Most of the week has been spent doing the track links for one side! I didn’t, fortunately, have too many breakages, but, as a result, the extra care takes longer.
As I said before each link needs filing and as there is no jig lining each track up and slotting in the pins is painful to say the least. My “jig” is a piece of masking tape stuck to the track side of the parts to be assembled. This gives you one more finger to use to insert the pins!
In view of the time that it is taking to finish the tracks I will put them on later. In Stage 14 above I will fit the track guards and then the back plate without the exhausts at this stage. This allows the full length of the exhaust to be fitted fully sanded smooth and painted. Actually, not much of the exhaust is visible unless viewed from underneath.
I am not installing the engine (it is sold separately anyhow) as very little of it is visible when the vehicle is assembled. I guess it would be good for a servicing diorama.
I have dry-fitted the front plate to the engine covers and then put them in place in the body. There is some easing to do to the front plate (as indicated above). The rear plate I can’t really test-fit until the track guards are installed and they need painting first.
Engine cover and the front and rear plates dry fitted. The forward plate needs pushing down firmly and easing as suggested above. Scrape any paint off the surfaces that attach to the main body when gluing!
Christopher Woolford says
Following closely Julian, having been inspired to fetch home from Telford a 1:16 ‘Achilles’, or rather a ’17 pounder M10′ as I believe the weapon was known to its crews.
Track assembly on your Universal Carrier model looks tedious. Are spare track pins provided?
Julian Seddon says
Hello Chris!
It is a very good model with a few tricky bits to come!!
The tracks, oh my gawd ! They are the most tedious I have ever encountered. I have been assembling them for the last two weeks. Even assembled they are very delicate.
In answer to you question there are a few spares, not many but so far enough!! I can get on with the construction now!