M24 Chaffee, French Indochina 1954

2017 Light Tanks Group Build. Campaign runs from 10/02/17 - to 30/06/17. Campaign medals awarded for models completed within those dates.
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Philipp Gross
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Re: M24 Chaffee, French Indochina 1954

Post by Philipp Gross »

I think the running gear is complete now. The insane complexity of both kit and the real thing slowed me down considerably....should have picked a 38t instead :lol: Seriously though, it's kind of demotivating to spend hours after hours toiling on tiny fiddly parts without seeing any progress. But now things should pick up some speed.

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The tracks could be 1-2 links shorter. I had to put the idler all the way back and they are still fairly slack. Probably on purpose, since otherwise it would bend the "workable" suspension.

Speaking of which, the idler is made from five parts and has proper mud holes. The gap required some filling and sanding:
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Same on the sprocket, but only three parts each. And since it's hard to reach and yet harder to see I left it as it is:
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Shawn Ramsey
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Re: M24 Chaffee, French Indochina 1954

Post by Shawn Ramsey »

Philipp Gross wrote:I think the running gear is complete now. The insane complexity of both kit and the real thing slowed me down considerably....should have picked a 38t instead :lol: Seriously though, it's kind of demotivating to spend hours after hours toiling on tiny fiddly parts without seeing any progress. But now things should pick up some speed.

Philipp
You should build the Bronco kit. Talk about small pieces.

Small pieces or not your making great process.

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Steve Hutchinson
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Re: M24 Chaffee, French Indochina 1954

Post by Steve Hutchinson »

Getting there Philipp ;)

Time for the big bits 8-)

Looks very nice too :D

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Philipp Gross
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Re: M24 Chaffee, French Indochina 1954

Post by Philipp Gross »

Thanks everyone :)

Yeah, Bronco is worse. I dare not imagine how their M24 must be.

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Olivier Carneau
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Re: M24 Chaffee, French Indochina 1954

Post by Olivier Carneau »

Nice job with the running gear. The way they design the mud relief holes on the idlers and sprockets is easy for them but a pain for us modelers to cleanly assemble. You did a great job there.
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Philipp Gross
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Re: M24 Chaffee, French Indochina 1954

Post by Philipp Gross »

Thanks Olivier :)

I guess there is no other way to make the idler and sprocket without resorting to resin casting or 3D printing. The assembly wasn't that difficult, you just have to be careful with the glue.

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Re: M24 Chaffee, French Indochina 1954

Post by Philipp Gross »

And here's where we are right now:

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Still a lot of tiny parts to add but it's definitely taking shape now. Overall fit so far was quite good. Not 100% perfect but no real issues either. I've added a 30cal barrel by RB Model, the kit part isn't bad, I just have a lot of them :lol:

An example of the nice little details you'll barely notice in the end:
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Vincent Power
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Re: M24 Chaffee, French Indochina 1954

Post by Vincent Power »

I understand your frustration with tiny parts Philipp. It does look good though. :)

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Philipp Gross
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Re: M24 Chaffee, French Indochina 1954

Post by Philipp Gross »

Speaking of tiny parts:

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Yeah.... :roll: :lol:

But, after two more evenings of work, the hull is now mostly complete. I hope. :?
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Re: M24 Chaffee, French Indochina 1954

Post by Shawn Ramsey »

Look at all that shinny PE. Great work there Philipp.

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