Fred's Renault FT Command Tank

[fredk]

I've dithered so much, time is marching on. I want to build something and actually finish it before the end date. My last couple of GB builds went into overtime and beyond.
I dug this one out, but I'd put it away cos I really didn't want to tackle it. I'll show you why soon.


Like all other RPM kits there are zillions of small parts;


After one hour fifteen minutes I've got this far;



Lots of parts are broken within the sprue. The iron work for one side of the rear skid plate broke into 4 parts, the other side into just two. The panel for the driver's vision hatch was in two parts. There should be an axle on part of the rear suspension, but they've broken off.
Primarily this kit is for a post WW1 US command tank, but I want a French built one in US service. This kit gives two slightly different hulls and the associated bits to build two different versions.

Now for the bit I'm not looking forward to; each track support roller is in two parts! 6 rollers for the top and 9 for the bottom, each by two halves, by two sides.
Why?!?!? Why could they not have been 1 part each?

The top rollers for one side; nothing to help align them, and each is about just over 1mm diameter;

The bottom rollers are larger, about 2mm diameter!


I'll be sticking tape to these before cutting them off. I do not wish nor plan to spend the next few days on my knees fighting the carpet monster to get them back!

I'll be back after I do these bloomin rollers.

[jssel]

Looking good Fred.

[TobyC]

Good luck

[DavidWomby]

That looks a challenge. Good luck with it.

David

PS - thanks for the tip about putting sticky tape over small parts that may fly away when cutting them off the sprue. That's a new one to me and I'll definitely use it.

[fredk]

Thank you chaps, for the nice words of encouragement.

[Dazzled]

This looks like a tricky, overcomplicated kit but I'm sure you're up to the challenge Fred.

[splash]

That looks even more complex than the Airfix Churchill

[iggie]

Nice tip regarding the tape for cutting small parts!

Good luck with mating up those tiny bits!

[Softscience]

Mind the brittle plastic. I used a small saw to remove most parts when I built one of thrse

[fredk]

Mine is not brittle, but soft plastic, almost polythene like.

[Softscience]

Sounds like RPM uses whatever is at hand to stuff into their moulds. Some of their kits have the marbled appearance that makes me think they're stuffing shopping bags and parts of older models into there.

[fredk]

I'm giving up on this one. Life is too short.
Its not that is has so many extremely small parts, its the matter than NONE of those small parts fit without trimming and sanding.
I spent two hours on it today and only got two of the lower track runs partially built.

Anyone want to finish it?
PM me please.

I'll post up a photo later of whats done so far.

PS; I have the command box built up, but needs some trimming.

[fredk]

PS - thanks for the tip about putting sticky tape over small parts that may fly away when cutting them off the sprue. That's a new one to me and I'll definitely use it.

Nice tip regarding the tape for cutting small parts

For this one I used double sided foam tape. Only one sticky side is needed and the foam is good for pressing the part into as one cuts;