Gecko 1/35 Supacat ATMP

[Allen Dewire]

Afternoon Scratchy,

Looks like you have your hands full Andy. This is a very interesting kit you've chosen and by George, you are beating it into a nice piece of machinery...

Hunters in America used to use various types of these for duck and deer hunting. If they didn't have a dog, they could drive out and get the duck in the water. Then the EPA got down on their use...

Sorry to get off topic, but with your willpower and skills, this will turn out fantastic in the end. Gotta love the German??? jerry cans too!!!

Prost
Allen

[scottie3158]

Andy,
All looking very sweet mate.

[Guest]

Cheers Allen, it does look like a great little thing for hooning around off-road.

And thanks Paul.

[Guest]

I got the jerry can cages folded and fitted earlier. It went rather well so I'm pleased with myself. I'll probably knock them off a dozen times like the mudflaps, but at least they are on lol. Cans are a bit wonky but I'm sure I can fudge that.

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To continue the magical mystery tour that is the instructions, I found this. Now it's a fairly easy piece to recognise, but given the number of sprues, a clue would have helped.

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These bits at the front have a separate shackle, with a tiny pin going through to connect them to the roll cage. One of the pins decided to join several other parts in the Twilight Zone, so I shoved in a bit of 0.5mm rod, with a lump of CA glue on the end to make it resemble the other side.

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Then I started assembling the spare wheel. At first I thought having everything moulded separately was a great idea, saving a huge mould parting line down the centre of the tread, but once I started putting it together it revealed a different problem.

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It's not going to hold much air with gaps like that! I've done the best I can with filler, but it isn't easy with all of the surrounding detail. I also lost the kit valve from my tweezers, so added some rod.

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At the end of the day it'll be hidden underneath the stretcher, so probably didn't need doing, but you know how it is. I'm hoping the six main wheels, which use a different centre, are a bit better fit!

If not, at least I have the option of hiding it with mud or sand.

[Steve Jones]

Luvin your work Andy. The tyre was really poor from a kit point of view. You have done an excellent job of rectifying the situation. Great to see

[scottie3158]

That was a bad fit on the tire, lets hope the others are better. The nice work on the etch continues.

[Guest]

Thanks again Steve & Paul.

I'll be tackling the other wheels today so should find out one way or the other.

[adt70hk]

Andy

Well done for keeping going with the PE. As you say the cages have come out nicely.

ATB

Andrew

[Tarps]

Hi Andy this looks a great kit to build, plenty of etched parts to add.
Your build is looking great and I like the etched cradles holding the jerrycans.:thumb2:

[Jim R]

Hi Andy
Good stuff :thumb2: That tyre was very poor but it gave you practice in 'fiddly filling'
Jim

[Guest]

Cheers Andrew. I thought I'd replied to you earlier but I must have forgotten to press the button, so it's been sat at the bottom of my screen all day!

I'm nearly there with the etch, just the tool straps I think. Then there's plenty more once I break the figures out of their box!

Thanks Kevin and Jim. As for the tyre, a picture speaks a thousand words...

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More practice! :smiling5:

It's been a busy day but I've managed to get a bit of bench time and progressed with the driver. He needed a lot of cleaning up, and there's some more work to do, and some filling, but at least I know I can get him in & out. The "handlebars" should sit more horizontal, and they are holding him up in his seat a little, but that's because the connecting thingy is a bit long. I'll trim it later. He sits better when I press him down, but didn't think you'd want my fat fingers in the picture!

A bit more trimming and I think I've cracked it.

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[Steve Brodie]

despite your issues with the kit, its coming along very nicely.

[Guest]

Thanks Steve.

I'm hoping to get the build stage finished today, then I can crack on with the painting.

[stillp]

Coming on nicely Andy, though that kit seems to be "good in parts".
Pete

[Lee Drennen]

Andy. Looking very well the PE work is impressive