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Forums - Modelling / Construction |
The construction forum is for the discussion of techniques on the construction phase of AFV modelling and the tools and materials used. |
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| Messages | 8589 |
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| Subject: | Re: AFV Club Sd.Kfz. 251 problems |  |
| Date: | Sep 17, 2004 |
| From: | Christopher C. Tew | |
David -
I have assembled the lower hull and dry fitted the upper and see the same concern. I think - not anywhere near ready to commit to glue - that you need to do two things. First, I have already trimmed the upper hull on both sides very carefully at the inside of the front big corner where the complex angles cross over the lower hull, trimmed the short side of the "L" locating tabs on the front of the upper hull to half their original thickness so that the upper hull can sit a little more forward, and gently scraped the parts of the lower hull that fit against the upper hull right in front of those "L" tabs so the upper hull meets the lower hull assembly more easily. Second, I intend to start gluing from the rear, with the rear fit even so that the back plate will fit on smoothly, then work forward, doing the nose last.
My Mark I eyeball tells me that the problem is in the fit of those complex angles at the nose (no big surprise there!), so that the nose pushes the rear out of line when it's put together as is. What I intend might require some file use at the nose joint - time will tell - but it will be better than the millimeter plus overhang at the rear. I am worried about assembling the hull halves after all the interior is glued on and painted.
I'm doing a simultaneous build of the Tamiya (Ausf. D), DML (Ausf. C), and AFV Ausf. D) kits, the Tamiya just for a lark. I will ultimately use the AFV wheel and track set to improve the Tamiya kit. The look and "heft" of the AFV kit are really impressive, but the assembly is very complex, and the high rubber content of the plastic yields "cheesey" joins. The two rear tabs on my right side piece and the roof of the forward rear slot the tab fits into broke after I applied glue and tried to shift the part for a better fit.
The DML kit is a very good kit, but it is rather fragile looking and a bit less detailed, though in fairness, most of the suspension detail will only be seen by the builder and contest judges with dentists' mirrors.
CTew |
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