Landships II

Thanks Charlie, interesting links, cheers.

On a big learning curve. Yeah, I certainly found the pva sunk away (especially on unsealed porous primer paint). I actually found a more gelatinous type of PVA that worked a lot better. Flat rivet trick may come in handy on side of turret adjacent to track on next model.

I also found dabbing rivets with a needle wasn't as good as a using a small piece of wire with a flat filed on the end, gave a better 'blob' shape. With a bit more care than I used on this one, should be possible to get fairly good results with glue rivets. They need to be just under a mm wide at this scale though.

I've started experimenting with molds for rivets (and track plates, uh-oh what am I getting into?) but it's tricky. Next time I'd just like a nice cleaner edge.

If anyone else was to use the quick and dirty wrap-around card track trick, far better to glue something on the track horns part to get a proper flat track plate look on the radius. Would be well worth the small extra effort to get rid of the 'rounded' track plate look. Card I used here was 1mm, still too thick - needs to be closer to 0.3mm for scale at this size. I just used what I had lying around, Have collected more grades for next attempt.

I hope other first timers see this and think 'hey, I can do that too - probably better' and give it a try. I took a lot of short cuts on this. I didn't check track width either. I went with what I thought 'looked OK' (coincidentally came out scale for MKV width, so really my calling this a mk1 is a slight stretch). I cut track plate number to save some time too.

For other newbies: I found a nice little scale calculator app that makes converting drawing dimensions to any scale a piece of cake, so don't let that aspect bother you.

Added pic of pair of next models at basic stage. Almost tempted to bin them already though, as I've had further ideas on improving accuracy/construction methods.

Hi Mark, glad the plans are of use. Sorry about the lack of plans for the tail wheels, looks like it's going to be a winter project. 

Thinking on Charlie's idea of embossing the card form behind, would it be possible to print out segments of the plans onto stiff paper, emboss it, then past it on to card.

Looks very nice, will be watching out for future progress pics.

Helen x

LincolnTanker wrote:

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Hi Charlie,  that MarkIV is not a MarkIV, the model is miss-titled by, I think, Modelik!

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 I know that - Modelik modelled the Mark IV at Bovington which has had louvres added to the rear of the hull. It's fairly easy to fix that on the printed parts sheets, or rather scans of the printed sheets. I built the frame before I realised that the Bovington Mark IV had been modified.

Regards,

Charlie

Hi Charlie

Quote  - 'Modelik modelled the Mark IV at Bovington which has had louvres added to the rear of the hull.'

Didn't know about the added louvres at Bovington!

Here is a build of the model, and it shows the crew front plate to be MarkIV.

http://www.ukpapermodels.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=325&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=15

Hi Charlie. Like the pics very much. I actually like models via both methods. Have downloaded a coupla freebee print ones I intend to try. Haven't seen the modelik one in my travels. It's almost too good to cover up. 1mm card is certainly easier to cut. I ended up gang-filing my sides for uniformity. More sophisticated methods will be taken up in due course.  Found that laminating very thin card works great for curves, eg. Sponson gun shield parts. I'm still mucking around. Even thinking about making a clay one for fun.

BTW was thinking that using diatomaceous earth on model almost worth it just to say I used it, but with the level I'm at, maybe application of night soil could be more appropriate :)

I'd tried embossing rivets but kept tearing. Maybe a making a little die would do the trick.

Hey there Helen. You've already done such sterling work, take a break. I'm sure I can come up with a reasonable facsimile. I've studied every tail-wheel pic I've got but still a few angles a mystery. Higher priority (and easier) might be a MK1 female sponson? I bought the Airfix male & female kits but I'm dubious about that female sponson. Seems very different to the Bovington MK2 fem (eg far too wide compared to Bov one).

I hadn't joined Landships 'til after I finished my practice model, so some dwgs I used were the small thumbnails. I've since downloaded the Hi-res ones so I promise a more serious effort this time to try and do justice to your work. I've layed them all up in Photoshop, found it works well to cut bits from old photos/museum photos to overlay here and there too.

Thankyou again Charlie. I certainly want to do the Whippet now. I had a good look at Firefly (you suggested to 'bigtank'). Those Belgians seem to have some superb AFV examples, great patina. 'Lodestar' my fav museum tank.  

Yeah - been looking at armoured cars, look like really good card candidates too. Right now eyeing up a nice Daimler truck with beautiful cast spoke wheels + AA gun on back - sigh. Thinking about 1-48 scale so I can attempt more models (or grow another pair of hands and go to bed even later).

I had some encouraging results embossing track shapes last night. Making a better die form to dolly the shape into now.  Cheers, meths did help (apart from the nasty taste), card stayed damp enough for long enough. Going to try soaking in thinned glue to get it to hold shape better next.

Liked the mouse pad/backing pad trick, I didn't think of that - but just about everything I look at lately is with a view to how it might be applicable to building a better model! Better lay off the meths... :>

-- Edited by Enzedder on Thursday 22nd of September 2011 03:56:21 PM

Well, I got a bit sidetracked on my Mk1 - 2nd attempt. Thought I'd try an A7V - simple print/card model (Baden 505. Thanks to Clifton McCullough for the free download)

Later decided to add a bit more detail. Made some tracks, suggested the suspension parts, opened a few hatches etc. 1/72 seemed too fiddly so I bumped it up to 1/48. Even at that size I found it quite difficult to work with though.

Here it is at first rough assembly and a first splash of paint. Was going to turn this into "Mephisto" but further research reveals most early (single plate side) A7s had no exhaust pipes. I was quite exhaustive in making the paper-over-wire pipes so I can't bring myself to leaving them off - so "Baden" it will be.

Good fun and was more careful with this one. Think it should turn out OK. Rivets to go on next, that should give it a lift. (note, plate angles look a bit off in photos due to camera lens pin-cushion effect)

Thanks again Charlie. I grabbed those. Building a nice stash of dwgs now. Looking forward to my trying first Armoured car. I really like the 'limitations' with this card modelling caper, really excercises the problem solving abilities. Haven't touched my fancy Airfix kits yet.