Genius display idea!

[Edbert]

This might be old news to you guys, but I've never seen anything like it before. I would not do this to every kits but dang this is cool!

 

[Jakko]

I've seen a couple like that on Scalemates, and the idea is quite nice, IMHO — though at the same time, I wouldn't build it myself like that It shows off the interior well, but I think it distracts from the actual model and any realism that has been achieved with it.

 

[Steve Ski]

Wow, ingenious is right, definitely one of a kind. That's awesome!

 

[sapper23]

That is similar to what I plan on doing with mine.

 

[scottrc78]

Like a 3 dimensional exploded view drawing.

 

[sapper23]

Exploded parts diagram.

 

[Jakko]

definitely one of a kind.

Not quite, unfortunately There are at least two on the Scalemates page for the kit used here that both aren't this particular one, by the looks of it …

 

[Steve Ski]

Ok, Jakko, you are correct. Regardless, that's an awesome display idea

 

[Edbert]

I found this while looking for tips on the RFM Late Sherman workable plastic tracks. Clearly this short did not help

The tracks for the kit (Firefly and Easy Eight) are over 900 parts, yes, just the tracks. But the instructions are simply wrong.


F1 & F7 are just jigs, thrown away when finished. F-2 through F-6 clearly indicate no glue. but without glue it falls apart. I've only even tried the tracks, but hoping this is not an omen of things to come.

I do enjoy doing these things like an assembly line while (sorta) watching TV.

 

[Jakko]

Regardless, that's an awesome display idea

Oh, I agree — this one looks better than the others, IMHO, because of the diorama base.

 

[Jakko]

The tracks for the kit (Firefly and Easy Eight) are over 900 parts, yes, just the tracks. But the instructions are simply wrong.

There's a better way to build them anyway. The pins (F2) come in sets of seven that you can remove from the sprue as a set, so first of all do that — but leave them as sets of seven. Glue a guide horn (F5) every pair of pins.



Use only the bottom jig (F1) to assemble one set of six links around a set of seven pins-with-horns.

While the glue on that dries, take two bottom jigs (F1) and cut the round bits off the ends. Join them by glueing a piece of plastic card underneath, and before that dries, use the assembled length of track to make sure the spacing between the two jigs is correct. Let the glue on the jig dry.



Now you can put a set of seven "outside" blocks (F3 and F4) in the jig, place the assembled track onto the end, put a set of seven pins on top of the blocks and glue the "inner" blocks (F6) to the outer. Cut off the sprue from the pins. Repeat.



Also beware that there is a lot of stretch in these tracks:



That is: 34.5 cm long when fully stretched out, 32.5 cm when pushed all the way in, for a set that fits an M4A3 (HVSS) model.

 

[Edbert]

Neat idea Jakko!

So you're not using the other part of the jig at all, the horns prevent that, just attaching the inner pads and pressing with fingers?

I'd been putting the horns on after everything else was done. I've only finished two sections, will try this way too.

 

[Jakko]

The upper part of the jig appears to serve to press the two halves of the blocks together, and to align the guide horns. I found the horns would stick inside the upper half and you can just press down the block halves with your fingers anyway. Plus, if you assemble the tracks as instructed, you will end up with a whole bunch of sections of six that you then have to join. With my way, you just keep extending the track by seven links at a time, which is less fiddly.

 

[Edbert]

Clearly too late for you, but maybe others will come accross this thread.

I found an easy way to clean the remains of the sprue off of the horns by leaving them partially attached. If you take off the bits in-between each horn only, there's just enough room between them to insert a sanding stick.

I found cleaning them while holding them between fingers (and I do not have sausage fingers) was a bit fiddly. This is much easier.



For the life of me I did not expect to see US armor cast in panzer-yellow plastic though.

 

[Jakko]

The Meng M4A3 (76 mm) VVSS kit is also moulded in a sand colour, but my set of these RFM tracks was in grey. Odd

 

[Belugawrx]

Looks like something Dr. Manhattan would do....
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