The Unofficial Airfix Modellers' Forum

I though I might indulge in giving you something to giggle about. My sad efforts at crafting moderate end results from plastic, resin and photo-etch. I will present the current build, an Airfix Scammell tank transporter, for your edification; it is a product of a GB on another forum. The 'load' will be an Airfix Matilda tank, something that has been ongoing since the start of the year, but was put away due to an aircraft GB on this forum.
The Matilda will be presented in the Cauntor camouflage.

And there was I thinking you were re-fitting your kitchen.....

I suppose it was my Mustang GB that delayed the Matilda

Indeed it was Iggie, indeed it was. (oh, that and my general inability to get on with things!!!!)

I have done some fettling with the Matilda and the Scammell.

I purchased a second Matilda due to the fact that I had misplaced the Commanders cupola hatch cover - I planned to cut it in half in order to have 'the commander' in situ. With the new Matilda, I have opened the drivers hatch as well. The hatch is presently sitting under some molding rubber awaiting the rubber to cure that I might make a copy (Airfix have advised me that spares for the Matilda are not currently available). I also discovered the main gun to be missing so, in an idle moment, I dug out a length of brass and crafted 2 main guns as the plastic ones left much to be desired. The internet is great but try and find the taper of a British 2 Pounder!! The bore was 40mm but the nearest drill I have was a No75 and that scales out to 39.25mm!!





The Scammell is progressing, slowly - I made a pigs ear of straightening a slight warp in the tractor chassis, I have a replacement en-route. I have been focussing on the trailer although bits and pieces for the tractor have been worked on. The dashboard prepared and hinges added to the under trailer storage box.

The wheels have been re-worked and the mudguards thinned down, they will also be set closer to the wheels as per prototype.

The shock absorbers have had some work done to create the impression of the rubber pads.

A pulley for the rear of the tractor bed has been turned as has the filter top.

The trailer is rushing, headlong, to completion some sanding, filling to be done. The X braces to be trimmed etc.

Nice going on the Scammell.

Nigel

I lied about the trailer! It has been re-worked to look less 'toy-like' at the ramp end.



Before
And
After:



At the other end of the trailer, the sheaves that take the winch cable from the tractor unit winch to the top of the trailer have been lathe turned and fitted.





The tractor unit has had some detail added to the rear bed.



The vertical sheave on the tractor unit rear takes the winch cable around and up to the vertical sheave between the horns of the trailer which, in turn, gets the cable to the skew sheave on the front of the trailer - a tortuous route!

Bit of work to be done sorting the front suspension, I want the various suspensions to 'work' to ensure the vehicle 'sits' on its wheels.

I did some work on re creating the Firestone tread seen on Scammells:





The Firestone is on the right of the other tyres, the middle are standard military and worn military tread and on the left a pattern with a 'bent bit' on the tread (there is technical for you!).

I am working on creating the diamond pattern tread, often seen on the trailers. I need a basic wheel, working on that, which I can cast, machine and then apply the tread. I will have a go at that next week.

Did some work at providing the Scammell with rather more 'macho' tow hooks and tried out a U/V blue light glue. It worked well enough, so is another 'adhesive' to add to the modellers arsenal.

Some rather awesome work going on here, especially on the tyre reproduction. Off to Kwik-Fit now to see if I can get some "bent bit" tyres

Simply astounding level of detail on the trailer. So nice!

Great work,I am finding this very interesting.

Fascinating work TeeELL. Very much enjoying the scratch building in particular.

I have done some fettling on the tractor unit. Those of you familiar with the Tank transporter kit will see the differences.

Apart from all the extras on the rear of the tractor unit, I have been working on the suspension. The rear, twin, articulation units have been re-worked to appear more like the real thing and extensions have been added which will attach to the collars either side of the differential. Like the real thing, these will keep the suspension units parallel and vertical to the frame. At the front end, the axle now rotates around a brass rod and an additional pivot has been added to the rear of the U section.

The mud guards have been lowered by about 1mm so that they sit closer to the wheels in a more prototypical fashion, the steering has been offset 'for interest'.






Work has continued on the trailer and the ramps have had some additional detail added.

This is great work you are doing,very interesting to watch.Well tidy.

Today I have popped the wheels on the tractor unit just to 'look see', oh the cab top is just sitting there as well - for effect.







I did not realise that I hadn't completed thinning down the mudguard supports until I saw this photo :-( too late now, I shall have to live with it I think.

I've done some work on the windscreen thinning the vertical bar and removing the horizontal bar - which is actually part of the larger, opening section of the windscreen.

The cradle in which the trailer connection sits is being fabricated - that is the part with the significant spring, and is necessary if the tractor unit is displayed without the trailer.

Off to Spanish lessons so no more work for now.