Quote from: Gondor on March 14, 2025, 02:00:27 PMSo if this is a failed funny, is it a chuckle or a smirk?     

Gondor

I'd go with both ..it's a weird cute little beast 😍

A snigger.  Or a cackle.

I have begun building the guns.  This is a recent repop of the Flakvierling kit and the moulds are showing their age.  Fit is poor, there is slight flash on edges, and more than a few ejector pin marks.  It's a very unTamiyalike building experience.
Universal Carrier is also showing its age (it's another recent repop) but not to the same extent.  Ejector pin marks in obvious places are its worst fault so far.
Actual examination of the sprues and destructions (rather than just looking at the box art) reveals that the folding gunshields are there.

Hedges?  We don't need no steenkin' hedges...

Hedge Trimmer WIP 25.03.16 01 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

Your commentary on these venerable kits is true and just. Well past the peak, but still a nice basis to work with.

The Riich carriers are glorious models, if you like teensy weensy itsy bitsy parts to recreate every element of the real thing. Well worth the effort but not a trivial build.
These old tamiya kits still have their place.. right here in builds like this 

Yep.  Perfect for whiffing.
Except for the rubber band tracks.  I don't like them.  Never have.
Hopefully the resicast ones do the job.

I must admit I was tempted by metal barrels.  But I know that is a slippery slope...

Some research (yes, I do know the meaning of the word despite evidence to the contrary) eventually* showed that Tamiya at least put the joins on the central structure where there were welds on the real thing.


*Is it just me or is it becoming harder and harder to get internet search results showing pictures of the real thing.  All I was getting was bloody models. 

Quote from: zenrat on March 16, 2025, 05:34:02 AM*Is it just me or is it becoming harder and harder to get internet search results showing pictures of the real thing.  All I was getting was bloody models. 

Not at all just you, I'm seeing that all the time these days, it can be a real pain sometimes.

While looking up 'Meteor' the other day I came across a pic of my PR19 even!!! 

Quote from: PR19_Kit on March 16, 2025, 05:59:42 AM

Quote from: zenrat on March 16, 2025, 05:34:02 AM*Is it just me or is it becoming harder and harder to get internet search results showing pictures of the real thing.  All I was getting was bloody models. 

Not at all just you, I'm seeing that all the time these days, it can be a real pain sometimes.

While looking up 'Meteor' the other day I came across a pic of my PR19 even!!! 

And AI ... Gods, how I hate AI!    

Quote from: zenrat on March 16, 2025, 05:34:02 AMYep.  Perfect for whiffing.
Except for the rubber band tracks.  I don't like them.  Never have.
Hopefully the resicast ones do the job.

I must admit I was tempted by metal barrels.  But I know that is a slippery slope...

Some research (yes, I do know the meaning of the word despite evidence to the contrary) eventually* showed that Tamiya at least put the joins on the central structure where there were welds on the real thing.


*Is it just me or is it becoming harder and harder to get internet search results showing pictures of the real thing.  All I was getting was bloody models. 

There's a few very nice metal barrel sets out there for this gun mate ....Lion Roar..RB models ..Legends Productions...the details are superb for those sets which the Tamiya have zero of 

As for the Tamiya Flakvierling..she's been around for a long time ..released in 1977..rereleased in 1988 ..it's age is well and turely showing when you put it beside the newer ones..ive built pretty much all of em ..the Trumpeter one..Dragon one ..Great Wall and AFV Club ..which came with metal barrels 

Gah!
Frikkin' ejector pin holes inside the gun shields.  Heaps of them.

I filled them yesterday and today spent happy hours at the bench sanding them and then scratching up a mount for the gun.

Hedge Trimmer WIP 25-03-23 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

It's not glued in yet.  I may lift it up to allow slightly more access to the engine and the ammo storage.  The ammo boxes (to be scratchbuilt using the dimensions of the ready to use stowage I built today which mounts on the turntable) will be mounted on top of the fuel tanks (a good combination I feel).
There will be a crew of four; Driver, Commander/Gunner, and two loaders.

Does anyone know if the Universal Carrier had a chassis (like the Lloyd Carrier) or if the armoured hull acted as a monocoque?

Quote from: zenrat on March 23, 2025, 03:06:00 AMGah!
Frikkin' ejector pin holes inside the gun shields.  Heaps of them.

I filled them yesterday and today spent happy hours at the bench sanding them and then scratching up a mount for the gun.

Hedge Trimmer WIP 25-03-23 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

It's not glued in yet.  I may lift it up to allow slightly more access to the engine and the ammo storage.  The ammo boxes (to be scratchbuilt using the dimensions of the ready to use stowage I built today which mounts on the turntable) will be mounted on top of the fuel tanks (a good combination I feel).
There will be a crew of four; Driver, Commander/Gunner, and two loaders.

Does anyone know if the Universal Carrier had a chassis (like the Lloyd Carrier) or if the armoured hull acted as a monocoque

Fred mate the hull is the chassis..everything bolted to that ..it's an extremely simple design..ive been lucky to be up close and personal with em a couple of times ..it's also why I know I'll never drive one ..no way am I getting behind that steering will 

Thanks Phill.
 

Quote from: zenrat on March 24, 2025, 03:01:15 AMThanks Phill.
 

Welcome matey 

I finished gluing scratchbuilt ammo storage together today.
Next stage is suspension and tracks.
I modified the rear suspension parts so it looks like it's loaded up - I shortened the springs and cut'n'shut the arms to change their angles.  I'm not sure how much lower it'll sit.  It's all guesswork.  Hopefully enough to show i've done something.
I washed the resin tracks in washing up liquid and toilet cleaner (run out of bleach) to remove any remaining mould release.
They are not really link and length.  More just length, each one being made up of five is six lengths.  The destructions tell you to glue them together and then curve them round the wheels.  I was dubious when i read this but testing shows the resin parts are surprisingly flexible and it should work if I am careful and use the correct glue to connect the sections.  I'm trialing epoxy on the first two sections.  I think it should do a better job than superglue as it's less brittle when set.

As it turned out, the major issue with the trimmer was that it was unable to move under its own power and had to be towed. Various solutions were proposed including a train of carriers used as tractors - two or three depending on conditions, and tanks. A turretless Valentine was determined to be the best answer due to its relatively low profile.

Quote from: jcf on March 26, 2025, 08:31:33 AMAs it turned out, the major issue with the trimmer was that it was unable to move under its own power and had to be towed. Various solutions were proposed including a train of carriers used as tractors - two or three depending on conditions, and tanks. A turretless Valentine was determined to be the best answer due to its relatively low profile.

Definitely a first class Bad Idea!!
Funny how some things just get bigger and worse as people insist on making them work no matter what.