Egyptian M31B1 |

Mark Aldrich
M4

Posts: 63

Egyptian M31B1 Aug 7, 2017 19:09:46 GMT -5

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Post by Mark Aldrich on Aug 7, 2017 19:09:46 GMT -5

So, Legend is NOT a great Company. I am using the Academy kit....Did not feel like waiting for Takom's to come out. The SOL Model M3A5 is really nice with a few issues also.

This is the turret.....How nice!

This is the Dummy Gun and Door...another winner

This is the back side of the turret....it just gets better doesn't it?

Progress so far.

TreadHead is NOT a dirty word

Cry Havoc and let Slip the Dogs of War

beekster
M4A1

Posts: 347

Egyptian M31B1 Aug 8, 2017 11:00:02 GMT -5

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Post by beekster on Aug 8, 2017 11:00:02 GMT -5

Ouch! My Legends turret does not exhibit this sunken-roof phenomenon. If you want them, I have a pair of Academy turret shells I can send you, one of which I actually started reshaping a bit using epoxy putty. As I recall, the issue that most vexed the keen-eyed reviewers was that the trunnion position on the 37mm front plate was wrong and really hard to fix. That issue doesn't exist with the flat-plate crane mount. Let me know, give me an address, and I'll mail 'em off to you, Mark.

"You could probably use some armor. A Sherman can give you a very nice...edge!"

Mark Aldrich
M4

Posts: 63

Egyptian M31B1 Aug 8, 2017 13:11:10 GMT -5

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Post by Mark Aldrich on Aug 8, 2017 13:11:10 GMT -5

Greg,
You are the man and I appreciate the offer! However, I managed to do the heat and pressure and it doesn't look so bad. I had thought of using the Academy turret as it did have texture and the faceplate fit like a glove. Now how is this for weird? I placed the Academy turret on the SOL hull and you could see the turret race around it. I placed the Legend turret on the SOL hull and it completely covers it! Go figure! After having the dummy gun door issue I pulled out My Calibre35 M31 and it was a perfect fit. The Gun didn't have the seven surface air bubbles to fill either. The Calibre35 kit does not contain either hull door. My Legends doors are both short shot with the lower lip portion missing off both!!!! Will be using the kit doors with modifications to them. Talk about a Frankenstein! I had really hoped to EBAY my Calibre35 kit but when I opened it, I must have started it back in the day as there was a Tamiya turret inside with a resin piece attached to the lower plate opening. I am guessing I started it and realized the Egyptian version needed to be a B1 and the doors were wrong and stuck it all inside for a future build.

TreadHead is NOT a dirty word

Cry Havoc and let Slip the Dogs of War

beekster
M4A1

Posts: 347

Egyptian M31B1 Aug 8, 2017 13:21:31 GMT -5

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Post by beekster on Aug 8, 2017 13:21:31 GMT -5

I've got Academy doors too, since the M3A1 Leaflet doesn't need them. If you want a set to mess with or use as templates let me know.

Legend quality is somewhat variable, with more issues cropping up in these older kits. My M31 set had warped crane booms, but I got them mostly straightened with heat. Similarly, the square-section boom pieces on the Sherman ARV Mk.1 kit are bowed, as illustrated by another member's thread here. The round turret ring cover was also not consistent in thickness. But the quality of the gray resin on their M74 kit is much better, and the degree of warping in the A-frame boom on that kit is much less than in the older, yellow-resin products.

If you don't mind, would you take your calipers to the SOL engine deck and shoot me measurements of the deck sections and the grille doors? That way I'll have a baseline to work with when I order a Takom Grant to build the 'dozer.

"You could probably use some armor. A Sherman can give you a very nice...edge!"

Mark Aldrich M4 Posts: 63	Egyptian M31B1 Aug 8, 2017 14:33:56 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Mark Aldrich on Aug 8, 2017 14:33:56 GMT -5 I SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO THAT!
	TreadHead is NOT a dirty word Cry Havoc and let Slip the Dogs of War

Mark Aldrich
M4

Posts: 63

Egyptian M31B1 Aug 28, 2017 7:19:58 GMT -5

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Post by Mark Aldrich on Aug 28, 2017 7:19:58 GMT -5

Latest progress. The boom asembly has been nothing but a pain. The USPS lost my Archer order so have been fiddling waiting for the resin welds and treadplate to arrive. Not going to be able to make it like the real one. The small weldbeads are still too big to make a four pack on the front.

TreadHead is NOT a dirty word

Cry Havoc and let Slip the Dogs of War

Mark Aldrich M4 Posts: 63	Egyptian M31B1 Sept 4, 2017 9:29:20 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Mark Aldrich on Sept 4, 2017 9:29:20 GMT -5 Here is my current progress. Along with all the fit issues, my Legend kit was also missing the left lower boom support leg. I am so lucky that I had the Calibre35 conversion as well.
	TreadHead is NOT a dirty word Cry Havoc and let Slip the Dogs of War

beekster
M4A1

Posts: 347

Egyptian M31B1 Sept 9, 2017 18:53:28 GMT -5

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Post by beekster on Sept 9, 2017 18:53:28 GMT -5

Whole lotta resin there, Mark! It is coming together nicely; the Legends & Caliber 35 parts sure look like they fit well on the SOL hull. Still, I'll stick by my decision to shelve mine and wait for the new Takom kit this fall to re-start my Bridgelayer once again.

"You could probably use some armor. A Sherman can give you a very nice...edge!"

Mark Aldrich M4 Posts: 63	Egyptian M31B1 Sept 12, 2017 11:16:03 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Mark Aldrich on Sept 12, 2017 11:16:03 GMT -5 Plus Takom announced a M31 so when that comes out I'll be buying it and hoping they announced a M3A3 version as well!
	TreadHead is NOT a dirty word Cry Havoc and let Slip the Dogs of War

beekster
M4A1

Posts: 347

Egyptian M31B1 Sept 13, 2017 10:39:20 GMT -5

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Post by beekster on Sept 13, 2017 10:39:20 GMT -5

Haven't heard about an M3A3, but the M31 and a Grant are on my list. I would think an M3A5 would be a more logical choice for a diesel variant, since more of the riveted version were made than the welded one and there would be no need to make new parts for the upper hull with weld seams instead of rivets.

"You could probably use some armor. A Sherman can give you a very nice...edge!"

Mark Aldrich M4 Posts: 63	Egyptian M31B1 Jan 4, 2018 16:19:27 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Mark Aldrich on Jan 4, 2018 16:19:27 GMT -5 With the forthcoming release of MiniArts Diesel M3 kit. This has all been boxed up and will await the release of that kit!
	Last Edit: Jan 4, 2018 16:20:06 GMT -5 by Mark Aldrich - Back to Top TreadHead is NOT a dirty word Cry Havoc and let Slip the Dogs of War

beekster M4A1 Posts: 347	Egyptian M31B1 Jan 8, 2018 17:24:33 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by beekster on Jan 8, 2018 17:24:33 GMT -5 That's probably a smart move, Mark. Now that MiniArt has announced a diesel Grant, my otherwise lovely Takom kit doesn't have a mission. I'll pick up the MiniArt M3A5 to do an Australian 'dozer conversion.
	"You could probably use some armor. A Sherman can give you a very nice...edge!"

dogfish7 M4A1 So many Shermans ..... so little time Posts: 442	Egyptian M31B1 Jan 19, 2018 18:05:11 GMT -5 Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by dogfish7 on Jan 19, 2018 18:05:11 GMT -5 Very nice progress Mark!
	Bruce

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Egyptian M31B1

Post by Mark Aldrich on Aug 7, 2017 19:09:46 GMT -5

Post by beekster on Aug 8, 2017 11:00:02 GMT -5

Post by Mark Aldrich on Aug 8, 2017 13:11:10 GMT -5

Post by beekster on Aug 8, 2017 13:21:31 GMT -5

Post by Mark Aldrich on Aug 8, 2017 14:33:56 GMT -5

Post by Mark Aldrich on Aug 28, 2017 7:19:58 GMT -5

Post by Mark Aldrich on Sept 4, 2017 9:29:20 GMT -5

Post by beekster on Sept 9, 2017 18:53:28 GMT -5

Post by Mark Aldrich on Sept 12, 2017 11:16:03 GMT -5

Post by beekster on Sept 13, 2017 10:39:20 GMT -5

Post by Mark Aldrich on Jan 4, 2018 16:19:27 GMT -5

Post by beekster on Jan 8, 2018 17:24:33 GMT -5

Post by dogfish7 on Jan 19, 2018 18:05:11 GMT -5