Desperate David and the Japan Type 1 SPG - FINISHED!!!!!

[DavidWomby]

Minor progress. The gun is coming together (barrel was a poor fit). I painted the inner end of the gun and its mount the same Khaki as the interior.



I have started back on the hull.



All the wheels are painted and ready to install but I need to get the lower hull painted first.

David

[DavidWomby]

I have a problem.

Remember I mentioned the tracks were severely distorted. Well, as you can see below

it's also shrunk!

I think it's too shrunken to soften in hot water and stretch. Does anybody have any other ideas? All I can think off is to splice the two tracks together and just have a track on one side

David

[PaulBradley]

Maintenance diorama, where the crew are removing/replacing the tracks?

[fredk]

1] buy a toy tank, a motorised one which uses tracks rather than wheels underneath and use tracks from it [this sort of thing; http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/kids-toy-army ... 259b3fc18e; ]
2] get individual link tracks
3] make a rubber mold of sections of the track and make resin copies

[SJPONeill]

Ask on Tracklink or Missing Lynx if anyone has some spare i.e. if they have used an aftermarket track set...failing that, maybe a bunker or revetment scene where the lower suspension is concealed..?

[jssel]

I will share this with an armor builder from my local band of pirates. He may have a thought or three.

[JohnRatzenberger]

I think now we understand why you got this in a bag for $3.

Just an FYI, this is also a "for real" situation, known as short-tracking. If track breaks, or more likely, the idler (or another bogie) burns out a bearing or a torsion bar breaks, you can simply bypass it by short-tracking. Done it many a time back in the day .... Just some useless trivia ....

[DavidWomby]

I think now we understand why you got this in a bag for $3.

You got that right!

Thanks, all, for the suggestions. I don't fancy building a diorama right now. I may try casting a section but I also have a dim recollection of a box of spares a friend gave me about 10 years ago having some tracks in it. I will have to climb into the attic to see if a) I still have the box and b) if my memory is correct about there being some spare tracks.

Of course, even if they are there, they may not be suitable.

David

[jssel]

Checked with my bud and he thinks you got hosed on the tracks and that they came from another kit.

[Softscience]

Agreed. I've built at least 3 tamiya chi ha based vehicles over the last three decades and never had this problem. You can try going on missing lynx and see if somebody can donate you some track. Those are hardcore armor modelers over there, and mist of them who have built this kit probably replaced the kit rubber bands, so they may have spares.

Good luck.

[DavidWomby]

I've found a solution. No, I didn't find the tracks in the attic but I tried the tracks I have on my Nichimo Panzer IV and they fit almost perfectly. They never really fitted the Panzer anyway. I don't know what they are from. They came from something else after the original rubber Nichimo tracks perished years ago). I'll put the Panzer into storage until I find some cheapo tracks for it.

So, pardon the pun, I am back on track.

David

[splash]

well done on a good recovery plan.

[jssel]

Nice one David. Glad to hear

[DavidWomby]

The wheels and tracks are on.



They are a bit saggy. I superglued them to the idler wheels to try to get them to sag in roughly the correct (unsupported) place.

I just need to paint the top of the hull and install some small pieces...................

David

[jssel]

Oh, now that worked well.