I have not built a tank in a while but I got the itch so I will now. This will be a 1:8 scale T-60 light tank from the USSR, the later model. It is being made in 2 mm steel plate with brass if needed. The hull structure is roughed out, turret skeleton made, wheels all done, mudguards roughed out. I had one years ago in 1:10 but it was horrific so I trashed it. I picked 1:8 as that is what matched a set of tracks I have available. It will be heavy so I am putting in the biggest 12 V motors I can get my hands on. This will serve as a placeholder to maintain the guilt at not posting that will drive me on.
I thought I would get the turret out of my way so I did. Quite a bit of JB Weld filler visible here and there but it is smooth and will not be visible once primed. The golden fillets between some of the panels are not ‘bling’…..I cut and fit all the panels by hand and some of the angles were ‘off’ by a degree or two. So I stuffed the cracks with brass and bronze round bar, soldered it in and then ground them back with a flap disk on a mini angle grinder. Looks like inlay or something but it is not. It is just filler.
Rough in places but 1) it will be fine when painted and 2) the real things were horror shows so I am not so worried!
I’m pretty happy at the minute…most of the broad strokes appear to be aligning…the big move will be joining th ethree upper plates together but once that is done and done properly it will be a major milestone. It looks very bare with just acres of slightly rusty and tarnished steel!
Looking good Iposter! This is quite an undertaking, and not a subject most of us see every day.
My subconscious has me wondering if the original creators of the Dr Who TV series got any inspiration for the design of the Dalek from the T-60 turret?
