Tamiya 1/48 Cromwell Mk IV - first tank ever ..

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

So, the Santa brought me these last night …

I am mostly prop fighters guy and I do not have any idea on how to start with these two [:)]

Can anyone please let me know about some WIP post where I can take some ideas on what is the armor building process ?? What to pint first, what assembled later and so fort … ??? Any input is highly appreciated.

(I am just assuming it is not necessary following the instruction; at least I know so much from my aircrafts builds[:)] )

2

I prefer to assemble all the basecoat pieces first: hull, turret, towhooks, etc. I usually paint any wheel with rubber tires seperately as well as tracks and tools. Some modelers prefer to assemble EVERYTHING first, tracks and tools included. I’ve never tried this due to the difficulty of painting everything. You’ll find as you build, what works for you, not what works for others in many cases. Good luck, those should be fun to build.

3

The Tamiya 1/48 kits are well engineered and have great directions. Don’t be scared to dive in following the directions. Try that first and come back if you get stuck

4

I know you were only joking about not needing to use the instructions, but there are some areas where you need to pay attention. For example, on the Firefly, step 6 which requires you to use a piece as a template for the placement of the gun travel lock. This needs to be done before the rear hull plate is attached otherwise the travel lock will be displaced by the thickness of the rear plate.

PS: Don’t glue the template (Part G28) on… [D)]

Just take your time, work through it and if you have any questions, someone will have the answers.

5

Thanks Guys !

I started with Cromwell. It is really fun [:)]

I think I will do the wheels later. First I am placing all upper parts (without any attachements; those I will paint separately and placed on the top later), than I will paint it. Thank I do wheels and tracks and assemble them and close the track covers. I may temporarily assemble covers with the tank for painting.

Thanks again for your help !

6

My usual is to do the chasis first, then the upper hull, then turret, but it’s not carved in stone… I start with the chasis to get the roadwheels out of the way, lol… Ain’t bad on a Sherman though… I shoot the major sub-assemblies with a rattle can, and add the tracks last, and then the BII and pioneer tools…

7

Once you come over to the darkside(armor), you don’t go back. So you better get used to building armor.[:D]

8

I know what you mean by wondering where to start. Being an a/c guy myself, that is.

I’ve built the Tamiya 1/48th Sherman and had it done in a weekend. Nice kit, simple. Since then I’ve tried two other ventures into armor and always feel overwhelmed. One hint I’ll share that works for me. Study the assembly sequence to determine if anything should be painted before it’s assembled. Other than those things that would be impoosible to paint correctly and still show, I assemble the whole kit before painting. Another hint. Road wheels. Gotta lov’em. Get yourself a circle template like a draftsman would use. Select the approriate size for the wheel to fit and use it to mask the rubber portions of the wheel while spraying the wheel. Spray the rubber first, ofcourse, then use the template for the wheel. Works.

Good luck!

9

One thing to watch out for with the Cromwell is the fenders and tracks. Getting the link-and-length tracks to fit properly around the front idlers is a pain…I ultimately hid mine using the front fenders because I couldn’t get them to join up properly. It turned out to be my first, and last, 1/48 project. Be careful with the metal lower hull as well…if you drop it when handling after you’ve attached things it can be a nightmare especially it if “rolls over” before impacting! [(-D]

10

Thanks Guys for your help !!

Here it is:

11

I said that same thing after I started my 1st armor kit and look at me now. The dark side possesses my very soul[}:)] It really is fun though.

I too am one that builds as much as I can that will get the base coat but I do tools and some of the other different color fiddly bits seperate. Keep at it Greg, looks like you’re doing fine.

…Greg leaves the computer and goes to his bench… the blood in his veins runs a little blacker, a little colder as the dark side takes another.

12

LOL [:)]
I guess it is like that [:)]

I read a book “The black devils’ march…” and it heeked me up. In fact I am almost ready to go to my LHS and get more [:)]

13

I do not know how you guys handle the tracks … I have a real hard time putting tracks on this one …

14

Great job on the tracks, they look right to me.

15

Lookin great! I too come from the camp of building the whole kit and then painting, finishing, and weathering… Yours looks great and I have found this article to be a great guide to finishing: http://www.track-link.net/articles/18. It really gave me things to think about when I got more into armor modelling. Those 1/48th Tamiya are addictive and look great… Again looks awesome. Happy New Year!

16

Thanks for the guide ! Great help!

In the meantime I got more tanks [:)]; Just got back from LHS and brought : King Tiger and Crusader AA tank both Tamiya. King tiger for $15 !!! How could I resist that

I also painted a base color on some parts…

17

Greg this is going to be a sweet ride when its done. And now that you are buying more armor while in the mdist of a build aka building the armor stash, you’re hooked.

The force is strong in ths padawan…

It’s futile. [}:)]

18

[:)]

I did not get to WB on my new camera … its time to read a manual [:)]

19

Yuh, my tank stash is growing quickly …

I have already got: (all Tamiya 1/48)

  • Cromwell Mk IV - already working on it [:)] as shown above
  • Sherman Firefly Ic - I wish Vc would be available … anyone knows??
  • King Tiger
  • Tiger initial Production
  • Tiger early production
  • Crusader AA tank
  • Pzkw III
  • Pzkw IV

and some vehicles [:)]

  • Jeep (hasegawa)

  • Kubelvagen

EDIT: and finally I found how to set a correct WB on my camera [:)]




next step is to add some features (I have no idea what is next [:(] )

Do you know any good guide on tank weathering procedure (with pictures and items used) ???

20

All the above garbage its an unknown bug (to me) [:)] ; My post starts here:

My weathering attempts did not succeed as I planned. At this stage I think I may try few more exercises and dig this project. I do not feel like doing it over with this kit. (I may get a new one instead [:)])