Trumpeter .Ch tz s65 Tractor Diorama

[Jim R]

Hi John
Interesting history. Far more captured equipment was pressed into service by all sides than one would imagine.
As for the Plastic Mat Monster - pesky little critter he is. Just having his bit of fun at your expense.
Jim

[JR]

Hi Steve and Jim.
Steve....... Yes maybe a bad idea then :tongue-out3:
Jim....... I had no idea of how much it was done. As it's mentioned in the Tankograd book the Germans had massive parks of captured vehicles after the start of the war. There is one photo of numerous St65's lined up like a second hand tractor dealer.

Just a few photos today, not taken in the new light tent as I'm surrounded by 4 ladies who have returned from an annual lunch that they have.

Most of the engine detailing is done, I've left off many of the protruding items from exterior as all the moving around to get the cab to fit will result in them snapping.
Tracks!! Not my favorite thing as many of you know. The only tracks I have ever liked are the metal ones with the clips for joining.

These with the kit are 3 part, a track plate, and 2 links in a very a thin brown plastic. The pin holes are of course very small, and you need to line up the two track links in one go. A rather slow process.

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The cab is having to be raised by 3mm . I took a section of 266 4.8mm Evergreen channel removing one edge of the channel leaving the 3mm required. The cab is only placed on for the photo as I need to cut and angle the return under the doors.
I can see this part of the build will take some dry runs as I need to get the the driver in, his seat and make the window screen and door glazing as I have no idea where the original parts have gone ! I don't think the 3mm raised section will look out of place as these types of field modifications would have used any available material, a bit like me.:tongue-out3:
Returning to the tracks, I've found the kit instructions, a drawing only are not really clear as to which step to do first. Proberly not to an more experienced modeller.Using the intruction from PMMS has made the whole thing easier Laugh now should you wish but being left handed does effect the way I understand and read drawings, I don't know if I'm alone on this .:smirk:

Right leaving you to ponder thank you for looking in .
Comments ,abuse from the rabbel, suggestions to take up another hobby welcome .:tongue-out3::tongue-out3::smiling2:
John .

[scottie3158]

John,
Sorry to hear about your build woes. It is a pain in the Ar*& when instructions are not clear, I am struggling with the etch instructions.

[Guest]

Track links? Give me a rubber band! Fine work that man. You're really getting into this super detailing lark.

[JR]

Thanks Paul..... Its nice to know that someone like you finds the instruction somewhat odd .


Some of the etch on this was 4 bolt head s! Needless to say I didn't bother and used 4 Master bolt head instead. Mind you these were fun , stuck them down in the end with matt varnish as every time I tried to use CA it stuck to the needle !
Peter .... Thanks , I think the word Track should be classed along with the name MiniArt !
I'm enjoying the build more than some of the past ones, the cab is fun as is the engine.
Thanks guys .
John .

[Dave Ward]

John,
having worked through this model a while ago I had a thought - if you are not bothered about 'working' links - assemble the links ( TR2 & TR3 ) together first in runs, before adding the track plates TR1. You should be able to do this around the idlers & sprockets as well, ie a chain of links then adding all the track plates. It's not that bad, only 34 links a side!
Cheers
Dave

[Guest]

Looks great so far, you're doing a grand job.

[Si Benson]

Morning John,
Looking very good and pretty close to finishing the build:thumb2:
Getting the cab and associated parts together sounds like it may test your patience :upside:....I’m sure you’ll get it sorted mate!
Si

[Steve Jones]

As he peered through the morning gloom as the fog decended on Shez Race, I spotted a faint outline of a beast coming towards me. Was it a bird, was it a plane, was it Superman? No it was a Russian Resin racer!!! I know you get all steamed up and emotional when you model mate but you may want to give the lens a quick wipe over next time:smiling5:

Despite the issues mate this build is looking great. Hopefully you have managed to get it sorted now:thumb2:

Steve

[Si Benson]

As he peered through the morning gloom as the fog decended on Shez Race, I spotted a faint outline of a beast coming towards me. Was it a bird, was it a plane, was it Superman? No it was a Russian Resin racer!!! I know you get all steamed up and emotional when you model mate but you may want to give the lens a quick wipe over next time:smiling5:

Despite the issues mate this build is looking great. Hopefully you have managed to get it sorted now:thumb2:

Steve

[COLOR=rgb(65, 168, 95)]And there was me thinking John was going for a sultry, sensual modelling style:tongue-out3:[/COLOR]

[JR]

Morning from the mists of southern Lincs .

Dave...... Thanks fot that suggestion, seems that might be better for me . They remind me very much of those on the Komsomolets T20 , I was beaten by those , but determined this time they will go on . Unfortunately there are no aftermarket metal tracks available, I looked at the US Dozers, but they had less links, but the same configuration. I shall try that method you suggested later .

Ken ... Thanks .

Si......... Having got the rear of the cab correct in hight, the returns although fiddly due the the length should ok .Have plenty of those Yoghurt pot lids ready for the " glass " and some clear canopy glue.

:tongue-out3:Steve....... Loved the reply ....... It's artistic licence don't you know to use a soft lens in the production of photos in some circules. ! :smiling3::smiling3: ........,..Unfortunately I decided when I replied to you and Jim to show what I was doing, I used my tablet. Hence the special effects .
Yes should be a lot easier with Dave's suggestion. Tracks are not in my top 10 of enjoyable sections model building !

Thanks for looking in and the support...........
John

[JR]

:smiling2:. ,Si. just saw this after posting the above . Very true, bit like those early films, and no I wasn't there ! But have seen them on TV .
John :upside:

[JR]

Right gang.
Today after the tip from Dave I set to and did the links, all went reasonably well . I struggled at times to see even with the 2.5 glasses on. Its just the depth of field that I lack using my good eye. I loose depth pretty quickly and this was the problem, joining the completed pairs to the next link. They moved about, even though I left them for several minutes.

When the time came to wrap them around the drive wheel and along the top over the rollers and onto the return all went well. It started to go a bit pair shaped when I started to put the plates on. On the drive wheel all was ok , so I continued doing the under side, making sure the tracks, or links were tight . It was at this point the pins refused to come through the plate....... I realised loads of the links had slightly twisted, thus causing the pins to be out of line. Too fragile to sand the pins off I removed them with the snips, pushing down the plates as I progressed. All good I thought until the return roller part.
At this point is was a matter of turning the model on its side and seeing that the plates lined up with the link, of course now the plates are are at their maximum space most of them were ok, just one or two looking a bit shabby. The top line of track was the most problematic, I couldn't get the snips under the deck plate, ......... so drilled the plates out! resulting in most of them fitting reasonably well.


Just one thing , while trimming the plates I managed to fire one about 8 inches straight in to the open TET bottle, :flushed::flushed::flushed:at first I could't see it , then peering into the bottle there it was. quickly remove and stuck on the base track.:hungry:

Definitely going to be a case of MUD and more MUD.
I just don't get on with plastic tracks, and have come to the conclusion that for me the metal ones are the way to go.
Saddened that the tracks for me have let this build down, as I was enjoying it so much. Tomorrow I will attempt to press on with other side , hopefully I will have learn't from this and might be able to improve. :disappointed:


With out Dave's tip I don't think I would have managed this today so thanks again Dave :thumb2::thumb2::thumb2:

Here for those of a strong constitution are some photos, any one needing counselling after this are advised to ring the Help Line. Or 110

The first shot is for Steve....... no misty shot here mate. :hugging-face:
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Now hold on chaps .


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Now a question , these are my fillers, had the Squadron Green for about 2 years, seems soft inside the tube, the Deluxe Plastic Putty also seems ok, not as old as the first one, but when I used it on some molding marks on the inside of the doors it didn't seem to sand very well, in fact most of it came off . I had allowed it to dry overnight as well . Perhaps the door needed washing first .
I shall need to fill under the screen after it is fitted, and don't want to mess it up.

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Thanks for looking in. Comments needed please .
John .

[Dave Ward]

John,
Ah well, as you say, plenty of mud. I think those CHTz links are on a par with the HobbyBoss Schneider for difficulty of assembly. Having said that - I have a Bronco A13 MkII Cruiser IV in my stash - I have opened the box, and looked at it many times, but one glance reminds me of the TINY individual track links ( 240+! ), and it goes back to the bottom of the pile! ( and I have to go and sit down......)
Dave

[JR]

Hi Dave .
Makes me feel somewhat better when I read that I'm not alone with these type of tracks . In this case lucky that there weren't as many as you have mentioned on that Bronco .:surprised: That would be a link to far .
John .