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stuzzar · Posted: Thu 23 Oct 2008 18:34 pm Post subject: Sgt. Squarehead's Lee/Grant build

Sgt. Squareheads Lee/Grant will feature here

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Thu 23 Oct 2008 19:43 pm Post subject:

I'm in.....Hopefully I'll pick at least one up before the start date! Nailbiting

All the best
Sgt.S
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Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Fri 24 Oct 2008 15:42 pm Post subject:

Looks like I may well be OK for a Lee/Grant now.....I may even have spares!

All the best
Sgt.S
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stuzzar · Posted: Fri 24 Oct 2008 16:34 pm Post subject:

Good to hear Sarge

Cheers

Stu

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Tue 11 Nov 2008 06:05 am Post subject:

Here is my Lee/Grant stash!

I am generally pleased with the kits, especially that they have the soft black type tracks.....I am more worried than usual about one of them though! Nailbiting

I'm not sure how many of these will be built, or what exactly they will be built as.....Suffice it to say that they will almost certainly all end up as Lees.....The Grant turret is a bit of a funny shape!

It almost goes without saying that this will be a slow build!

All the best
Sgt.S
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Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Fri 28 Nov 2008 03:51 am Post subject:

After savouring the incredible nostalgia involved in tearing open three blister packs to get at my 'new' Airfix kits, I came crashing back to reality once I got a proper look at the tracks:

Trackless Waste?

Oh dear!

It looks like the black tracks weren't so good after all.....They all seem to be undergoing track-melt to some degree, the pair in the middle being particularly bad. I'm still poring over the parts for evidence of 'leeching', but so far there is no sign of any damage, thank goodness!

Regardless, there ain't no way these tracks are ever going near my Lees! This means I need to find replacements......I have one MB/Revell M7, but I don't plan on sacrificing that build for this one! I suppose I could try to blag Airfix for three sets of Sherman tracks, but the current grey plastic is a nightmare to work with and if they are anything like the set that came with Shermanstein, they will be borderline useless anyway!

I have some spare Esci/Italeri Sherman band-style tracks, but less sets than I thought, because I had forgotten that I cut a few up for use as 'improvised-armour'! These tracks also have chevrons, which I'm not sure are appropriate for M3s in Burma!

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Ratch · Posted: Fri 28 Nov 2008 09:24 am Post subject:

What about disguising them by caking them in mud

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Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Sat 29 Nov 2008 01:07 am Post subject:

They may be too far gone.....They seem to be on the verge of turning back into a fluid and I'm worried they might take the running gear with them. Nailbiting

I'm still scheming.....I'll get at least one done if it kills me, but it might have to be another 'Operation Torch' loner kit-bash like 'Shermanstein' until I can get some more spares!

All the best
Sgt.S
PS - Seeing as Airfix are reboxing 'Mirage Hobby' warship models, might I be allowed to build their 1/72 Grants instead!

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Ratch · Posted: Sat 29 Nov 2008 09:07 am Post subject:

James Russell · Posted: Wed 03 Dec 2008 23:46 pm Post subject:

Those "rubber" track lengths are so easy to work with when they are new. But saddening when the rot sets in.

Something I have tried, with marginal success, with 1990s (vinyl) Airfix T 34 track is chopping it into individual links for around the drive and steering wheels, leaving it in lengths for over and under the bogies. I then use superglue. This must be done before painting, however.

Not the most inspiring of ideas, but: would you consider buying new Lee/Grants and pinching their tracks?

When I get to the running gear point with my (vinyl tracks) Grant I am planning to take this tack. Has anyone tried the chop and superglue method before on an Airfix Lee/Grant?

Good luck with your project, stuzzar.

Brews · Posted: Thu 04 Dec 2008 00:31 am Post subject:

You might try Mirage 1:72 Lee tracks.
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James Russell · Posted: Thu 04 Dec 2008 01:15 am Post subject:

Dear Sgt. Squarehead,
Please excuse my misdirection in my previous post. I was referring to your project and not stuzzar's.

I mixed up the names.

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Tue 06 Jan 2009 18:07 pm Post subject:

OK.....We finally have progress!

I'm now building one M3 Lee OOTB as a US vehicle in Tunisia. I had seriously considered sacrificing the MB/Revell 1/76 Priest for it's tracks, but it turns out that it has chevrons, so I'm going to try using the best of the three sets of kit tracks. Nailbiting

I've cleaned up and assembled the running gear and am fiddling around with the hull before assembly.....I'm trying to test fit it before breaking out the liquid poly, but it's a complicated thing and assembling it without glue is a bit like trying to nail jelly to the ceiling!

Pics soonish!

All the best
Sgt.S
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James Russell · Posted: Wed 07 Jan 2009 03:20 am Post subject:

Dear Sgt.,
I have had good results painting old treads to provide a barrier between the styrene parts and the "rubber" parts. Out of three kits you ought to find ample lengths of tread. I envy you. The old "rubber" treads are so much easier to work with (provided they have not gone brittle) than the modern "vinyl" articles we are sold these days.
I read on another forum that Hornby were changing the material for treads in current output. If true, I hope these new treads are an improvement.
Beware the Rear hull engine deck [part 56]. It throws the right hull-side out of alignment.

Good luck Squarehead! I look forward to watching your build.

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Thu 08 Jan 2009 00:02 am Post subject:

My hull has gone together quite well:

It had the usual lean to the right, but this was easily sorted out by applying a little pressure while the glue set.

For what it's worth & all the best
Sgt.S
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TimJ · Posted: Thu 08 Jan 2009 14:16 pm Post subject:

Coming together nicely so far Sarge.
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stuzzar · Posted: Fri 09 Jan 2009 23:37 pm Post subject:

Nice work Andy, the old green plastic seems much crisper than the later grey plastic option, fit of the superstructure appears to be better also.

Cheers

Stu

Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Sat 10 Jan 2009 00:49 am Post subject:

Cheers guys!

Keep in mind that I cherry-picked the best bits from three kits though!

One of them was really bad.....The rear hull deck had neat round ejector pin holes straight through it.

All the best
Sgt.S
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Brews · Posted: Sat 10 Jan 2009 02:33 am Post subject:

S-Mine damage?
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Sgt.Squarehead · Posted: Sat 17 Jan 2009 17:10 pm Post subject:

I've managed to get a little more done, adding the running gear (minus the sprockets) to the hull and assembling the turret:

Gawdstrewth that turret looks rough!

I'm just waiting for it all to dry properly before adding the tracks! Nailbiting

All the best
Sgt.S
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