1/6th scale Dragon M4A3 build and comment thr
California, United States
Joined: July 02, 2009
KitMaker: 962 posts
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Posted: Thursday, July 04, 2013 - 01:01 PM UTC
Carl
Your build is fantastic I not trying to kill the kit, I can't wait to see the finished tank, I just can't believe the condition of the kit. one thing you could look at is the address and logos on the box and compare to a 1/35 kit I am just curious. I hope the make more of this size, Panther, Tiger Russian . I think this was a test for the market, and the 50 Cal will be cool
I watch every post. Keep up the good work
Jim
We don't need no education...
We don't need no thought control...
No dark sarcasm in the classroom...
Teacher leave those kids alone!
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
KitMaker: 3,581 posts
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Posted: Thursday, July 04, 2013 - 01:42 PM UTC
I built the .50, so I will have it to measure the width to make the mount for the TC's cupola. Sadly the 50 has a more modern ammo box, So I will forego "loading" it, though I will have to make the ammo box holder.
I am sanding and shaping my bullet deflector in front of the cupola, and it is looking good.It is an easier redetail job, than I thought it was going to be.
California, United States
Joined: July 02, 2009
KitMaker: 962 posts
Armorama: 786 posts
Posted: Thursday, July 04, 2013 - 02:11 PM UTC
Carl
Could you shoot some pictures of your progress so far kind of a over all? I am still on the fence for this kit of the Merit 1/200 Hornet.Thanks
Jim
We don't need no education...
We don't need no thought control...
No dark sarcasm in the classroom...
Teacher leave those kids alone!
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
KitMaker: 3,581 posts
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Posted: Friday, July 05, 2013 - 02:50 AM UTC
okay,Jim, here ya go Overall front, top is not glues to lower
![](../../img.photobucket.com/albums/v439/TankCarl/OA5.jpg)
General top of turret,thats part of the 50 on TC hatch
![](../../img.photobucket.com/albums/v439/TankCarl/OA4.jpg)
Upper view of rear, with exhaust air deflector
![](../../img.photobucket.com/albums/v439/TankCarl/OA3.jpg)
3/4 rt front, gun isn't secured in turret.I am going to put more paint on it, after fixing seam.
[URL=http://smg.photobucket.com/user/TankCarl/media/OA2.jpg.html]
![](../../img.photobucket.com/albums/v439/TankCarl/OA2.jpg)
[/URL
If you can wait until I am done, before deciding, you can determine if the chance of having badly formed parts / missing loose parts,is enough to stop you.I think any of the redetailing I did, is easy to do, if you have basic tools, and supplies.
California, United States
Joined: July 02, 2009
KitMaker: 962 posts
Armorama: 786 posts
Posted: Friday, July 05, 2013 - 03:46 AM UTC
WOW
We don't need no education...
We don't need no thought control...
No dark sarcasm in the classroom...
Teacher leave those kids alone!
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
KitMaker: 3,581 posts
Armorama: 2,782 posts
Posted: Friday, July 05, 2013 - 03:50 AM UTC
just thinking,
If I jump through all the hoops with Dragon Care,and get an unsatisfactory result, I will build it as a "Shame on Dragon" display for Armoreast..
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
KitMaker: 3,581 posts
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Posted: Sunday, July 07, 2013 - 04:28 AM UTC
Detailing the spare track holders
![](../../img.photobucket.com/albums/v439/TankCarl/Holderbits.jpg)
![](../../img.photobucket.com/albums/v439/TankCarl/Holder1.jpg)
Now, in THIS scale, I would suspect it is easy to make wingnuts,and 2 piece track holders.The part with the wingnut, is supoposed to swing down,when the nut is removed.
Indiana, United States
Joined: June 10, 2005
KitMaker: 6,188 posts
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Posted: Sunday, July 07, 2013 - 05:41 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I hope the make more of this size, Panther, Tiger Russian.
Jim
I with you Jim... I vote for a Panther! But I will still get this kit later on this year.
~ Jeff
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, July 07, 2013 - 10:45 AM UTC
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
KitMaker: 3,581 posts
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Posted: Sunday, July 07, 2013 - 11:09 AM UTC
Chopped some thin slices of round stock, for rim rivets.Also made some grease fittings on the roadwheels. 24 /wheel, 12 wheels =288 slices!
![](../../img.photobucket.com/albums/v439/TankCarl/Rivetsandfittings.jpg)
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
KitMaker: 3,581 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, July 09, 2013 - 12:41 PM UTC
Stowage rack improvements:
The parts,
![](../../img.photobucket.com/albums/v439/TankCarl/rackparts.jpg)
The result.
Florida, United States
Joined: March 25, 2008
KitMaker: 91 posts
Armorama: 90 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 - 04:12 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Chopped some thin slices of round stock, for rim rivets.Also made some grease fittings on the roadwheels. 24 /wheel, 12 wheels =288 slices!
Your Sherman is looking great Carl, you are making great progress. I am just starting on mine. What size rod did you use for the rivets on the road wheels?
Mark
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
KitMaker: 3,581 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, July 10, 2013 - 06:12 AM UTC
Hi Mark,I will message you the size when I get home.
If you havene't made a mold yet, you can save a TON of time, adding the rivets to the master, and save having to chop 288 bits.
Florida, United States
Joined: March 25, 2008
KitMaker: 91 posts
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Posted: Thursday, July 11, 2013 - 04:09 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hi Mark,I will message you the size when I get home.
If you havene't made a mold yet, you can save a TON of time, adding the rivets to the master, and save having to chop 288 bits.
That's the plan.
![](../modules/SquawkBox/images/smilies/smile.gif)
Thanks Carl
Rhode Island, United States
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Posted: Thursday, July 11, 2013 - 08:37 AM UTC
Florida, United States
Joined: March 25, 2008
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Posted: Friday, July 12, 2013 - 04:01 AM UTC
Florida, United States
Joined: August 17, 2010
KitMaker: 87 posts
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Posted: Friday, July 12, 2013 - 05:19 AM UTC
You're doing great. But I've got to echo others, I am VERY disappointed with this and the other large-scale Dragon offerings. The details you're adding are the sorts of thing's we're used to adding on a 1/35 scale tank. I would expect most of these things to be done already for such a large scale kit. They could molt footman loops, bolts, drain holes, weld marks, etc. It would be simple at that scale it seems to me. Again, you're doing great. I just can't believe Dragon gets a way with this garbage. I mean, road wheels with no rear detail. Are you kidding! Might as well be the old Tamyia kit! Absurd, IMO!
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
KitMaker: 3,581 posts
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Posted: Saturday, July 13, 2013 - 02:07 AM UTC
I hear ya, Tony.F'instance,the ventilators could be a round ring,and a separate dome cover. The wheel backs could be detailed inserts.The rivets around the edge would be problematic,blobs of glue work in 1/35th, but possibly separate nubs,would be the only way in this scale.There are limits to molding tech. My worst facepalm, is the crude Tamiay-esque lumps on the tools, representing tie down strap.
To make many of these simple fixes in the design, would increse the parts count, but would result in better detail.
On with the build
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
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Posted: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 01:32 PM UTC
Indiana, United States
Joined: June 10, 2005
KitMaker: 6,188 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, July 17, 2013 - 11:33 PM UTC
Now detail like that on the sprocket wouldn't have increased the parts count. They just got lazy there.
Nice work Carl!
![](../modules/SquawkBox/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
Jeff
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
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Posted: Thursday, July 18, 2013 - 10:28 AM UTC
Yeah how long would it take to edm that detail in the mold?
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, July 21, 2013 - 11:33 AM UTC
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
KitMaker: 3,581 posts
Armorama: 2,782 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - 01:05 PM UTC
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
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Posted: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 - 12:48 PM UTC
Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
KitMaker: 3,581 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, July 31, 2013 - 12:31 PM UTC