Sheridan rides again!

[ShaunW]

What indeed is that all about - not something I've come across in an armour kit before OT. Maybe they're designed to be carefully shaved off the sprue runner. Is there nowt in the destructions?

[Softscience]

Yes Shawn. You can shave them off and glue them onto stowed gear as buckled straps. They're not bolts. Although I believe another srpue does have bolts that work in the same fashion. Pretty clever on the part of Academy.




OT. The idler wheels are the small wheels at the very front of the vehicle. The arm they are attached to is the axle arm. This piece can be swung inwards (towards the aft side) or outwards (towards the front side). When you glue it on, set it it so its more towards the aft than the front. This will make the tracks fit better, and the suspension will clear the mud-flap pieces better as well.

[jssel]

Very interesting. Something I missed on other Academy AFV kits

[jssel]

How we doing here?

[Old_Tonto]

How we doing here?

Sorry for the lack of updates Jeff, work has gone mental this last week so I have not had much time for modelling or updates.

I have made some progress though adding all the fiddly bits to the lower hull (not sure that is the correct terminology!).
Apologies for the poor images. I must learn to use my camera phone.







I intend to add the running gear this evening and give it a blast of paint before attaching the wheels, which are also assembled & ready for painting.

Work on the turret has started and I must say the fit is perfect.



There are quite a few modifications made to the Sheridans' sent to Vietnam - see, I have been doing my research - so I need to be careful with the equipment fit on the turret.
Hopefully once the wheels are on work will speed up rapidly.

[jssel]

Hate when work gets in the way. Looking good.

[Old_Tonto]

Just a quick update. I finally finished all the suspension gubbins.

The wheels are not glued yet as I want to paint the workings before I attach them.



I have attached all the lights & various metal work hoops even though images of Sheridans in Vietnam show most of these missing.
I need to mask off the wheel hubs before painting the rubber wheel rims. Then fit the tracks.
I wonder what colour the tracks should be?

Still plenty to do on the turret.

[Dazzled]

Looking good OT.

[Old_Tonto]

Looking good OT.

Thanks Darryl. I have been a bit cautious with this build never having done anything in 1/35 before but am feeling more confident now. Hopefully the build will pick up some speed now.
The hull received a primer coat last night to show up any issues but it looks fine. I will aim to get a coat of olive drab (?) on the hull tonight and crack on with the turret whilst that dries.

Although I am fitting all the bits & bobs (technical term!) as per the instructions images from the period show lots of it missing?



Plenty of mud to be added me thinks. Probably a good way to disguise any blast-ups.

[TobyC]

Plenty of mud to be added me thinks. Probably a good way to disguise any blast-ups.

Now that is a method of modelling I can heartily recommend

[jssel]

Impressive O-T.

[ShaunW]

That is looking great OT. Heavy weathering can be used to cover a multitude of sins - especially if you experience a poor fit with the tracks. Poor track joints? what joints, if you've got plenty of mud on there they disappear nicely - I've even covered up bodges like joining tracks with small staples before now using the mud routine

[Old_Tonto]

I have been plugging away at this throughout the festive activities.

I painted the chassis Tamiya XF-62 Olive Drab. Whilst that was drying I set to work on the turret as it needed some filler around the seam.


This is the only filler required so far.

Once that was sanded I gave the turret a couple of coats of XF-62 & attached it to the hull plus the wheels to the chassis.



So basically at this point I have a tank minus track which is the next stage.
I still need to 'Vietnamise' the turret by adding the ACAV style 50cal & stowage rack but we are nearly there.

A test fit of the track shows that it does at least fit although there is not enough slack to portray the sagging track above the wheels.



Now all I have to do is join the tracks together using a hot blade! Never done that before.
Wish me luck.

[Softscience]

I tied the track to the first, last and middle wheels with some fishing line. Its surprisingly easy and effective

[TimJ]

Looking good.