my first reply. That was one of the things that compelled me to make my own a few years ago. I have two DEF turrets; one I've fixed and the other one I haven't.
"You could probably use some armor. A Sherman can give you a very nice...edge!"
Post by Mark Aldrich on Mar 20, 2017 12:29:25 GMT -5
Well, thanks to TAMIYA USA, I am going to be going with the all vision cupola (assuming one of the ones I ordered works). I just ordered the J sprue (M1 Sherman) and the C sprue (M51) so we'll see. Holy crap....you cut through that huge assed chunk of resin bustle? Still a braver man than I.
. Holy crap....you cut through that huge assed chunk of resin bustle? Still a braver man than I.
Not that hard, really...just take a razor saw and cut downward just behind the antenna pots. Then add four rectangles of .040 styrene, and grind & sand everything to shape. The underside of the bustle does need some serious grinding when this is done, because it moves the curvature too far aft. But with patience and repeated checks using Manasherob's drawings, it will get dialed in.
"You could probably use some armor. A Sherman can give you a very nice...edge!"
Post by Mark Aldrich on Mar 20, 2017 16:15:20 GMT -5
OK. So did you use a jig to make your bustle rail? I suck at bending anything. Even when I tried to make those steps out of brass strip they were not the same. I have made a over head copy of The M50 turret and attempted bending it twice and still doesn't look right.
Not a jig so much as patience. I use plastic rod for the standoffs, and use calipers and a straightedge to keep the ends even. Then I start bending brass to match, and it usually takes a while. For bending, it helps to have some small round-nose pliers on the bench.
"You could probably use some armor. A Sherman can give you a very nice...edge!"
Also use a mini-drill to carefully drill holes in the turret wall forward of the bustle. That way you can make the rail slightly long on the sides and slide it into the turret shell for a stronger bond. You do have one challenge unique to doing a very early M50: Your rail has to be pretty straight and uniform. They did get bent and dinged in service, so a later tank can legitimately have an irregular rail.
"You could probably use some armor. A Sherman can give you a very nice...edge!"
Post by Mark Aldrich on Apr 20, 2017 16:37:49 GMT -5
It appears that the DEF turret was modified off a Dragon master. The Tamiya Cupolas are both almost an 8th of an inch wider than the Dragon (Operation Cobra) counterpart. Tonight is our club's build night so I will get some DS tracks glued together, fix the rear headlight guards that I have broke and turret work. According to Doctor Robert, the IDF used both the #19 conical British antenna base(behind the loader) and the U.S. SCR-610 base (behind the Commander).
Post by Mark Aldrich on Apr 23, 2017 21:54:35 GMT -5
Current progress. Ran into a snag. I ordered some exhaust deflectors from Shapeways and based on my understanding of how they are supposed to be attached, there is no detail on the outward facing side. I emailed the designer to make sure I was attempting to attach them properly and then I'll go from there. I have never had a issue with shapeways stuff before. Yep, I was putting it on backwards based on pictures I have. He showed he a great side view of how it was supposed to be installed. Definitely not designed for installation on a Composite rear end. Found another great set and this one really fits the bill for the early M50 builds. Comes with several different launchers, early phone box and mounts for the doors. Hoping this one will only need some extended upper or lower styrene arms to make it work.
Post by Mark Aldrich on May 8, 2017 6:50:40 GMT -5
Was a breeze and had I had it before I built so much would have been a piece of cake. However, the smoke launchers will not work with the DEF turret. DEF created sunken depressions for their launchers on the turret. The Shapeways parts are much smaller. The really sucky part is that the DEF launchers don't fit their own depressions well. Isn't model building a blast?
Was a breeze and had I had it before I built so much would have been a piece of cake. However, the smoke launchers will not work with the DEF turret. DEF created sunken depressions for their launchers on the turret. The Shapeways parts are much smaller. The really sucky part is that the DEF launchers don't fit their own depressions well. Isn't model building a blast?
Mark, fill the depressions with squares of styrene strip, edge with putty, and sand it smooth. Then you'll have a more uniform surface for the smoke tube mounts. These kind of cross-kitting challenges are what keeps us coming back to the bench, aren't they?
"You could probably use some armor. A Sherman can give you a very nice...edge!"
Post by Mark Aldrich on May 15, 2017 14:30:04 GMT -5
I could have but the idea of doing a late model Alef still in Dark Brown OD with a white stripe running down the barrel has some appeal. This project has unfortunately been shelved while I work on a Review kit of the AFV Club Rochev.
