1/35 Challenger 2 TES Rye Field Model RM5039

[Old Collingwood]

2 minutes ago, mtaylor said:

Looking super good bashing this model, OC.  

Thank you kindly Mark,  its  a lot of imagination work  - trying to  work out how it all fits together in the real turret, would have been so much easier if they had made it a Full detail kits  like it is with the M1, but guess  not as much fun  as bashing it this way.

 

OC.

[Canute]

Getting artsy with the mantlet shot. Well done, OC.

[Old Collingwood]

12 minutes ago, Canute said:

Getting artsy with the mantlet shot. Well done, OC.

Thanks Ken,  I just stuck the part of the phone lens close to the opening and fired away.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Evening all  - more turret building  starting with adding some control panels to the turret walls and some other bits and pieces,  then I worked on the  sighting equipement - these were made up from the M1  parts but modified to  simulate as much as possible to the Chally versions, they  were then placed  where they go.

 

Some more cheely views through the turret  holes.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Evening all,   a bit more done this eve  -  I made the Two radio sets and fitted them on the rear bulkhead next to where ther APFDS  rounds are kept, then I  made the forward hull bulkhead, this needed a bit of  trimming to get it to fit, I then made the  forward turret  second stage  ammo bags  frame, and glued  in place a few of the resin  bags.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

I had a break from modeling last night as I was watching  some rubbish tv  (makes a change me  sitting in the chair focused on the TV)    however I have brought some  washes  for  my Chally and M1 build, these are the  AK Dust  and  Ammo  by Mig  Dark Brown Wash,  trouble is I diddn't realize that they are enamel  based, so whe I get round to painting/weathering  the different  paint types will be  -  Tamiya rattle can surface primer  - its an alcohol based acrylic I believ, then the main paint layer  again Tamiya rattle can  same as the primer,  then the Enamel washes and highlighting  followed by  the Tamiya Flat top coat  again rattle can  alcohol based  laquaer  (same one I applied over my planes).

 

Hope it all plays ball.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Evening all,    painting day  - started with about Four thin layers of dull White,  then  it was the turn of the Black details, after this was dry  I did a couple of thin watered down washes - this was then brushed off to leave just a few stained area, then I did some detail painting  this was followed up with a  bit of highlighting  - I think it will do considering it wont be seen.

 

OC.

[Canute]

Oh, but you'll know its alright inside the tank.

[Old Collingwood]

10 minutes ago, Canute said:

Oh, but you'll know its alright inside the tank.

Indeed mate.

 

OC.

[lmagna]

There is A LOT more electronics inside that turret than there was inside the M-60 I got to ride in once 50+ years ago! Nice work.

[Old Collingwood]

13 hours ago, lmagna said:

There is A LOT more electronics inside that turret than there was inside the M-60 I got to ride in once 50+ years ago! Nice work.

Thanks Lou,   yep they are very advanced these days - but bet  that M60 ride was  fun?

 

OC.

[lmagna]

2 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

but bet  that M60 ride was  fun?

Yeah it was certainly something! I was standing in the loaders hatch looking down on the world from the great iron beast, lord of all I could see, watching all of the little surfs clearing intersections as we blasted through without having to stop. I probably had a grin that went from side to side as far as it would stretch. Could not hear a thing over the massive diesel engine and as I was just a passenger did not have a helmet that connected me in with the TC or driver. All of the sudden I was slammed down from above by the TC and when I regained my wits looked up through the hatch to see power lines going by almost within touching distance over the tank. Obviously I was not aware of what to look for when traveling tank style.

[Old Collingwood]

Evening all, bit of  a late update  - I am currently working on the Breech mechanism  attaching it to the cradle and the mantlet, I have used a few of the stock M1 parts for this but going by the Chally photos I have, I am modifying it somewhat  to show some quite good detail, I will be leaving it in a free elevation  state by  just gluing the two locating lugs down but leaving the trunion lugs un-glued.

Pics tomorrow.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

4 minutes ago, lmagna said:

Yeah it was certainly something! I was standing in the loaders hatch looking down on the world from the great iron beast, lord of all I could see, watching all of the little surfs clearing intersections as we blasted through without having to stop. I probably had a grin that went from side to side as far as it would stretch. Could not hear a thing over the massive diesel engine and as I was just a passenger did not have a helmet that connected me in with the TC or driver. All of the sudden I was slammed down from above by the TC and when I regained my wits looked up through the hatch to see power lines going by almost within touching distance over the tank. Obviously I was not aware of what to look for when traveling tank style.

That is so cool mate  - not envious at all you ....you  person.😁

They can  move quite quick aswel  30-40mph on the roads I understand?   always loved the bulk and shape of the M6A3, did the Tamiya one  years back.

 

OC.

[lmagna]

47 minutes ago, Old Collingwood said:

They can  move quite quick aswel  30-40mph on the roads I understand?

Probably not that fast, maybe 20-30 at the most but when traveling in any armored vehicle you FEEL you are going much faster while sitting in the open hatch. I trained in M-113 APCs at pretty much the same time and I can vouch that they were almost twice as fast as the M-60 During my six months of Advanced Infantry Training I spent considerable time driving and training in M-113s and the smaller M-114. After all that time and money spent on me learning how to drive, arm, and operate these vehicles and their guns, two days after arriving in Vietnam I was a helicopter door gunner and never set foot in a armored vehicle again. The military operates in strange ways. 

Edited February 16, 2021 by lmagna

[Old Collingwood]

11 minutes ago, lmagna said:

Probably not that fast, maybe 20-30 at the most but when traveling in any armored vehicle you FEEL you are going much faster while sitting in the open hatch. I trained in M-113 APCs at pretty much the same time and I can vouch that they were almost twice as fast as the M-60 During my six months of Advanced Infantry Training I spent considerable time driving and training in M-113s and the smaller M-114. After all that time and money spent on me learning how to drive, arm, and operate these vehicles and their guns, two days after arriving in Vietnam I was a helicopter door gunner and never set foot in a armored vehicle again. The military operates in strange ways. 

You should get a kit of a M113  Lou,  would be so fitting  and kind of your - getting them back for not  letting you loose  in one - in service.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Interesting find for when I do my MIA2 Up armoured.

 

OC.

 

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/8144/u-s-army-m1-abrams-tanks-in-europe-are-getting-explosive-reactive-armor

 

https://www.tankroar.com/2020/08/03/abrams/

Edited February 16, 2021 by Old Collingwood

[lmagna]

No need to get anyone back. When I got the chance to fly rather than plow through the mud I jumped at the opportunity! Armored vehicle life is really no fun at all. They are loud, (Well I suppose helicopters are a little loud as well) they always stink of diesel, they require a lot of maintenance............ remember that mud? that seems to be when they need all the maintenance! Everything is heavy and seems to have sharp edges And if you hit yourself against it accidently you almost always end up bleeding.😭 They are hot as H*ll in the summer and can burn at the touch, and likewise if you touch the side of an M-113 in the winter with no gloves on you can stick to it. Ask me how I know.

 

But yes I built one MANY years ago and I think I did a pretty good job. But like virtually all of my military things from before forty years ago, my ex-wife decided I had no need of them and they were burned, trashed, or given away. I have replacements in my stash but like so many things I have never gotten around to them. Armor never was a big attraction to me for some reason.

Edited February 16, 2021 by lmagna

[Egilman]

6 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

I will be leaving it in a free elevation  state by  just gluing the two locating lugs down but leaving the trunion lugs un-glued.

In your figurations brother, make sure to balance the barrel against the breech mechanism, the same weight on both sides of the trunnion point, this way the barrel won't droop down when on display....

 

Without the balance, eventually the barrel will fall, there is nothing you can do for it, it's inevitable......

 

Beautiful kitbash my friend.....

[Egilman]

2 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

Interesting find for when I do my MIA2 Up armoured.

 

OC.

 

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/8144/u-s-army-m1-abrams-tanks-in-europe-are-getting-explosive-reactive-armor

 

https://www.tankroar.com/2020/08/03/abrams/

Tell you what, just like the Helicopter and Hellfire, (now hellfire II) put paid to the idea of massed tank assaults, the automatic remote drone is going to do for tanks what the dive bomber did for battleships.......

 

Make them worthless on the battlefield.... 

[Old Collingwood]

11 hours ago, Egilman said:

In your figurations brother, make sure to balance the barrel against the breech mechanism, the same weight on both sides of the trunnion point, this way the barrel won't droop down when on display....

 

Without the balance, eventually the barrel will fall, there is nothing you can do for it, it's inevitable......

 

Beautiful kitbash my friend.....

I will try to conterbalance the weight so its neutral at the trunnion point.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Evening all,   the  gun Breech I complete  - built painted and weathered slightly,    think I  have done a reasonable job of it.

 

OC.

[Edwardkenway]

Great work on the bashed turret, I would not know it wasn't designed specifically for the Challenger if you hadn't said😉

[Old Collingwood]

13 minutes ago, Edwardkenway said:

Great work on the bashed turret, I would not know it wasn't designed specifically for the Challenger if you hadn't said😉

Thank you kindly mate,    yep quite a bit of thought process  gone into that  - also the majority of the Internals form the M1  kit  (no problem though as I will  be building that one with lots of extaernal goodies).

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Thinking about what EG  said regarding the counter balance on the piviot  point, I could perhaps rig up a  small  length of chain that would be hidden  close to the breech /body  near the inner mantlet, this could keep the barrel  from   level to max elevation, but  the natural counter balance  weight  at the piviot point  should  keep it level and pull against the chain, it would still be free enought to elevate the barrel thought,    and would not be seen........ideas.......ideas.

 

OC.

Edited February 17, 2021 by Old Collingwood

[Egilman]

6 hours ago, Old Collingwood said:

Evening all,   the  gun Breech I complete  - built painted and weathered slightly,    think I  have done a reasonable job of it.

 

14 minutes ago, Old Collingwood said:

Thinking about what EG  said regarding the counter balance on the piviot  point, I could perhaps rig up a  small  length of chain that would be hidden  close to the breech /body  near the inner mantlet, this could keep the barrel  from   level to max elevation, but  the natural counter balance  weight  at the piviot point  should  keep it level and pull against the chain, it would still be free enought to elevate the barrel thought,    and would not be seen........ideas.......ideas.

 

OC.

Looks good brother, what I would do is glue a flat piece of metal to the underside of the breech where it wouldn't be seen, sufficient to balance the larger barrel.... It's won't take much at all....

[Old Collingwood]

Do you know - I thought about that brother,  I will have a look through my "odds and ends" tub in my work box, I have a few pieces of small PE  already fixed under neath as they  were intended to be, but even that was not enough weight,  where the swivel points are between the lugs and the points are polly caps  - so I am hoping it might be a  nice tight fit requiring  some movement to elevate the barrel  and elliminate  barrel droop/sag.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Evening All,   another sloppy moment  - I have done some  building and  painting but  foregot to take any pics  (I will go and stand in the corner)😁   so  -  firstly It was time to sort out those lovely tiny Accuarte Armour ammo sets, the idea was/is to assemble about Eight together on the rear of the turret on the shelf there,  I decided it would be easier if I made a card base and super glued first on line of Four APFDS  rounds, followed by another Four ontop of these, I had to messa round with the card to get it to fit,   It was super glued down then the cap ends were painted an Off Yellow colour.

I also decided to place a single  "ready round"  near to the loaders  position, this was glued in place first  then painted  in its  - Yellow - end cap,  Mid Blue  - Body  and the pointer end  - Aluminium.

 

I have decided the best way to paint is  to do some of  it by hand  and the bulk of it by rattle can,   I started  by priming  (by hand)  with Vallejo surface primer Black  under the turret bottom, this took several coats by brush and also Very very hard to get a dead smooth finish,   next for brushing was the gun barrel and sight, again this took  Three or Four watered down coats of Primer  (to stop it going on too thick),   when dry enough I opened my fresh jar of Tamiya Acrylic  Nato Green  and proceeded to paint over the primer,   a few coats  down  - I think it has covered ok?    the good thing is any brush marks can be smoothed out when fully set uisng a fine rag/cloth.

 

OC.

[Old Collingwood]

Evening all  some good proress,    I finished off painting inside the turret,   then I added a few of the support brackets on the outside,  then after doing several checks I decided now was the time to glue the barrel/breech  in place - I decided to glue the barrel at a set elevation, then after letting it set for an hour or so - I buttoned up the turret.

After letting it set I had a few fittings to fit to the top of the turret  - this includes a rather nice rubber seal between the mantlet  and the turret roof,   at the opposite end - underneath there is a slight gap, I cut a 2mm  length of PE  and glued that in place, the last thing I did this evening  was to make and fit the Two grenade launchers  these include a rather nice PE frame.

 

I had a go at doing some  "through the hatch"  pics  - a bit difficult  but kind of worked.

 

OC.

[mtaylor]

Having the interior detailed adds quite a bit to anyone who examines your tank, OC.   I'm liking what you've done alot.