Modelling Armoured Vehicles

43 Pages·2008·37.36 MB·English

by  Gary Edmundson

Modelling
Armoured Vehicles
G Edmundson, J Carswell, T Cockle, G Davidson
& S van Beveren
Consultant editor Robert Oehler
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
GARY EDMUNDSONwas born in Sunderland,England in 1956.Attheage
often heemigrated with hisfamilytoCanada.Heiscurrentlysettled in Fort
Saskatchewan,Alberta,working inthechemical industry.Garyhaswritten a
numberoftitlesfortheOspreyModelling Series,and alsoprovidestechnical
Osprey Modelling • 43
advicetoapopularmodel kitmanufacturer.
JIM CARSWELLwas born in 1965,and hasaBScfromthe Universityof Modelling
Alberta.Hehas been building plastic modelssincehischildhood and has
created mastermodelsand conversionsforHobbyFan and MapleLeaf
Armoured Vehicles
Models.AcurrentmemberofAMPS and long-timememberofIPMS
Edmonton,Jim'sworkhas been widelypublished inthehobbypress.
TOM COCKLEwas born in Edmonton,Alberta,in 1949.Hehasbeen
modellingfor25years and haswon severalawardsat USand Canadian
model shows.Duringthistime,hehaswrittenarticlesforseveral magazines
includingMilitaryModeler,MilitaryinScale,MilitaryModelcraftInternational,
FineScaleModelerandAFVModeller.Hehasalsowritten several booksfor
Concord PublicationsandtheSturmgeschutzIIIAusf.GWalkAroundfor
Squadron/Signal Publications.
GRAEME DAVIDSONwas born inWellingborough,England,in 1969.He
isagraduateoftheRoyal MilitaryCollegeand iscurrentlyserving withthe
Canadian ForcesMedical Services in Kandahar,Afghanistan.Hehas been an
activemodellerforover20yearsand hismain interestis modern Canadian
AFVs.Helivesin Edmonton,Alberta,with hiswife Lisaand daughterZoe.
STEVEVAN BEVERENhas hadalifelong interestin allthingsmilitarythat
has led himtoserveasareservistintheCalgaryHighlandersforanumberof
years.This interestinthe militaryalsoled himto startbuilding militarymodels
atan earlyage.Overtheyears,he has beenamemberofseveraldifferent
model clubs,participated in model showsand written several
articles.Helivesin Alberta,Canada.
G Edmundson, J Carswell, T Cockle, G Davidson
& S van Beveren
Consultant editor Robert Oehler· Series editors Marcus Cowperand Nikolai Bogdanovic
Contents
Firstpublishedin2008byOspreyPublishing
MidlandHouse,WestWay.Botley,OxfordOX2OPH.UK
443ParkAvenueSouth.NewYork.NY 10016.USA
E-mail:[email protected]
©2008OspreyPublishingLtd.
Allrightsreserved.Apartfromanyfairdealingforthepurposeofprivatestudy,
research,criticismorreview,aspermittedundertheCopyright.DesignsandPatents Introduction 4
Act, 1988.nopartofthispublicationmaybereproduced,storedinaretrievalsystem,
ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans,electronic,electrical.chemical,mechanical.
optical,photocopying,recordingorotherwise.withoutthepriorwrittenpermission References and Planning 9
ofthecopyrightowner.EnquiriesshouldbeaddressedtothePublishers.
Sourcesofreference· Workarea and basic tools
ISBN978I84603287S
EditorialbyIliosPublishing,Oxford,UK(www.iliospublishing.com) Basic construction 12
Design:ServisFilmsettingLtd,Stockport,Cheshire
TypesetinGiJlSansandStoneSerif
IndexbyMichaelFordeI' Advanced construction and techniques 16
OriginatedbyPPSGrasmereLtd,Leeds,UK
PrintedandboundthroughBookbuildersLtd After-marketaccessories· Scratch-building·Addingand improvingdetail· Surfacetexturesand welds
08 09 10 II 12 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Painting and finishing 54
ACIPcataloguerecordforthisbookisavailablefromtheBritishLibrary.
Paintand application· Paintingcamouflage·Application ofmarkings and decals·Weathering
ForacatalogueofallbookspublishedbyOspreyMilitaryandAviationpleasecontact:
OspreyDirect,cloRandomHouseDistributionCenter,400HahnRoad, Presentation 73
Westminster,MD21157
Planningthe diorama· Bases· Urban dioramas· Rural dioramas
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OspreyDirect,TheBookServiceLtd,DistributionCentre,ColchesterRoad.
Index 80
FratingGreen,Colchester,Essex,C077DW,UK
E·mail:[email protected]
OspreyPublishingaresupportingtheWoodlandTrust,theUK'sleadingwoodland
conservationcharity,byfundingthededicationoftrees.
www.ospreypublishing.com
Introduction
JimCarswell created asmallvignette byaddingfigures and apartial interior
to Trumpeter's LAV-25 kit. The LAV-25 (Light Armoured Vehicle - 25mm gun
turret) has been in servicewith the United States Marine Corps sincethe mid
1980s. By the time of the early stages of Operation Iraqi Freedom phase 1 (OIF
I) in 2003, many ofthe LAV-25s used had beenmodified with at leastsome of
theSLEPupgrades. TheSLEP(SerViceLifeExtensionProgram) upgrades include
,lInong other things an improved gunner's thermal sight with armoured
This book has been written primarily for modellers of a
housing, scissors-type mount for the M-240G machine gun on the turret,
skill level of beginnerto intermediate, and demonstrates
driver's external display, larger exhaust shroud and wider tyres. Externally, as
techniques that can take their AFV modelling projects to
far as the modellerisconcerned, itappears LAVsin OIF wouldat least havethe
ahigherlevelofaccuracy, detailand appeal. Unlikeother
new sight and scissorsmount, while the largerexhaust shroud and wider tyres
titlesinthe OspreyModellingSeries,this bookfocuses on
would appear later on in the conflict. As no conversion parts are available for
techniques rather than how to model specific vehicles.
the modeller at the time ofwriting, some scratch-building is required to build
It describes how to conduct preliminary project research .tn accurate LAV-25 in OIF.
and provides tips on basic and advanced levels of
construction. Painting, markingand weatheringa model
aredemonstrated, alongwithvariousideasfor presenting
a finished model with figures in a vignette or diorama.
All ofthe work in the book has been done in 1/35 scale,
but the methods demonstrated would apply to models
ofany scale.
Tamiya'sCharBIbis kitwas builtwith helpofsomeafter Five contributors have combined their efforts to
marketaccessories to improvethe detail and accuracy. present the reader with varied approaches to modelling.
The projects chosen and the methods demonstrated
covera wide range ofsubject matterand skills.
GaryEdmundsonshows basicmodelconstructionand
also adds a few after-market parts to a Tamiya Char B1
bis, which is presented along with a second model in a
diorama. Franceproduced369CharB1 bistanksbetween
April 1937 and June 1940. Developed in the 1920s, the
tank resembled World War I tanks, with track runs that
went around the entire outside of the hull and the
Wheeledarmoured vehicles presenttheirown unique modelling Modern American vehiclesare literallycovered with extra
running gear protected by the side armour plate. opportunities. HereweseetheTrumpeter 1/35-scaleUSMC stowage. Hereare the contentsofastowagesetmadefor
Although the B1 bis was well armed with a 75mm gun LAV-25 (LightArmoured Vehicle- 25mmgun) as seen in the the LAVby the company Legend. Onlyafew ofthese items
and thick armour, it was not available in sufficient earlystagesofOperation IraqiFreedom, c.2003. will bechosen.
numbers and suffered from poor tactical employment
during the German invasion of 1940. Gary's model
Materials used
represents vehicle number'448' named 'NancyII', which
Trumpeter: USMC LAV-25 kit00349
served with the 37e Bataillon de Chars de Combat
Maple LeafModels: Early LAVtires MLM 1007;Spare LAVtire MLM 1009
(BCq, and was lost during the fighting in Belgium in ltaleri: LAV-2S (forinterior pieces) 259
May 1940. Legend Productions: LAV-25 StowageSetLF1113
Lion Roar: LAV-25 photo-etcheddetail setLE35062
Voyager Model: LAV-25 photo-etcheddetail setPE35078
Thefinished model incorporated "
Materials used GunzeSangyo: MrSurfacer500
many paintingand weatheringsteps
Tamiya: French BattleTank BI bis kit35282 Warriors: USMC LAV-25 CrewPt. Iand 2, WA35593 and 35594
to achievea realisticappearance.
BlastModels: BL350I03K Updatesetfor BI BIS FrenchVersion- Tamiya DML: Modern MachineGunSet806
Friulmodel: BI-Biswhite-metal individual tracklinksATL-88 Evergreen:styreneinsheet, rod and tube
Lion Roar: Etched-metal detail setforTamiya BIbis includingturned aluminiumgun barrels Aves:ApoxieSculpt
LE35075 Tamiyaacrylic paints: XF-67 NATO Green, XF-65 Field Grey,XF-64 Red Brown,XF-69
Echelon Fine Details: Decalsheetfor Chars BIbisofthe 37e BCCtankssheetnumber NATO Black,XF-57 Buff
ALT352004 Vallejo:acrylicsforfigures
Evergreenstyrene insheet, rod andtube Humbroland Model Master: enamelsfor brush-painteddetails
Tamiyaacrylic paints: XF-57 Buff;XF-I FlatBlack;XF-64 Red Brown;XF-7 FlatRed; XF-58
OliveGreen;X-22 ClearGloss
MIG Productions' pigments: BlackSmoke P023; Europe DustP028 To demonstrate methods ofdealing with resin kits Tom Cockle constructed
Rembrandtchalk pastels: RawUmber,YellowOchre,Orange, BurntUmber, Black
a Panzerbefehlswagen III from Cromwell Models. The Panzerbefehlswagen III
Floquil Railroad colours: FII0017Weathered Black; FII0070 RoofBrown
Ausf. 01 (armoured command vehicle) was built on the same basic chassis as
Humbrol enamels: II Silver;53 Steel,72 Khaki Drill,29 DarkEarth
LifecolorTensoeromacrylics: OilTSC 207 the Panzerkampfwagen III Ausf. 0 and provided more room for the command
4 Winsor&Newton oil paints: RawUmber554; Ivory Black331 staffand radio equipment than the kleine Panzerbefehlswagen IAusf. B. They 5
This 1/35-scale Panzerbefehlswagen were fitted with a FuG 6 plus either a FuG 7 or FuG 8 radio set along with a Stevevan Beveren'sconversion ofa
III Ausf. Dwas builtfrom a kit distinctive frame antenna mounted on the enginedeckplusatelescopiceight Materials used DML PantherAusf. G. kit resulted
consistingofall resin parts. When metre mastantenna that could be raised through a port in the turret roof. The DML:Sd.Kfz.171 PantherG Late Production kit6268 in this earlyversion ofthe
in the paintingstages, the road turret ringwas cutoutto match the baseoftheturretand theturret was bolted Modelkasten: PantherLate Model WorkableTrackSetSK-OI0 Jagdpanther, builtto representthe
wheelsweresimplydry-brushed Voyager Models: PantherAusf. G PE35140 vehiclecurrentlyondisplayatthe
with blackartist's oil painton the in place. Adummy3.7cmgun replaced the original main armamentto provide Armorscale:88mm PaK43/2 U71 Gun Barrelfor German Tank HunterJagdpanther Imperial War Museum in London.
wearingsurfaces.Thiseliminated additional space inside the turret leaving only one MG34 mounted in a ball (Earlymodel) B35-025
the need to painteach rubber mount in the mantlet for self-protection. Adlers Nest: 7.62mm MG34 (late)Tank BarrelANM-35002
wheel separately. Evergreenstyrene:Sheet
Coppersheet:0.005in. thick
Materials used Aluminiumsheet:0.0lOin. thick
Cromwell Models: Panzerbefehlswagen III Ausf. DIkitLR6 Prismacolorpencil: HB,silver
Tristar: Panzerkampfwagen IVAusf. D kit015 Gunzeacrylic paints:Oil H342
Modelkasten:SK-57 Pz.IV Early38cmtracks Tamiyaacrylic paints: XF-60 DarkYellow; XF-63 German Grey;XF-53 Neutral Grey;
Sparetoolsand antennafrom DML Pz.Kpfw.11I Ausf.Jkit6394 XF-57 Buff;XF-52 FlatEarth;XF-I FlatBlack
Evergreen:styrenesheet,strip,tubeand rod VallejoAir: DarkYellow025; RadomeTan074;Tank Brown041; PanzerOliveGreen 1943
Lifecoloracrylic paints: UA207 RAL7021 Schwarzgrau Panzergrauacrylic paint 096;White00I
Tamiyaacrylic paints:XF-52 FlatEarth;XF-5I Khaki Drab;XF-57 Buff;X-25 ClearGreen Vallejo Model Color: DarkYellow978;Buff976; ChocolateBrown872; Hull Red 985
MIG Productions' pigments: European DustP028 Humbrol enamels: PaleYellow081;Ochre083
Humbrol enamels: 29 Matt DarkEarth; HS217Steel; 160GermanCamouflage Red Humbrol Metalcote: Polished Steel27003
Brownand 187Sand MIG Productions' pigments: BeachSand P030; Europe DustP028; Light Dust P027;
Rembrandtpastel chalks:408-3,408-7, 234-3 and 409-7 Light Rust P024;Standard RustP025; BlackSmoke P023; BrickDustP029
Smooth-On: Mold Max30two-partroom temperaturevulcanizing rubber;Smooth-Cast
300White Liquid Plastic
Verlinden: resin cobblestonestreet
Graeme Davidson modified an Academy M981, convertingit to aCanadian
DML:'GermanTankCrew 1939-1943' kit6375
MI13 TUA usingsome skilful scratch-buildingtechniques. The tube-launched,
optically tracked, wire-guided missile (TOW) was designed to give a mecha
Steve van Beveren converted a DML Panther G kit into an early version of nized infantryunittheabilitytocounterarmouredforces. InCanada,theTOW
the Jagdpanther. Steve's build features a description of the Zillll11erit anti under armour utilized a twin-missile launcher mated to a modified MI13A2
magnetic paste application to the model's hull. The lethal 8.8cm Pak43/3 gun hull. The Canadian Army purchased 72 ofthese vehicles, with deliveries start
was mated to a modified Pantherchassis to provide th rman military with ingin 1990.TheMI13TUAsawcombatservicein Bosniawith UNPROFORand
a powerful assault gun. Together these proved to be an ff tive combination SFOR, and later in Kosovo with KFOR.
with almost 400 being produced from October 1943 ul to April 1945. The
Jagdpanther served on both the Eastern and Western fronl with the first unit
6 to receive them being schwere Heeres Panzerjaeger bteilung 654. 7
Materialsused References and Planning
Academy: M981 FIST-Vkit 1361
Maple LeafModels: HeadlightslTaillights2008;M113A2 External FuelTanks 1003;
Spare MI13 Roadwheels I012;JerryCan Racks 1023
HKCW: MI13 Diehl213TrackTL3503
Eduard: M113 PESet35493;SFORExpress MaskXTO13;German Numbers XT008
Archer FineTransfers:Canadian FlagsAR35115
Verlinden Productions: IDF MAG (C-6GPMG) 71
Ihe production of model kits is sometimes simplified and occasionally the
Grieflenses
Rust-Oleum Multi-ColourTexturespraypaint manufacturer can make a mistake in design, which can result in inaccuracies
Evergreenstyrenein sheet. rodand tube ,ll1d poor detail. Reference material can guide the modeller to correct some of
Gunzeacrylic paints:Tire BlackH77; Field Gray H48; Field Green H340andWood Brown these problems.
H37 Although limited and often inaccurate, a primary reference for a modeller
Tamiyaacrylic paints: XF-57 Buff;X-26 ClearOrange;X-27ClearRed;XF-2 FlatWhite;
is the instruction sheet and box art that came with the kit. Model instruction
XF-62 OliveDrab
sheets tend to be vague on how and where the parts should be oriented, and
MIG Productions' pigments:GulfWarSand P037, LightRustP024.Standard RustP025
some good photographs and draWings certainly can help to overcome this
and BlackSmoke P023
dilemma.
References for the chosen subject should be checked and compared to the
The majority ofthearmamentfor model kit. Additional parts and accessories required, such as after-market
theTUA model was hand-builtfrom tracks, decals and conversion sets, can be investigated and planned into the
styrenestock construction. Thecamouflage scheme in which the model will befinished can
,liso be decided upon.
If the kit offers optional parts for different variants, the specific subject
chosen can be referenced to determine which parts will be appropriate.
rhe instruction sheet should be studied closely to understand clearly the Proper referencesare essential
construction sequences and orientation of the parts. Instruction sheets are when beginninganymodelling
project, even moresowhen the
often sequenced according to convenience of illustration, and not in the best
subjectisarelativelyobscure
sequence for the build. Parts such as the antennae and other small details are
vehicle like the Panzerbefehlswagen
bestleft to the end ofthe construction to avoid the chance of breakingthem. III Ausf. DI.
Thefinished model representsa
vehicleservingwith the Canadian
Armed Forces in Bosnia.Awash
ofMIG Productions pigmentswas
allowed to collectin the recesses
ofthe detail, especiallythe non-skid
surfaces.These tend to trap the
8 mud on the real vehicle. 9
Thequestion ofwhetherto add figures orinteriorpartstothe model should nitique and helpful comments returned from peers. Kits and reference mater
bedecidedupon earlyin the process, especiallyifthe final build isto be placed Ial can betraded, andsparepartslocatedand obtained.Thesesitesalso contain
in a diorama or vignette. If there is any interior detailing to carry out, the linkstothe manyvendorsofkits and accessories, so thatmodellershaveaccess
construction sequence should be altered to accommodate some painting to virtually all products available through online purchase or mail order.
steps prior to the final stages. Plans to add on-vehicle stowage to the kit such Productreviewshavebeen postedon numerouswebsitesalloWingthe modeller
as ammunition boxes, fuel containers, tarpaulins and tools should also be the chance to get a look at parts and accessories before buying them. Some of
determined at this stage. the most frequented AFV modelling web sites can be found at:
Modelling AFV kits requires a series ofcompromises, since no one can ever
build the perfect model. Modellers can get bogged down in researching a http://missing-lynx.com
project so much that the kit is never completed. It is important to strike a 11ttp://www.armorama.com
balance between pursuing detail and accuracy, and enjoying the satisfaction http://www.planetarmor.com
ofcompleting a model. http://www.militarymodelling.com
http://www.track-link.net
Sources of reference
Work area and basic tools
Asmall fortune can be spent on an AFV reference library. There are countless
books and magazines on the subject of tanks and modelling them. By far the Perhapsall modellersstartoutworkingfrom thekitchentable, butadedicated,
most available and affordable sources of reference material are modelling properly organized, well-lit area is ideal for model building. Work areas can be
magazines. Several publishers produce magazines focusing on AFV miniatures. split into separate construction and painting spaces if available room allows
There are a number of titles from England, namely Military Modelling, Military that luxury. It's handy to keep both modelling tools and reference material
in Scale, Military Modelcraft International, Model Military International and AFV within easy reach. Afloor with a hard flat surface makes it easierto find those
Modeller. Military Miniatures in Review is published in the United States, and ineVitably dropped parts, while an office mat under the model desk is helpful
written by AFV modellers, proViding valuable content for the reader. Steel on acarpeted surface.
Masters isproducedin Parisand, although totallyin French, thearticlesfeature Small storage drawer cabinets are ideal for keeping spare parts, small
modelling projects that are beautifully photographed and laid out. There are subassembliesand other bitsand piecesorganizedandsafe. Forthosethathave
also two publications from Spain called Euro Modelismo and Xtreme Modelling adifficulttimefocusing on small parts, magnifiersare available in manyforms
that feature the work of some of the world's top AFV modellers. Several from inexpensive glasses from the local pharmacy to Opti-Visors, commonly
Japanese publications, such as Armour Modelling and Panzer Graph, proVide used by jewellers.
modelling articles that feature excellent how-to steps including some English The process of trimming, sanding and filing can make a dusty mess, and
captioning. Asmall number of these magazines can be picked up at a local it's advantageous to have a vacuum system available. Cloths and paper tissue
newsstand, and a greater majority at a well-stocked hobby shop. Either sub always come in handy for dealing with spills, as even the most careful
scription or mail and emailorder makes the foreign titles easierto come by. modellers have had the odd accident with a bottle ofpaintorglue.
Reference books on AFVs and modelling vary from general titles to specific Throughout this book there'll be mention of many tools useful in the
works on certain vehicle types. The general titles can often be found in local construction of AFV models. For anyone new to the hobby, a visit to a local
bookshops, but the more focused works are typically found in specialized hobby shop will proVide most of the essential items needed, and experience
bookshops and on the Internet. Several series of books have been produced willdictate whatcan beacquiredalongtheway. As mentioned previously, peer
that cover ranges of AFVs in extreme detail, including wartime records, period groups online and locally can provide information on the available tools, and
photos, factory draWings, scale drawings, detailed sketches, photos from also any new innovations that have just been introduced to the hobby.
surviving examples and battle reports from crew members. Model shows and
conventions such as the IPMS Nationals, Euromilitaire and AMPS Nationals in
the US bringtogether vendors that sell these types of books.
Military museums, particularlythose containingexamples of AFVs, exist in
all cornersoftheworld. Modellersshouldtakethe opportunityto visitsomeof
the well-populated facilities when travelling nearby and take pictures of their
own. Some of the most noteworthy to visit include the Aberdeen Proving
Ground in Maryland, USA, the Musee des B1indes in Saumur, France,
BovingtonCampin Dorset,ThePanzerMuseumin MUnster, Germany, andthe
collection at Kubinka near Moscow, Russia.
Model Clubs can be found in larger cities, and usually meet monthly at a
community centre. Modellers can share information, pr vide references and
ideas, and inspireoneanotherto achieve higherlev Isofsu cess in the hobby.
Awell-organizedareawith plenty
Clubs often host model contests or shows that allow work ofall skill levels to ofroom for partsstorage, handy
be displayed. Abenefit of membership is meeting 10 al IeOI Ie who share the references and hobbytools is
same interest, and forming strong friendships centr cI n enthusiasm for illustrated in this viewofmilitary
the hobby. artist Ron Volstad's modellingarea.
The innovative ideaofa bluecloth
Internetwebsiteshavebecomevirtual hobbyclub f raIl bal membership.
can beseen in the seatingarea,
Questions on many modelling subjects can be a k d and answered quickly.
which is placed upon the knees
10 Modellers can post photographs of their work in [r r r ompleted, with to catchany dropped parts. II
Basic construction
Smallpartsareoften bestmanipulated by useofasharp No. IIhobbyblade. Usethetip
ofthese blades to pickup minute, brass parts, boltand rivetheadsand position them ona
smalldropofcementon the model.
Some kits, especiallythose from some ofthe Eastern European manufactur
l'rs, exhibit a fair amount ofmould-release agent on the surface ofthe plastic,
Somethoughts to keep in mind when puttingtogether a model kit are the cri <lI1d this can cause problems during the painting stages. This greasy residue
teria used in judgingthem incontests.Thefitand alignmentofallcomponents \hould be removed by washing the parts when still on the styrene runners in
should bestraight, especiallythe runninggearand track runs. All jointson the \oapy water. Extreme care is needed when doing this, since some ofthe more
modelshouldshownoseamsorgaps thatweren'tapparenton the real vehicle. delicate pieces can be broken or lost in the washingand drying process.
The surface of the model should be kept clean from glue marks, fingerprints Plastic kit partsare bestseparated from theirstyrene runner run byclipping
and other blemishes. them with a sharp pair of side-cutters. The flat-sided kind made by Tamiya is
After opening a new kit, it's a good idea to check it for completeness and idealfor thistask, butinexpensivealternativesare availablein hardwareshops.
damage. The shop where the kit was purchased can possibly exchange it if By cutting the part and leaVing a small amount ofthe sprue tab showing, the
there isaproblem, and kitmanufacturersare usuallyquite promptatreplacing lab can be carefully sliced orsanded offwithout damage to the partitself.
missing or damaged parts. The injection-moulding process occasionally leaves circular depressions on
parts. Manufacturersgenerally take careto ensure that these marks are hidden
from view on the finished model by placingthem in discrete locations. When
Tamiya'ssmall side-cuttersare ideal
for removingpartsfrom their pour these marks appear on the surface ofa model that will bedisplayed, they need
plugsorstyrene runners. Care to be filled. Asmall amount of puttyand sandpaper usually does the trick, but
should be used to cutonly plastic, in the caseofdeepermarks, it's betterto stamp outadisc ofstyrenesheet, and
and theyshould lastfor years. glue it into the depression. After this has dried, putty can be applied and the
surface later sanded smooth to ensure the surface is blemish free.
'Flash' refers to the excess plastic that hasseeped between the two halvesof
the injection moulds and formed a line that needs to be removed. It's rare to
see an excess of flash, but mould seams ofsome degree are always present on
the parts and need to be removed. Rather than slice this from the surface, a
sharp o. 11 hobby blade should be held perpendicular to the seam and
lightly dragged across it. Thisscraping motion will remove the flash; the same
technique can be used to smooth joints on glued seams once dry.
Styrene cement for model kits comes in several forms, but the most
common glue used by the AFV modelling community is the thin liqUid
from a bottle supplied with a small application brush. Cementing styrene
parts together should be done with a minimum amount ofglue since it's not
uncommon to find that parts have been placed in the wrong location. Ifapart
needs to be repositioned, this will allow it to be done with minimum damage.
Tostampoutcircularpiecesof
styrene, the punchand die set
Trimmingthe burrsand seamson kitparts is handled with a Sandingsticksareavailable in coarse, medium and fine grades. isavaluabletool. Thissetfrom
sharp No. IIhobby blade.Toshave theflash from the styrene, Amedium type is beingused to smooth down theseam linesof Waldron was used to detail the
12 ascrapingmotion workswell. the CharBIbis kitwheel. idlerwheelsfor the CharBIbis kit. 13
Whensmall partsaredropped onto thefloor, theycan befound byscanningtheareawith
atorch (flashlight)from avery lowanglewith the room lightturned off.Thelightwill reflect
offanything raisedfrom thesurfaceofthefloor. usually revealingthe errantpart,alongwith
a hostofotherthings bestleftunmentioned.
The thin cement does have a nasty habit of 'wicking' onto carelessly placed
fingers and onto the model's surface. If test-fitting needs a small amount of
cement to 'tack' parts together temporarily, it is best to do this using a small
amount of cyanoacrylate (Super Glue or Krazy Glue). Small amounts of this
glue allows joints to be separated later to help with the building process.
Syringe-needle type glue applicators are available to the hobbyist, and allow
preciseplacementand acontrolledamountoftheliquidon the model. Asmall
piece ofstretched kit sprue can also help apply small amounts ofcrazy glue in
hard to reach places.
It'sfairly crucialto checkthe alignmentofpartsasthe glueissetting, which
can take the better part of a couple of hours. A glued joint typically needs
several hours to cure before itcan be sanded smooth.
Joints in the parts, and other areas ofthe kit such as sink holes, need to be
filled with a compound and sanded smooth. For smaller gaps and shallow
areas, a lacquer-based tube putty such as Tamiya's Basic Type or Squadron
Green Putty can do the job. This compound is applied thinly to the joint and
sanded smooth after drying overnight. For larger tasks where some strength is
required, two-part epoxy putty is the best choice. The'A' and 'B' components
are kneaded together and pressed into position, and smoothed down with
either the same brand thinner or water. This then dries rock-hard overnight,
and can be worked on thereafter.
Large joints and holes can also be filled with styrene. Styrene rod of the
right diameter, or better yet, the runner from the kit parts, heated and market tracks. By changingthe position ofthe idler wheel, the correct tension Hobbyclampscan be used to hold
stretched, will form the perfect plug for filling a hole. Astyrene wedge can be can beseton the trackrun dependingon the numberoftrack links used on the largersectionsofamodel in place
also cut, dampened with glue, and pushed into stubborn gaps to give them a kit. Some kits proVidethis feature, butfor those that need to add it, the mount duringassembly. Stubborn pieces
thatwantto springapartcanalso
robust filling. for the idler wheel can be given asnug fit by squeezingthe mount with pliers
be restrainedwith tape.
Special attention should be paid to the alignment of a vehicle's running until it deforms to fit snugly enough to stay in place, while allOWing a small
gear. When constructing a tracked vehicle, the drive sprockets, road wheels, amount ofadjustment.
idlersand return rollers should all bestraight and sitequidistant from the side When constructing the model's hull, it can be helpful to tape together the
of the hull. Kits can suffer from wobbly wheels when the mounts are slightly larger sections, holding them into place while the glue sets. Caution must be
undersized. They can be beefed up by adding small strips of thin styrene, or exercised to ensure that liquid glue does not get underneath the sections of
deforming them with a pair of pliers to give a tighter fit. Asteel ruler can be tape and ruin the kit's surface. An additional method of holding the hull
used to checkthe alignment of road wheels. sections is to use large hobby clamps. If the sides of the hull tend to warp
Acommon feature ofsomeofthelatestkitsonthemarketisindividualtrack inwards, particularly in the middle, they can be braced bycementinga length
links or the link-and-length type that proVide a more realistic look than the of .125 x.250in. styrene bar between the walls.
older rubber-band type present on earlier kits. These links are best pieced Most of the vehicle tools can be glued onto the kit, rather than painting
together in sections of 10 at a time, which helps keep track of their number. them and adding them later. Ifcrew figures will be in the vehicle, they can be
The instruction sheet will give an idea ofhow many are needed for each side, temporarily located and the hatches glued in position.
and occasionally a link or two has to be added or removed depending on the As the upper hull ofthe model begins to take shape, some ofthe additional
sit of the track run and how much 'sag' you want to leave. Thin liquid glue parts such as mounted figures and stowage should be test fitted. There is
should be dabbed in at each joint, taking care that excess is not added. When nothing worse than finding out that some well-posed tank riders won't fit the
piecing together the styrene track run, a steel ruler can help to align the model because of an interfering hatch, antenna or other obstruction that
eventual full length when it is cemented together. Once the glue in the track wasn't picked up until too late.
run has had a few minutes to set, it can be wrapped around the running gear The painting process will bedealt with later in the book, but consideration
and formed around the return rollers. To remove the tra ks later for painting, should begiven during constructionto anypartsthatshould bepainted before
an unglued joint can be left on the drive sprocket, or the running gear can be the final stages of kit assembly. It is advantageous to paint the interior of a
removed from its mounts by breaking a weak cyanoa rylate bond. Experience model flat black in case it can be seen through crew hatches or other such
has shown that cyanoacrylate does not always want to come apart as easilyas openings. Ifthe vehicle features any interior detail, then this would ofcourse
one would like, and so caution is advised when using this method. need to be finished beforehand.
By making the idler wheels of a model adjustable, th track links can be
14 more accurately portrayed, especially in the case of the workable type ofafter- 15
Advanced construction
and techniques
After-market accessories
Oncethe basicsofAFV modelconstructionhave been mastered, itfollows that
thehobbyistwillwanttostrivefor improvementsinaccuracyand detail. There
is also a drive to want to create something unique from the mainstream
of kit assembly, for instance to modify or convert a model from how it is
presentedin thebox. After-market modellingitemsare producedtosatisfythis
requirement, and have been around since the beginningof the hobby. At first
rather crude, they have become well researched and finely produced in recent
years. Because of the limitations placed on injection-moulded styrene parts, Thesmall seamsoneachsideoftheguideteeth were removed The tracks werefitted to the hull before proceedingwith the
some kit detail is often sacrificed to produce a reasonable facsimile of the with thetip ofa hobby knifeand then cutfrom the carriersprue. restofthe construction.Theidleraxles are not movable and this
subject. Because most after-market accessory parts are produced in resin Theywere then glued tothe linksand,aftertheyweresufficiently resulted inaslightlyloose track on the rightsideofthe model.
castings and photo-etched brass, there is almost no limit to the intricacy of dry, the cutedges weresandedsmooth. Removingonelink had theoppositeeffectin thatthe trackwas
then tootight.
detail that can now be proVided.
One of the frustrations of researching a modelling subject is the discovery
that some kits have notable inaccuracies. The after-market industry provides money than the kit itself, individual track links have added a significant
manyfixes, typicallyin the form ofnewlydesigned resinpartsthataresizedto dimension of realism to AFV modelling. Several companies produce styrene,
fit the particularkit in question. Instructionsheets included can besometimes resin and white metal alloy workable types oflinks.
rather sketchy, and referencesare certainlya help when adding the details. Modelkasten from Japan have an extensive line of specialized track links.
I'he styrene track sets are very finely moulded and are assembled by gluing
Track links pins into each side of the individual links, allOWing them to swivel like the
Improving the look of the track runs was always a problem until the after real thing. Some sets are quite elaborate, and can consist of many individual
marketindustry produced individual link tracks. The previousvinyl track runs parts per link to allow significant detail to be reproduced. One disadvantage
made models lookquite toy-likeifplacedon AFV models thatfeatured sagging of these sets is that they tend to be more delicate than other brands of track
links between the return rollers on the real thing. Sometimes costing more links, and care has to be taken when painting, weathering and handling the
completed runs.
The HungariancompanyFriulmodelisamanufacturerofwhite-metal tracks
and otherdetailed partsthatare extremelywell researched. Theirwide rangeof
track linktypes coversubjects from pre-World War II to the modern day. These
TheCromwell Panzerbefehlswagen III kitincludesasetoflink The Modelkasten tracks are provided with ajigtoalign ten links
and length resin tracks thatwere discarded infavour ofamore to receive the individual trackpins.Theouterendofthe pins has
detailedsetofModelkastenSK-57workablestyrene tracks.The anS-shapedcotter pin moulded onwhile the insideend has aflat
guide teeth on theactual tracklinkswere tallerthan eitherthe head so itis importantto ensure thatthe endsdo notgetmixed
Friulmodeloffersalarge rangeofafter-markettracklinks made Thedifference between the kittracks (in brownstyrene)and the
kittracksorthe Modelkastenset,so usingeitherwould have up.Asmalldab ofTestor's Liquid Cementwas applied with an
from white metal. Theselinksfor the CharBIbis kitarewired Friulmodeltrackswith regard to shapeand detail can beseenin
beenacompromiseon the overallaccuracyofthe model.The old paintbrush to each pin beforeinsertingitinto the hole in
together. Becauseofthe natureofhowthe linksare moulded,a this viewofthe model.
Modelkasten linkswere removedfrom theircarriersprue using the link.
fairamountofclean-up is needed with asharp hobby bladeand
a newhobby knife bladewith a pieceofstyrenestrip backing
asmallfile.
16 to supportthe linkduringthe cutto avoid damaging it. 17