[WIP] Trumpeter 1/35 Faun SLT-56 Tank Transporter {Franziska}

[schweinhund227]

Well after a full day !   I give up !!!   LOL
I mean    I have enough for one day !!!

I made the mistake to buy a Lion Roar Photo-etch detail set !   Wow my God !!!  The kit was hard enough on its own !!!  I just added yet another kit in itself on top of it !!!  LOL



I managed to make all all the suspension and added the biggest sheet of Photo etch I ever worked on !
after sanding down all the details...  and concentrated on Erasing the Sink holes and Ejector pin marks underneath the fender area !


some would cover it in mud but... those machine are usually pampered ! and kept up !
so.... I made a little tool to erase them more efficiently !  


I used a scriber impaled on a tiny piece of a Rough Sanding Stick !   rocking back and forth till the marks were all but gone !!!

I later polish the surface with a piece of Green scrubbing pad and that blended it pretty well !   a little mud and road dust will hide the rest !  

Trumpeter has problems with those Huge Ejector pin marks....   sometime they are good at Hiding them and others... well....   you know what I mean !





After some sanding.... and yes.. .some more Green scrubbing pad polishing,  the part will look better and will draw less attention, Maybe ?  Sink holes or Pin marks are not a welcomed sight !!!  even between friends !!!

Anyway....I got a year to play around this beast of a kit !!!   I'm just glad this day is behind me !!!  but I should have never bought that P.E. set !!!  what a monster !!! 6 sheets wow !!!  what was I thinking ?

[Ferris828]

Gotta see more! Looks awesome so far!

[schweinhund227]

I'll try to take some more shots today while I'm building.   I just un-boxed my etch mate to help with will some large P.E. Sub assembly today.

I did the same sanding technique on all the axles and will be polishing the seams to blend it in better.
The weld seam or real mould lines are ground smooth on the real vehicles.  So... No seams!!   



With all those AIR brakes parts....  I will have to find more info on how to wire it!! Or at least make it look Like its wired.



MTF.

[JMac]

Thumbs up. Looks good.

[Scott Girvan]

Very cool Norm. This is a rocking build.

[Elm City Hobbies]

I have this kit as well, and thought about getting the PE set for it....I know there are 2 of them, one by Voyager as well, both are massive PE sets.

Will be looking forward to this build, and see the pitfalls of the kit!!

[Ferris828]

MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE!   

...but take your time dude, looking great so far!

[schweinhund227]

Yeah !  Photoetch galore!  That does't always mean better details!!!    I am going thru both sets of instructions to identify when to upgrade or just keep the trumpeter stuff....  I have shaven some little details only to swap it for a lesser PE detailed piece!  After a while, you endup asking why?

Sure there is a lot of good grilles or mesh or diamond plates to swap around but there is a limit!


I find there are PE parts that are so tinny that once freed from the fret.   They can't hardly be manipulated and put on the kit....  Too flimsy or just too flat....  So!  

I will progress and pick my battles with this kit.    Just so to find the right balance between
Details and my sanity!   Because I choose to try to get some PE done today....  I have almost nothing to show for !    A weird feeling!  After all that tedious work!

I feel like am assembling one of those dragon 3 in 1 kits....  Some will understand!  How crowded and difficult those instruction sheet can be....   The constant going back and forth is... Hard work, making sure I don't assemble something I later would have to sand down or cut away....

All I can say, is that little sanding contraption I've made works great!   All my underside ejector pin marks are gone.  

Take care and for those seeking info on that large PE set....   Stay tune!    I'm sure I'll post pictures of how much I will leave behind.....

[JMac]

I find there are PE parts that are so tinny that once freed from the fret.   They can't hardly be manipulated and put on the kit....  Too flimsy or just too flat....  So!  

I will progress and pick my battles with this kit.    Just so to find the right balance between
Details and my sanity!   Because I choose to try to get some PE done today....  I have almost nothing to show for !    A weird feeling!  After all that tedious work!

I feel like am assembling one of those dragon 3 in 1 kits....  Some will understand!  How crowded and difficult those instruction sheet can be....   The constant going back and forth is... Hard work, making sure I don't assemble something I later would have to sand down or cut away....

I sympathize. The number of tiny details can be over whelming, and if you’re working on a big set, timing assembly and cutting pieces can be an issue as you jump from one instruction sheet to another.
I think you have found a good detail/sanity balance and it looks great with the details you have added so far.

[schweinhund227]

Here are some shots to support my previous post !    



This is where I stand....  as we speak !  I want to hit some styrene soon !!!  but most of the time !!! when I do.. I need to cut it off and Sand the details smooth to accomodate some Crazy P.E. piece...  



Those really small parts are not going to make it on the Kit...  I would rather cut some round evergreen stock, cut flush to the surface and sand to the desire thickness than... try to manipulate a fleck like this...!

God knows how many of those little bits this LionRoar kit contains...   must be a similarity the Voyager kit shares with the LionRoar set !!!



Some details are to die for !!!!  like those Side Steps.... Very fragile.  I might add !!!





The Dash board is pretty slick !!!  with some Film sandwich between layers of Brass....  More gizmos are to come.... Knobs and switches and Liquid rubber will be dabed on the dials prior to painting...  don't worry !
 






This Radiator unit sits on top of a Whinch Motor....  some sort of Hydraulic fluid intercooler !!  I presume.
only 17 parts for this Assy.  alone...   More Tubing have to be added later on...  but man...  !!!  

I will either luv this kit or Hate it !!!  I better make it shine !!!  LOL !   it's true it shines enough as it is !!!  with all that brass !!!   LOL

[Elm City Hobbies]

I have often wondered whether to go for the Lion Roar or Voyager sets....in the end, I don't think it matters either way....either set will make you go bald!! LOL

[schweinhund227]

I have often wondered whether to go for the Lion Roar or Voyager sets....in the end, I don't think it matters either way....either set will make you go bald!! LOL

LOL !   So !  that's what happening to me   Man oh man !!!   

[Scott Girvan]

Very nice.

[Ferris828]

Dude! That PE is crazy!  It's truely making it 'POP!" Looking awesome! This is goona look wicked when it's all done and painted.
Keep it up!

[DreamKnight]

This is where I stand....  as we speak !  I want to hit some styrene soon !!!  but most of the time !!! when I do.. I need to cut it off and Sand the details smooth to accomodate some Crazy P.E. piece...  

LOL! PE is a whole different aspect isn't it? Having fun yet??