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Modeller Build Logs
Tasca M32 Recovery Vehicle w/ T1E1 Mine Roller |
| By James Wechsler | | Started: | Apr 15, 2008 | | Updated: | Oct 2, 2008 |
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First off let me say that Paul Owen is a great guy, even if he is a Vancouver Canucks fan. Having built 44 Shermans, I really hadn’t planned on buying the Tasca M4A1 kit since I’d built that variant a few times over. But Paul sent me this kit and it is a really, really great gift. So I got motivated to do something special.
After thinking about it for a while, I realized that simply building this kit as a gun tank really didn’t get me excited. Then it dawned on me, it would make the perfect conversion base for an M32 Armored Recovery Vehicle. I mean the old Italeri kit was just staring at me and screaming ‘I need a new hull, suspension, and transmission cover!’
So there it was, my mega project. But then I got to thinking a little more. Why not go further? Let’s scratch build the T1E1 ‘Earthworm’ mine roller! Never heard of this massive contraption? Check here:
http://www.jedsite.info/engineer/tango-number-us/t1_series/t1e1/t1e1-intro.html
But wait, there’s more. The M32 has two huge hatches on the turret structure that just scream ‘interior’. At last, my project has reached planning fruition. This blog will be of an M32 ARV w/T1E1 Mine Roller and a full interior.
Plan on a lot of chapters. |
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| Engine Bay | Jun 7, 2008 |
I moved on to the engine bay simply to finish up the Verlinden set. Yes I’ve still got to do the wiring but a little procrastinating never hurt anyone. About the only challenge in the engine bay was to cut away the fuel tanks from the Verlinden firewall since I’d used the CMK part. Not hard but time consuming.
After that it was just a matter of adding the fire extinguishers, junction box, and some wiring. Truth be told, very little is visible with the engine installed and the forward engine deck cover in place.
One thing I did add was a small 1/8 inch plug to the air filters to get them to mate to the ducts I’d added to the engine.
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