PJ's Tamiya 1/35 T-62A

[Guest]

I've had a closer look Jakko and everything I see - except for the gaps shown - tells me the deck fits on top and not inside.

Going by your pictures and Ron’s, I’d say my memory was wrong My excuse is that it’s been about 30 years since I built this kit …

It's a bit of a mystery as Tamiya is known for their quality of fit - although this one is a bit ancient. Maybe their designers had an off day?

Quite probably they had one with the entire kit. Like I said earlier, its’s not exactly known for its accuracy.

[spanner570]

Keep positive P.J.
Don't rush things. Just take your time.

Trust me, despite some adverse comments, it'll still make up into a nice model.

Ron

[Graeme C.]

These things are sent to try us P.J. You & Grandad will sort it, sometimes the older kits are more fun to build!

[Gern]

Some progress.

Got the wheels painted. PJ used VMA Nato Black for the tyres, and a circle template and VMA Russian Green for the wheels. Not perfect, but he's done a good job of them. Got some touch -up to do on the sprue attachments.



Also got the larger bits fitted to the hull top and turret. Got to sort out the gap between the hull and deck before we go any further.



This kit has rubber band tracks which are supposed to be joined by the time honoured method of heating a screwdriver blade and 'riveting' pegs into holes. I remember trying this as a kid and using a lot of staples or cotton stitches to finish the job having completely melted away the pegs. Anyone got any suggestions?

PS Jakko - don't worry about your 30 year old memory. I meant to say something when you posted, but by the time I'd finished reading other posts - must have been nearly 20 minutes - I'd forgotten!

[Mini Me]

Perhaps just a touch with a warmed up soldering iron?

[Tim Marlow]

Dave, tracks on this are probably a question for Ron Spanner. He’s made this kit a couple of times. I know some rubber band tracks stick with styrene glue these days, perhaps these do? Failing that, how about CA glue?

[Mark1]

I've used ca before with no problems.

[Guest]

This kit has rubber band tracks which are supposed to be joined by the time honoured method of heating a screwdriver blade and 'riveting' pegs into holes. I remember trying this as a kid and using a lot of staples or cotton stitches to finish the job having completely melted away the pegs. Anyone got any suggestions?

Don’t heat up the screwdriver to much. If it’s too cold, you can’t press the pin down at all, so heat it a little more; this is better than stoking it up far enough that you’ll melt all the way through the pin on the first attempt. And when the pin does melt, press gently with the screwdriver, to avoid the same problem.

PS Jakko - don't worry about your 30 year old memory. I meant to say something when you posted, but by the time I'd finished reading other posts - must have been nearly 20 minutes - I'd forgotten!

Oh, but I have that too

I know some rubber band tracks stick with styrene glue these days, perhaps these do?

Only if it tells you to glue them in the instructions. If those say to melt the pins with a heated screwdriver, glue isn’t going to work very well.

Failing that, how about CA glue?

You will need to have the kind that comes with a kind of marking pen that you need to “paint” the plastic with first, like this:



I’ve not used this one by Loctite, but I have used similar superglue from Pattex, which isn’t available in the UK. However, Loctite and Pattex are both brand names of Henkel, so I suppose the actual glue and pen are identical. Also, when the glue from this package runs out, don’t throw away the pen — it will work with other superglue too. Be sure to follow the instructions, though.

[spanner570]

Dave, I use one of them there small flat head precision screwdrivers.

But first, apply some glue, any g.p. glue to the track joint. Push the 3 joint pins through the 3 holes and let the glue cure. The glue alone won't hold the joint, but it will hold long enough for the heat application and prevents the pins being inadvertently pushed back out whilst melting them.

I heat the end until it's very hot, but not red hot! Then very gently dab the pins protruding through the track joint.

If the joint fails, don't panic Mr. Mannering! I simply leave it and re-join it with some CA, directly under and glued to, one of the road wheels. No one will notice, unless of course a 'Zoom Merchant' comes along - As if!

The tracks are a generous length, so I fix all the wheels and drive/ idler thingies. Then it's easy to stretch the tracks over the whole assembly. I've had 100% success with the above method. I hope you do to. Perhaps just let P.J. watch.

Ron

[stillp]

I’ve not used this one by Loctite, but I have used similar superglue from Pattex, which isn’t available in the UK. However, Loctite and Pattex are both brand names of Henkel, so I suppose the actual glue and pen are identical. Also, when the glue from this package runs out, don’t throw away the pen — it will work with other superglue too. Be sure to follow the instructions, though.

That stuff is excellent Jakko. I've not used it for modelling but for several household repairs, and it's produced a bond at least as strong as the original plastic.
Pete

[Lee Drennen]

Nice start PJ

[Gern]

Thanks guys. I've ordered some of that Loctite Superglue. I'll give that a try with PJ as I'm not at all confident with the heated screwdriver method - and PJ is even less confident than me!

[Guest]

Good luck — though let me repeat: follow the instructions If you don’t, the bond won’t be much stronger than when using just superglue.

[Graeme C.]

Made a good start there PJ,:thumb2: Ron's method for the tracks sounds good.

[Gern]

OK guys. Little bit late, but PJ's finally got this done. Couple of issues with the finished item. Clearly PJ has not added the fuel tanks at the rear. That's because we got fed up trying to get the seams sorted on the tanks. Those in the know will also spot a couple of the searchlights are swapped over - PJ took the wrong parts off the sprue and had them fitted before he spotted his error.



All comments welcome which I'll pass on to PJ next week.

PS That Loctite CA worked a treat on the tracks!

PPS Hoping to get my T-35 done in the next few days.