Another First - 1/35 CH2 TES.

[Guest]

Whatever and however it turns out I'll have learned something.

IMHO, it’s the best way to learn: from your own mistakes “This would have been much easier if I hadn’t done that part before but after …” will usually come in handy for the next model.

[Waspie]

Don't think I'll be getting any bench time today!!
Today, I am informed is groom as in cut the puppy's hair!!! So gauntlets and full face armour are the order of the day!!
Wish me luck, it could get bloody!!!!

[Waspie]

A reprieve!!
Her ladyship was over and done in no time. The time spent at puppy school paid off to a degree. She sat and let me cut her coat like a proper little star.
The bonus is - bench time. So ta-ta for now - a wheel painting I go!!!! :thumb2: :smiling2:

[Waspie]

OK, folks, progress today on many fronts. Another item on SWIMBO's list ticked off plus pup sheared!!
But most of all, road wheels on CH2 painted, wheels and tyres. Fitted to check for alignment etc. A few odds and sods fitted to the hull in preparation for painting. Even took the time to Maskol the tiny clear bits!! (Hope you're all keeping up with the techno speak!!!!).
Pictures - isn't true unless there's pictures, so yer tis!!!!

Wheels on the improvised thingies for dangling in the air!

Road wheels and driving wheel attached. Luckily they can be removed and refitted - helpful!

Side skirts completed and waiting to be painted before fitting.

Fitted tracks to wheels to check clearance and such. Removed them after the piccy as they need painting up first.

Overall, quite pleased with todays progress. Especially as I didn't think I was going to make any headway.

[Andy T]

Coming together well Doug.

I've just ordered a 1/48 challenger. I can't say I'm looking forward to painting the rubber pads on the tracks!

[Waspie]

The mere mention of tracks sends me into a blind panic Doug. Hope you do better than me .

I've just been recapping my meanderings and found I hadn't responded to you John. Apologies!
I might be a bit 'different'!!! :tongue-out3: I actually enjoyed the tracks. As long as I left them when the eyes started going. The accuracy of the individual parts placement and having to be accurate with the cement I enjoyed. By the end I had a nice rhythm going. (Thanks to Jake's advice). What helped as well, was acquiring some decent tweezers. Less parts flying into the space that is my garage and all that entails!!
Doug

Having a bad night - I have responded!!! Doh!! Slaps head!!! :rolling::sleeping:

[Guest]

As long as I left them when the eyes started going.

I can spot the places where that happened (You’ve got a few end connectors on upside down )

[Waspie]

I can spot the places where that happened (You’ve got a few end connectors on upside down :smiling3: )

Tbh Jakko, I didn’t realise there was a right way up until much much later. Nothing in the instructions and didn't recognise the detail until too late.
A combination of armour naivety and an overdue trip to the opticians.

[Mickc1440]

Looking real nice Doug, a Challenger was the first model I did a lot of scratch building on, look forward to seeing more now I’ve caught up

[Waspie]

Looking real nice Doug, a Challenger was the first model I did a lot of scratch building on, look forward to seeing more now I’ve caught up

Thanks Mick, Apart from the tow cable I won't be doing much scratching at all. It's only my second kit so not getting overly adventurous.

Today was a crazy day. Gave the garage a coat of paint - 45 minutes.
Searching for a 1.5mm piece of plastic 1:05 minutes!!! It was one of those, holding in the tweezers on second the next it's flying through the air with a cloaking device!!!! Eventually found it amongst some garage detritus!!!!

Took Jakko and Andy's advice re the tow cable. Hopefully got it right on the second attempt.
Mod 1 was too thick, would fit the end bits.
Mod 2, removed four strands of wire and 'yes'. Fitted a dream. (Pic below of Mods 1 and 2.)
Finished the day with some PE. It was constructed no problem, then I tried to fit the drum for I guess a field telephone cable! Walked away. Leave that for another day!!

Tow Cables!

[Guest]

Tbh Jakko, I didn’t realise there was a right way up until much much later.

Hardly anyone will notice — I only did because I’ve assembled a number of sets of similar tracks in recent years, so my eye almost automatically wandered to that The cables look very nice.

[Jim R]

Great stuff Doug. The model is coming on a treat, you're thinking things through and asking all the right questions and above all you're having fun. Just how it should be. Puppy trimmed with no blood - a real bonus.

[Waspie]

Hardly anyone will notice — I only did because I’ve assembled a number of sets of similar tracks in recent years, so my eye almost automatically wandered to that :smiling3: The cables look very nice.

But it is nice to know there is a right and wrong way. There are a few errors I have made, found another tonight when I compared pictures of actual machines. The cables alone!! I have three images of Chally's, all with differing methods of holding the cables in place. Problem for me, the couple of images of the TES I have, the cables are obscured by Camouflage.
But hey ho - Rome wasn't built in a day and as I progress I learn.
Keep em coming Jakko. :thumb2: All comments and criticisms gratefully received - genuinely. Only way I'm going to improve.

[Waspie]

Great stuff Doug. The model is coming on a treat, you're thinking things through and asking all the right questions and above all you're having fun. Just how it should be. Puppy trimmed with no blood - a real bonus.

Yeah, it's coming along Jim. I had to tell myself off yesterday, caught up in the 'making progress' euphoria!!! I just wanted to push to get onto the painting. Then I had a read through how much more was to be done, just to the hull, so time to back off, slow down, as I had already made mistakes.
Today I found I had put a couple of brackets in the wrong place so had to surgically remove them and make good for their intended purpose.
Not joking about going to the opticians, the reason the mistake was made was the parts concerned were next to each other on the sprue and although the items being on different pages on the destructions, they were next to the wrong items on the sprue. If I had checked properly with probably better specs I may not have made the error.
These are the correct brackets, the wrong ones are in the same place but either side of the other light cluster. Easy to remove and replace with the correct bracket!! Just dumb on my behalf!!:rolling:.


I thought I had a working system, identify the part, remove them, (one tick on the instructions), then when fitted or added to the model, (two ticks). When a whole section of the instructions is completed - then that section is then ticked.
From now on builders rules, measure twice cut once, or in our terms, read twice and fit once!!

As for the puppy, couldn't believe it!! An hour to give her a trim!! She is our sixth Westie and the only female. The previous five have been 2.5 to 4 hours for a trim!! Mind you - she's the only one who has gone to puppy classes and they are paying off!! (Well - for a piece of sausage or liver cake!!!) Bribery works wonders for you digits!!!! :smiling2:

[Guest]

But hey ho - Rome wasn't built in a day and as I progress I learn.

The biggest mistake you can make in this hobby (or any other) is thinking the result will be perfect from your very first try Or to put that in other words: if you don’t hold high expectations, you’ll be pleased when things turn out well, rather than disappointed because things don’t live up to what you expected.