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Forums - Site / Build Logs

Messages in this Build Logs forum are automatically posted when new Build Logs or Chapters are added. Other modellers can then comment on them. Refer to the Build Logs section for more information.
Topics  81
Messages  3069
 Subject:  [Chapter] Gunner and Grenade LauncherList thread.  
  
 Date:  Dec 23, 2007
 From:  James Wechsler 
Gunner and Grenade Launcher

Well the last major step in the construction of this kit is to assemble the grenade launcher and fit the gunner into position.

First off, a thank you to Derek at Accurate Armour. My weapon ring was misshaped and all it took to get a replacement was one e-mail and a couple days. Now that’s customer service!

Assembling the grenade launcher is a challenge. There are lots of parts and again the photos on the instructions aren’t too clear. A big help are the photos at the back of the painted model where it’s easier to see the parts. The instructions clearly state that you must fit the gunner in place before completing assembly of the grenade launcher. Definitely true. Even though it will make painting harder, there’s simply no way to get everything to line up if you don’t do that.

In looking at this assembly, I decided to completely abandon the kit’s recommended build sequence. The instructions would have you build up a series of modules and then assemble them together. The problem with this is that if the parts are slightly misaligned, then when they’re put together you’ll see this and have no way to fix it.

Instead I decided I’d find a part to be the reference point and then add the other parts. In fact I ended up using two parts. For all of the movable items, I used the main grenade launcher body as the reference point. My logic was that everything had to line up with it to be correct. I also used the weapon ring for all of the parts that didn’t mount directly to the grenade launcher. Again my logic was that items like the grenade launcher mount needed to be positioned correctly to the ring or else they wouldn’t be lined up and would look funny.

This method ended up working really well and greatly reduced the risk of misaligning all of the little parts.

So once I’d built up the two assemblies, I then located the gunner figure’s body on the seat and glue it in place. The grenade launcher has a bar that comes out from the rear and is intended to rest on the figure’s left shoulder. That allowed me to mount the launcher in its support bracket and glue it in place there and on the figure’s shoulder, making a strong assembly.

After that I fitted the gunner’s arms which did require a bit of shaving and putty to get right. But the result is that he’s nicely gripping the weapon and sitting in the seat. Pretty cool actually.

One thing I did realize was that I needed to wait until these steps were completed before attaching the linkage that connects the bottom of the grenade launcher to the weapon mount. I believe this is a damper that keeps the weapon for bouncing all over the place while the vehicle is moving. But you really need to wait until this point to position the pieces or they’ll likely not all connect together.

So this was a tough step. But to be fair, I don’t think Accurate Armour could have done a better job on this assembly other than the assembly sequence. Let’s face it, some things are just really complicated and the only solution is to go slow and be patient.
 
Thread Listing 
  [BLOG] SAS Land Rover 110 DPV - James Wechsler - Sep 26, 2007
. . . [Chapter] A Simple Build? - James Wechsler - Sep 26, 2007
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] A Simple Build? - Chris Oldfield - Sep 26, 2007
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] A Simple Build? - Michael Powers - Sep 26, 2007
. . . . . . . . . Reference Pictures - James Wechsler - Sep 26, 2007
. . . . . . . . . Zip file - Chris "Panzer" Mrosko - Sep 26, 2007
. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Zip file - Bruce Oomen - Sep 26, 2007
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Zip file - Chris "Panzer" Mrosko - Sep 26, 2007
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Re: Zip file - Michael Powers - Sep 26, 2007
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Let's see - James Wechsler - Sep 27, 2007
. . . Re: [BLOG] SAS Land Rover 110 DPV - Mike Powers - Sep 27, 2007
. . . [Chapter] Maybe Not - James Wechsler - Sep 29, 2007
. . . [Chapter] Getting Started – Rear Suspension - James Wechsler - Oct 8, 2007
. . . . . . coil springs [IMG] - spencer norcross - Oct 9, 2007
. . . . . . . . . Re: coil springs - James Wechsler - Oct 9, 2007
. . . [Chapter] The Front Suspension - James Wechsler - Oct 13, 2007
. . . [Chapter] The Engine, Drive Train , and Exhaust - James Wechsler - Oct 15, 2007
. . . . . . Radiator Mounts - Hans Haase - Oct 15, 2007
. . . . . . About the Radiator - Michael Powers - Oct 15, 2007
. . . . . . . . . Re: About the Radiator - spencer norcross - Oct 16, 2007
. . . . . . . . . . . . Hilarious! - Jim Wechsler - Oct 16, 2007
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Looking good so far - Chris "Panzer" Mrosko - Oct 26, 2007
. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: About the Radiator - Chris Oldfield - Oct 27, 2007
. . . [Chapter] The Body and Wheels – Part 1 - James Wechsler - Oct 31, 2007
. . . . . . About the hood - Michael Powers - Nov 1, 2007
. . . . . . . . . I can attest to that! - Hans Haase - Nov 3, 2007
. . . [Chapter] The Body and Wheels – Part 2 - James Wechsler - Nov 5, 2007
. . . . . . build/rebuild woes - spencer norcross - Nov 6, 2007
. . . [Chapter] Roll Cage and Weapon Mount - James Wechsler - Nov 12, 2007
. . . [Chapter] Front End Details - James Wechsler - Nov 18, 2007
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Front End Details - Michael Powers - Nov 18, 2007
. . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Front End Details - James Wechsler - Nov 19, 2007
. . . [Chapter] Cab Details - James Wechsler - Nov 23, 2007
. . . [Chapter] The Driver - James Wechsler - Nov 26, 2007
. . . [Chapter] Truck Bed Details - James Wechsler - Nov 29, 2007
. . . [Chapter] Roll Cage and Weapon Mount Details - James Wechsler - Dec 5, 2007
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Roll Cage and Weapon Mount Details - Glenn Bartolotti - Dec 5, 2007
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Roll Cage and Weapon Mount Details - Michael Powers - Dec 5, 2007
. . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Roll Cage and Weapon Mount Details - Jim Wechsler - Dec 6, 2007
. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Roll Cage and Weapon Mount Details - Brian O'Donoghue - Dec 8, 2007
. . . [Chapter] Commander and Machine Gun - James Wechsler - Dec 17, 2007
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Commander and Machine Gun - Michael Powers - Dec 18, 2007
. . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Commander and Machine Gun - John Desrosiers - Dec 24, 2007
. . . [Chapter] Gunner and Grenade Launcher - James Wechsler - Dec 23, 2007
. . . [Chapter] Construction Complete – Perspective - James Wechsler - Dec 25, 2007
. . . [Chapter] Basic Painting - James Wechsler - Dec 27, 2007
. . . [Chapter] Camouflage - James Wechsler - Jan 1, 2008
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Camouflage - John Steinman - Jan 3, 2008
. . . . . . Re: Excellent Wheel overspray... - Michael Powers - Jan 4, 2008
. . . . . . . . . Re: Excellent Wheel overspray... Maybe not - James Wechsler - Jan 4, 2008
. . . [Chapter] Detail Painting – Step 1 - James Wechsler - Jan 6, 2008
. . . [Chapter] Decals and Dash Board - James Wechsler - Jan 13, 2008
. . . [Chapter] Drybrushing - James Wechsler - Jan 19, 2008
. . . [Chapter] Wash - James Wechsler - Jan 19, 2008
. . . [Chapter] Figures - James Wechsler - Feb 2, 2008
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Figures - Michael Powers - Feb 3, 2008
. . . [Chapter] Putting it all together - James Wechsler - Feb 2, 2008
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Putting it all together - John Yarosh - Feb 2, 2008
. . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Putting it all together - James Wechsler - Feb 4, 2008
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Putting it all together - Chris Oldfield - Feb 3, 2008
. . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Putting it all together - James Wechsler - Feb 4, 2008
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Putting it all together - Steve Camley - Feb 3, 2008
. . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] Putting it all together - James Wechsler - Feb 4, 2008
. . . . . . Still more chapters - Paul A. Owen - Feb 3, 2008
. . . [Chapter] The Groundwork - James Wechsler - Feb 9, 2008
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] The Groundwork - Michael Powers - Feb 10, 2008
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] The Groundwork - Jason Bobrowich - Feb 10, 2008
. . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] The Groundwork - James Wechsler - Feb 11, 2008
. . . . . . . . . . . . Re: [Chapter] The Groundwork - Walt Babst - Mar 13, 2008
. . . . . . Re: [Chapter] The Groundwork - spencer norcross - Feb 13, 2008
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