kevin
Well-Known Member
I agree... and I really enjoy being in a brick and mortar hobby store. I recently discovered my closest one, an hour drive one way, but its well worth it.
M6 Gun Motor Carriage WC-55 2025-06
- Thread starter BarleyBop
- Start date
I'm spoiled... just about every other trip to Costco involves me dropping off the shoppers then making a beeline to not one, but two hobbyshops less than a quarter mile away!
And when I'm feeling like it, there are three more in town, across town, and a little out of town that I'll drive to, non-rush hour; hallelujah for retirement travel flexibility!
How do we have so many? Maybe it's the Canadian winters?
One of the shops has been in pretty much the same location since I was a kid.
Jakko
Well-Known Member
Old modelling books and articles used to recommend making things like this from stretched sprue: cut it and hold it near a flame so the end curls up into a mushroom shape. I suspect the ones you buy are more consistent in size, but it's a method that might come in handy if you need ones of several different sizes?
... quite likely! I remember making antennas, and heating a blade to flatten the end of an axle inside a wheel to hold it in place and still be able to turn... of course today the model engineering is more sophisticated, with rubber washers and other ingenious ways to assemble wheels along with carbon fiber antennas, Evergreen, and my newfound obsession with brass!
I'm reading this AK book on PE, and was amazed to see that folks used to make it themselves à la DIY before it was commonplace for a PE sprue to be included in a kit! Have you ever tried that?
Jakko
Well-Known Member
No, but I know how to do it in theory 
I also have the skills to draw the parts and make masks for them, but I dislike in general almost everything that requires a lot of preparation and clean-up, so — much like casting my own resin parts — the hassle with chemicals puts me off actually trying it. That, and that I don't like wasting materials, which I would inevitably do trying to actually learn the technique for either of those
I also have the skills to draw the parts and make masks for them, but I dislike in general almost everything that requires a lot of preparation and clean-up, so — much like casting my own resin parts — the hassle with chemicals puts me off actually trying it. That, and that I don't like wasting materials, which I would inevitably do trying to actually learn the technique for either of those
I hear ya! Unlike days gone by, the level of detail in kits, the availability of PE, resin and 3D printed accessories pretty well obviates the need to make your own! Not to mention putties, styrene and brass...
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Jakko
Well-Known Member
What's more, there are companies that will photo-etch sheets to your drawings Not that I've ever used one, but since discovering that some years ago, there have been a few times when I thought it might be a good solution for things I wanted to make.
Not that I've ever used one, but since discovering that some years ago, there have been a few times when I thought it might be a good solution for things I wanted to make.
What to do when the kit gun mount is rickety wobbly, with poorly fitting plastic post pin?
Brass, my dear Watson.
Cut the post pin flush, drill it to accept a brass rod.
Cut brass tube that will fit in the gun mount, as well as be a perfect and stable sleeve mate for the post pin.
Voilà!
Brass, my dear Watson.
Cut the post pin flush, drill it to accept a brass rod.
Cut brass tube that will fit in the gun mount, as well as be a perfect and stable sleeve mate for the post pin.
Voilà!
Still have to clean up the post flash, but the fit is sturdy, tight and workable.
More work on the gun.
The kit didn't provide sights, and the guard was solid.
Earlier, I had drilled out the perforations in the guard.
Tonight I built a sight with mechanism out of brass and styrene.
Drilled out the barrel.
Added some detail to the gun mechanism wheel... some kind of plunger...
Replaced the two stabilizer rods that attach to gun mount and shield with brass.
Now it's looking like a gun!
The kit didn't provide sights, and the guard was solid.
Earlier, I had drilled out the perforations in the guard.
Tonight I built a sight with mechanism out of brass and styrene.
Drilled out the barrel.
Added some detail to the gun mechanism wheel... some kind of plunger...
Replaced the two stabilizer rods that attach to gun mount and shield with brass.
Now it's looking like a gun!
Jakko
Well-Known Member
That's a good fix, and nice detail being added too
May I suggest thinning the edges of the gun shield? It looks very clunky as it is.
May I suggest thinning the edges of the gun shield? It looks very clunky as it is.
Thanks. An improvement that makes it seem more plausible, IMHO... going up against DAK armour, those boys need all the help they can get.
From what I understand, the M6 combo was pretty much obsolete, and after North Africa, many had the guns removed for use of the truck.
...sort of tapering so they don't appear so thick?
If I do, from the inside I suppose. The outside needs to stay flat, and I'd have to make sure the edge was a consistent width... and no need to touch the bottom (as it's not visible).
I'm assuming the large shield as opposed to the perforated guard, though that is a bit hefty too!
Looking at the shield, I might have to remove the box on the right, as it is close to the edge, and make sure it still fits flat... not so straightforward!
I had a terrible time assembling the mount, the fit and the instructions just awful. I feel like it is going to spring apart at any moment!
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Jakko
Well-Known Member
Yes, from the inside. If you bevel the edges, they will look thinner without actually being so for most of the shield.
And yes, the guns were taken off. Some were repurposed on M2 halftrack cars:
And Steve Zaloga's model of one:
And yes, the guns were taken off. Some were repurposed on M2 halftrack cars:
And Steve Zaloga's model of one:
About as much tapering as I'm comfortable with.
The top was easy, as I could just sand it flat from the outside.
It does make a difference.
The top was easy, as I could just sand it flat from the outside.
It does make a difference.
A bit more work on the gun shield... holder for two rifles, and thin pocket case strapped to handles, with two buckles. Don't know if that was for adjustment tools, or to stow the sight...
Copper tape makes good strap that can be threaded through the buckles.
Copper tape makes good strap that can be threaded through the buckles.
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A perfect hour this afternoon, tooling at the bench, and with something to show for it: two riffle scabbards to be mounted on each side.
Brass foil, PE belts cut to size, rifles from the weapons stash.
And stitched seam with recently acquired pouncing wheel tool...
The somewhat lackluster kit provided ones for reference.
Brass foil, PE belts cut to size, rifles from the weapons stash.
And stitched seam with recently acquired pouncing wheel tool...
The somewhat lackluster kit provided ones for reference.
kevin
Well-Known Member
Awesome.
Haha, I almost don't want to paint them.
Must feel the same kitting out a ship with PE, brass and wood decking!
kevin
Well-Known Member
Yes, not so much with the PE, but the wood deck looked so nice, I had a hard time painting it.
Jakko
Well-Known Member
That very definitely is an improvement Though you may want to remove the mould seams from the rifles
Though you may want to remove the mould seams from the rifles
...amazing Jakko, it's like you can read into the future!
But then again, your today started in my tomorrow, so you live in the future!
Jakko
Well-Known Member
By the time I get out of bed, it's today where you are too
Some early staging of figures... picked from three different sets.
Driver, loader, gunner, commander; once I'm satisfied with general staging, arms, hands and heads with helmets will be adjusted individually, then cleanup of flash, putty and sculpting if necessary, sanding and primer.
Painting figures takes a while if I continue on my oils journey, so better get them positioned so I can start painting them while I work on the truck.
The truck and gun will need stowage to be worked out, and I'm hoping to base it on the El Guettar photos I posted at the top of the thread.
Driver, loader, gunner, commander; once I'm satisfied with general staging, arms, hands and heads with helmets will be adjusted individually, then cleanup of flash, putty and sculpting if necessary, sanding and primer.
Painting figures takes a while if I continue on my oils journey, so better get them positioned so I can start painting them while I work on the truck.
The truck and gun will need stowage to be worked out, and I'm hoping to base it on the El Guettar photos I posted at the top of the thread.
Jakko
Well-Known Member
Aha, so that's where I keep going wrong
I guess there's only so much I can do with assorted heads, hands, arms and body parts!
I'm gonna have another look at them later, but I think I'm getting close.
The guys are about ready for trimming, filler, sanding and accessories.
It's fun to think of them as an ensemble, not only occupied with their own tasks, but positioned in such a way as they seem to be interacting with each other.
A big ask from lumps of plastic!
Jakko
Well-Known Member
Is there a way to get the gunner closer to the telescope? Right now he seems to be sitting back waiting for the others to do their thing. You would probably want to cut his left leg off at the knee so you can bend it to get him closer to the gun shield, and also swap his right arm for one that's bent so he can still reach the controls with it.
Yup, considered that... along with getting him to lean in a bit... after several hours of futzing around though, I started thinking about good enough versus best... maybe I'll have more energy when I go back to it!
Otherwise, the gunner is waiting for the loader to turn around with the shell, and exchanging a few words with the commander who is leaning in, which I could make more obvious by tilting their heads together.
Otherwise, the gunner is waiting for the loader to turn around with the shell, and exchanging a few words with the commander who is leaning in, which I could make more obvious by tilting their heads together.
Jakko
Well-Known Member
That would not really make it look like they're in action, though. The loader can load the gun while the gunner is aiming it, after all, and definitely would if there's an enemy tank near Of course, if you intend it to be a day at the range or something, they can be a lot more relaxed.
Of course, if you intend it to be a day at the range or something, they can be a lot more relaxed.
I could pack them a picnic basket! LOL
