Improving the Airfix Mk 1 tank

[TeeELL]

Looks like my second print turned out OK. I’ve yet to separate the roof from the print supports, I will do that a little later and pop some photos on here.

[TeeELL]

A couple of shots of the 2 parts I am working on:





The roof panel is done and has come out rather nicely - the worst ‘printing artefacts’ have appeared on the easiest panel to smooth! The rows of rivets down the edges - apparent on the Airfix kit actually sit under the edge of the tracks so I’ve elected to leave them off. I am also going to try a different orientation for the print.

The cab has been narrowed very slightly but I now need to add all the bits that ‘vanished’ from build 8! So I’ve had to use build 3 and start over.

[Bissyboat]

Interesting comparison Tony.

[TeeELL]

I’ve compared my 2 different roof print orientations - I did one ‘on its side’; the end result is better but I have had to add some reinforcement strips as there was a ‘curve’ to the top.
I am starting to add the additional detail to the cab, the tiny amount I reduced the width by was sufficient to achieve the necessary track clearance.

[ShaunW]

Impressive stuff, Tony.

[TeeELL]

One area I hadn’t though about, until it was mentioned in another forum - the track tensioners in the model are ‘square’ based on the MkII whereas the Mk1 had semicircular ends - I might design some drop-in replacements. I am thinking that the ‘male’ gun sponsons could do with a full re-design as there are too many errors to simply create a new roof (the guns themselves are in the wrong place); but that is going to be a significant task!

[TeeELL]

It has been a while, but a week’s holiday by the sea gave me the opportunity to continue with work on the cab. I’ve now reached a point where it is ready for a test print, just need to finish the tow bracket component at the front. Looking at the roof panel, I think I need to thin down the vertical sections of the T-bar joints.