Dave Ward's Meng 1/35 FT-17 & extras

[Dave Ward]

Mr Benson has already blogged a FT-17, but mine is the cheaper boxing, without engine etc, and a riveted turret.....[ATTACH]316437[/ATTACH]
Nice mouldings - including a Hotchkiss m.g
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Meng went to a lot of trouble, moulding the roadwheels in one piece
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Two schemes, one American, one Chinese, neither of which I will be using
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As add-ons for a small diorama....
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The crew figures look OK
[ATTACH]316434[/ATTACH]Not sure about the motorbike wheels, though[ATTACH]316436[/ATTACH]

All of this will be mounted, somehow on this cobbled street section
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Construction will be starting shortly.....................
Dave

[Si Benson]

Hope you enjoy the build as much as I did Dave, without the interior it goes together quite quickly:thumb2:

[Dave Ward]

Finally got back to the bench - I've had a few health problems that have laid me low, but I've made a start on the FT-17. I've gone out of sequence of the instructions, and started with the suspension, as wanted it all to dry before going any further
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Return rollers - each consisting of 9 plastic bits & 1 metal pin!
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Road wheel bogies - all the bits at the bottom make up the two assemblies at the top ( same bits either side ).
Some of the parts had ejector pin marks that needed cleaning up, so the wheels would fit neatly [ATTACH]316780[/ATTACH]
Meng would have you assemble the bogies so that the roadwheels can rotate, but I cannot see any reason you would want to, it makes assembly very difficult ( & fragile ). Anyway, the wheels are fixed, but the bogie mount beams are moveable.
So far, fit has been good, but rather fiddly, due to the small pieces. I'm surprised at the clean up on parts so far, I don't associate this with Meng, at all
Dave

[Jim R]

Hi Dave
Looks well detailed but more clean up needed than there should be. Sprue attachment points look a bit heavy on some pieces. If you get the motor cycle frame off in one piece you'll have done very well. You look to have made a good start.
Hope you're feeling better.
Jim

[Dave Ward]

A little more holding my breath, and the left hand suspension is assembled, just a few bits of PE to be added - the right hand will have to wait until tomorrow[ATTACH]316795[/ATTACH][ATTACH]316796[/ATTACH]
The roadwheels & bogies are hardly visible, and will become even less, when the tracks are added.
I took up my extra sharp sprue cutters, and very carefully extracted the motorbike frame
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in one piece! phew - that's enough for one day - back to bed :sleeping:
Dave

[papa 695]

Very nice start Dave.

[Dave Ward]

Both suspension assemblies completed - not sure why the PE bits couldn't have been made of plastic.................[ATTACH]316856[/ATTACH]
The internals and floor pan assembled - in the top range model, there are an engine + other bits added, but detail stops at the drivers seat in mine.[ATTACH]316857[/ATTACH]
Other minor details prepared, the tail skid, and the main suspension springs - not sure about these 'working' springs - probably I'll make it all solid[ATTACH]316858[/ATTACH]
That's it for the day
Dave

[Dave Ward]

Very good session today, the bits seemed to fly together - excellent fit & a minimum of clean up. The hull is more or less complete, the front hatches are left off, so I can paint the drivers area..................
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The riveted turret is 8 separate flat sides - tricky little assembly to get all pieces to join the top and bottom plates[ATTACH]316907[/ATTACH]
The front gun mount plate is left off at the moment - I can't decide whether to use the 37mm cannon, or the Hotchkiss m.g.
I've just about reached the stage of priming - I've got a set of AK French WWI AFV colours for the final camo finish
Dave

[Dave Ward]

Last few details added, and the outside & inside primed. The interior of the turret, and the crew compartment have the white basecoat added[ATTACH]317454[/ATTACH][ATTACH]317455[/ATTACH][ATTACH]317453[/ATTACH]
I'll have to decide which colour to use as basecoat - 'Milky Coffee' looks to be the lightest ( yes, that's what it's called ). I'm going to use the Hotchkiss m.g. in the turret - as Mr Benson used the 37mm cannon!
Dave

[Dave Ward]

Hull and turret basecoated with 'Milky Coffee'. I'm sure that should be 'Café au lait' but that's what AK call it[ATTACH]317537[/ATTACH]
I'll leave this overnight to really dry, then green, and red/brown camo will be applied, by brush, as it's only a small model & masking would take more time than doing it by hand.
The tracks clip together ( some better than others ), 32 links a side, but you seem to get quite a few spares[ATTACH]317539[/ATTACH]
Legs and torsos..............[ATTACH]317536[/ATTACH]

And, that motorbike, a real b****r to assemble - the parts are small and thin - not sure about the wheel spokes - maybe they'll look better under paint
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No real problems so far, only fat fingers & tiny parts!
Dave

[Dave Ward]

Camouflage applied, using the hairy stick..........................[ATTACH]317614[/ATTACH][ATTACH]317615[/ATTACH]
This version doesn't have the black lines between the colours. It all looks far too bright and clean at the moment, but that won't last!
Dave

[Dave Ward]

The tank is essentially finished, just the tools to add, before I start to throw dirt at it. The tracks were a good fit, 32 links a side, as per instructions - I ran liquid poly into the joints after I'd fitted them, to keep them snug.[ATTACH]317692[/ATTACH][ATTACH]317693[/ATTACH]

The crew have been assembled - without heads, and I've started a hunt for my nearest to 'horizon bleu'. I'll probably mix up a bit - I'm not buying another paint pot, just for their trousers - anyway, I bet they were pretty dirty after bouncing around in the tank, or riding a motorbike![ATTACH]317694[/ATTACH]
Isn't it amazing how primer shows up the mould lines?
Dave

[Dave Ward]

I've decalled the tank - such as they are & started a bit of a wash...............
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A long way to go on that!
Now, that motorbike - [ATTACH]318114[/ATTACH]
This is one of the fiddliest assemblies I have ever completed! 27 tiny parts - not very clear instructions, and fat fingers! I managed to get the parts off the sprue without breakage ( a miracle on it's own ). Assembling them & getting them straight ( that saddle looks wonky, now! ) was a real struggle, and it nearly ended up in the bin several times - anyway, assembled & primed
Dave

[Guest]

Well done Dave, great patience and skills.

[Dave Ward]

I've managed to find the resin cobbled street section I intend to use as base ( I'd tidied it away! ). This will be the layout...........[ATTACH]318278[/ATTACH]
At the moment, I'm finding it difficult to sit down & paint the figures - especially the heads ( still on the sprue ). I'll have to find a way to fasten the bits down, probably stubs of wire into drilled holes. Conscious of the 11th fast approaching..........
Dave