Fred's Grant tank *** FINISHED***

[fredk]

The Airfix 1/76 Lee/Grant tank. Another which is about a year old and doesnt need too much to finish it. I was improving the turret and was going to add side skirts & new front mudguards. Just a couple of evenings work should see it done.

[AndrewR]

How good a fit are the tracks?

[fredk]

I haven't a baldy notion; I'll find out when I come to putting them on. They are the very poor ones, thick and stiff. I reckon a soaking in boiling water will be in order before final fitting.

[BlohmWolf]

I haven't a baldy notion; I'll find out when I come to putting them on. They are the very poor ones, thick and stiff. I reckon a soaking in boiling water will be in order before final fitting.

I built this last year. Had a couple of pieces missing, but the kit itself was fun and easy. The tracks though, are a pain in the ****!

[Stuart]

I like the Grant tank - good luck with the tracks Fred!

[Dazzled]

Nice subject Fred.
A good way I've found of dealing with recalcitrant band type tracks is to stick them to the roadwheels a little at a time, allowing plenty of drying time in between. It also allows you to work in a bit of realistic sag while you're about it.

[VickersVandal]

I had an Airfix Mk1 that had sat for about 10 years as a couple of pieces glued together and this is calling that to mind. I finished it in a weekend on holiday but the tracks nearly killed me. Hope you don't have the same dramas.

[nashorn]

i will be watching this build with interest, before i build the one ive had in the stash for some time.

regards rich.

[ShaunW]

This is an old classic Fred and one I built many moons ago. Probably the only major issue with it will be the tracks, as is usual with most of these old armour kits.

[fredk]

got a wee bit done on this today;
new front mudguards and extensions;


Little bits of plastic attached to the rear mudguards to bring them out level for the side skirts.
I drilled out the hull gun a bit more and repainted the tyres umber.
The turret has had two thin pieces of plastic card glued on the bottom to raise it a bit and to replace what I cut off to get the two sides level. It has a bit of filler on it to blend these in, but thats not hard yet.

[Dirkpitt289]

Looking good so far. I need to get one of these. Its one of my favorite tanks

[ShaunW]

Nice bit of extra work Fred.

[Dazzled]

Good progress Fred. It's nice to see the improvements you're making to this old girl .

Are you planning any more upgrades?

[fredk]

The side skirts are on. I'm superglueing the track to the wheels with the track joint hidden by the skirt. I have to put the tracks on before I can add a rear mudguard. The tracks deceived me. They are ok, they're bending and glueing quite well.
In the meantime; the turret. I am not a rivet counter. The only reasons I'm doing all this to the turret are a) it was short moulded and what was there was mishapen. b ) I enquired about some resin turrets from a maker and he ignored my enquiries.
I had plans to build about 4 of these for a mini diorama for last autumn so I was going to need 4 new turrets, but the maker didnt need my money.

Lots of plasticard and filler to get the turret into shape and larger. Just to make it look better. I might add the bits to the turret to make it Montgomery's.

[fredk]

Here it is with the side skirts on and one track glued in place, the black bit is the clamp holding the other track in place whilst the glue sets;