Saturday, August 15, 2009

Military in Scale 01 2007


Replicating the short-bodied M2(A1), the kit provides everything that you'll probably ever need to build a highly detailed model of this attractive vehicle - Photos 1 & 2. The '2 in 1' tag that accompanies the kit's main titling -along with the progressively familiar "Smart Kit' logo... leads the way to a kit that allows the production of the standard M2 with its low-profile lines, .30 Cal armament and nose mounted roller and the beefier A1 version, with pulpit mounted .50 Cal and nose mounted winch, set into a very large extension to the basic chassis. Along the way, all of the relevant internal changes are also possible, all of which are highlighted in the well-drawn instructions. Well appointed from the ground up, there is so little missing as to be almost irrelevant -unless you really must have every minute detail in place in your kits - making this a perfect 'out-of-the-box' build. From front to back, top to bottom. you'll find a complete chassis Photos 3 & 4, well appointed engine - invisible on the completed model unless you take a razor saw to the bonnet sections - sensational tracks and roadwheels, Photo 5, excellent interior and beautifully rendered body work and small details, such as the .30 and .50 Cal machine guns and their mounts.

Military in Scale 05 2007


All the major scratch building was now done and it was time to turn to the small items and the aftermarket sets that I had purchased for this model. The first items I started on were the fenders - Photo 1, I used the older Aber set for the, Panzer IV, with a multiple piece frame under the tread plate, whereas the newer one comes with this frame as one piece. The frame was soldered together because there are relatively small contact areas between each of the frame parts. Onto this the tread plate pieces were then fixed using superglue, which was chosen for two reasons; firstly, it allows me a little flexibility and extra time in the positioning of each of the tread plate pieces; secondly, my soldering skills are still fairly limited! With all the tread plates glued in place, attention turned to making the front and rear fender flaps. On a Panzer IV front fender flap, there was a metal tube along the bottom edge that followed the shape of the flap. In the Aber set however, you are given a flat etched piece for this component and it doesn't look right. Instead, I substituted it for a small strip of wire. The Aber fender flap was shimmed up with another sheet of brass to get the wire centred on the edge. It was then soldered to the Aber flap from what would become the inside of the flap.