|
|
Post by loyalist on Jan 12, 2016 17:33:31 GMT
I'm planning to convert some MK II tanks to BEF AICs. The original idea was to lengthen them 1" but now I may lengthen them only 1/2" and put a superstructure on top like the Cardigan's. If anyone has a Cardigan infantry carrier can you provide the superstructure dimensions? I need length, width at the bottom and height.
|
|
|
|
Post by loyalist on Jan 14, 2016 1:15:57 GMT
3 more tank kits arrived today and I've done a test cut on one of the track units. Being soft plastic it was easy to cut in two along the vertical plate line ahead of the side hatch, which conveniently lined up with gaps between the track treads on top and bottom. This one will be the BEF Field Commander's vehicle with a different superstructure than the AICs (if I decide to give them one) and will be lengthened only 1/2". The AIC's will probably be lengthened 3/4" and if anyone has the dimensions of the superstructure on the Cardigan carrier I'd appreciate that info.
|
|
|
|
Post by Quendil on Jan 14, 2016 9:36:42 GMT
The cardigan superstructure at the base is 4.2cm long,2.8 wide, 2.5cm high. it narrows to the top and slopes in a bit at the back. The top is 3cm long by 1.8cm wide
|
|
|
|
Post by loyalist on Jan 14, 2016 17:15:00 GMT
Thanks. I've done a superstructure mock-up which looked too long at 2". Shortening it to 1.5" will give similar dimensions to the Cardigan's superstructure: 38 mm long vs 42mm, average width (due to slight taper to roof) 23.5mm vs 23mm, but lower height.
I have some spare Tommy tank guns which are the same as the 2 pdr guns used by the Mono-tank and Cardigan, so one of those will go in the MK II AIC's main gun position. It will have 2 HMGs per side and the fifth HMG will be on the roof.
|
|
|
|
Post by loyalist on Jan 15, 2016 3:42:35 GMT
A MK. II tank kit was successfully stretched 1/2" this evening using lots of styrene components. The process took about 2.5 hours with lots of measuring, figuring out the process, cutting and filing, but the next ones should take much less time. A 1/2" section of track was very carefully cut off the undersides and glued into the gap between the tracks on top. Looks good with no visible seams. I've started making inch long track sections on the bottom to fill the resulting gaps. I'm using 0.5mm styrene strips cut to the width of the tracks and will use 1.0 x 1.0mm styrene strips to make the track treads. A mock up of a superstructure with Cardigan type weaponry will be made on the weekend. Photos to follow.
|
|
|
|
Post by madmorgan on Jan 15, 2016 11:52:15 GMT
Again I salute your modeling skill and patience. I'm just lazy I guess or more importantly inept at doing such works of art. Look forward to the photos.  |
|
|
|
Post by loyalist on Jan 17, 2016 5:20:18 GMT
After considering the points for Cardigan carriers vs US AICs (525 for 3 Cardigan's vs 120 for 3 AICs) I've decided to make the Canadian AICs similar to the US infantry carriers. There will be no superstructure, unlike the US AICs which have a raised roof and a cupola, and they'll be slightly longer with a BEF ball turret for the hull HMG. The first stretched chassis turned out very well. I'll post photos tomorrow - the conversion is done and the model primed.
|
|
|
|
Post by madmorgan on Jan 17, 2016 11:08:46 GMT
the errata pegged the cardis at 90 ec = 270 but USA still a bargin. i suppose all those HMGs are to blame. look forward to yhe pics. ;]
|
|
|
|
Post by loyalist on Jan 17, 2016 18:46:38 GMT
I'm going to build them as US style AICs but there's always an option to replace the flat roof with Cardigan-like superstructures as the game scenarios require.
I'd like to know the length of the track units on the AD AICs the make sure mine are at least as long when 'stretched'. The first one was lengthened by 1/2" and looks close to the size of the AIC model.
|
|
|
|
Post by loyalist on Jan 18, 2016 1:44:01 GMT
Here are the primed Canadian Field Commander and Tank Co. Commander vehicles: Not the greatest lighting and black obscures details. Magnifying the image will help. The Field Commander's vehicle is on the left. This is the same superstructure I used on a non-stretched tank chassis. I test fitted a 1/2" longer superstructure on the 1/2" longer tank but it didn't look as good as the smaller one. I added short decks ahead of and behind it. It has BEF mods: removal of the driver's cupola, ball HMG turret and radio aerial. The tank company commander's tank is a Mk IIc with BEF mods.  Bad lighting again but you can see the Field Commander's tank has been stretched. I cut a 1/2" long section of track off the bottom and installed it in the 1/2" gap on top, then made a new track for the resulting 1" gap on the bottom (1/2" for the stretched chassis and 1/2" for the removed track section). This will count as a Lloyd Command Carrier but with slower speed (6") and a second HMG on the roof.  A better view of the Field Commander's vehicle.  Bottom view of the conversion. You can see the track I made: the treads are square in cross-section instead of rounded at the outer edges, which isn't noticable when the tank is tread-down. The treads are the same 1mm width and height as the treads on the model's tracks, and on the same 0.5mm thick track base. I made the gaps around the new side plate too prominent by rounding the edges excessively.  The AIC's will probably have the same 1/2" longer hull but two doors per side. |
|
|
|
Post by Burt on Jan 18, 2016 2:47:56 GMT
Really nice work!
|
|
|
|
Post by novista on Jan 18, 2016 4:56:10 GMT
Amazing job, it's always to easy to pick out your perceived flaws in your own work. The other joy of the AIC over the cardigan, is it's a convertion rather than a rebuild, so it all works out pretty good. |
|
|
|
Post by mikedski on Jan 18, 2016 11:15:42 GMT
Again I salute your modeling skill and patience. I'm just lazy I guess or more importantly inept at doing such works of art. Look forward to the photos. testify brother |
|
|
|
Post by mikedski on Jan 18, 2016 11:17:45 GMT
the errata pegged the cardis at 90 ec = 270 but USA still a bargin. i suppose all those HMGs are to blame. look forward to yhe pics. ;] 180 points for three per errata, 90 each. |
|
|
|
Post by loyalist on Jan 18, 2016 11:29:22 GMT
If the Cardigan is only 180/3 I'll build two exchangeable roofs for the stretched chassis, a flat one with hatch for the AIC and a superstructure with HMGs for the Cardigan. The Cardigan's 2 pdr gun will go in the hull mount.
I'd like to know the total length of the AIC if anyone has one before I start stretching the next 3 hulls. I want the Canadian version to be at least as long as the US one.
|
|
