The tracks are on!

I didn't get too much work done over the weekend, but I did manage to get the tracks on both sides. These are some of the best link and length tracks I've ever used. There was one small problem though. The rear idler sits too close to the idler arm, causing the to fit poorly. I added a 1/16 inch space between the idler / ideler arm to take care of the fit problem.

A quick update

I haven't had time to do much work on the M-10. Trusty, my 16 year old border collie, has gone and gotten himself another ear infection, and so has a bad case of the dizzies. So I've only had enough time to do a little modeling. I've added three bolts to each idler arm, you can just make them out in the picture. I've also glued together the drive sprockets, and started adding the individual links to them.

A sad goodbye and a little modeling

I took a few hours off work today to help my sister take her dog 12 year old retriever, Shamrock, to the vet. The dog had gone quickly downhill in just two weeks. It turned out to be an aggressive cancer, and she had to be put down. It was hard for the little sis, and it hit pretty close to home for me. I've taken my 16 year old Border Collie to the vet twice the past 2 months, thinking he wasn't coming home, but after some penicillin and steroids he bounced back. So goodbye you big dumb mutt, I'll miss ye...

I also got a little modeling done tonight, and managed to finish detailing all six VVS units and glued them to the hull. I managed to get the 30 bolts on the units (5 tiny bolts on each VVS) , without loosing any bolts (or my sanity).

A look into the future

It's been a busy Sunday! I have the other five VVS units assembled, and just need to add the bolts, and strip detail to finish them off. Saturday we had a big party, celebrating our 1 month and 8 day anniversary. My brother and his wife hosted, and Jo go to meet many of my relis and friends. It was a mad house, and somehow Jo survived without asking for a divorce.;-)
And now back to modeling......
Here are two different sets of US Tankers, and a set of US Soldiers on Patrol, by AB Figures. I plan on using at least some of them on the diorama I'm planning for the M-10.







Here the resin base I plan to use. I picked it up at the IPMS Region 2 show. It's made by Jose Rodriguez, of Tiger Productions. It's not currently shown on his website, but he had several different bases and buildings for sale at the show. He had plans to release several new accessories in the future, including a bridge, and Russian factory.

One down five to go!

Here's a finished VVS unit. I added five Grandt Line bolts to the unit, three on the bottom of the unit and two to the return arm. I also added some evergreen strip to the roller arm. It took about one hour to finish the unit. I need to get a life; good thing I'm married! Jo spent the night cross stiching, so she's not much more exciting than me. ;-)

Lets Get Started

Mr. Surfacer was used to even out the lower hull side and the seams where the transmission housing and hull meet. Each VVS unit is made up of 8 parts, that's pretty crazy for a 1/72 scale kit! The track support arms are molded solid in the kit, so I drilled and filed out the area between the support arms and the springs. It probably would have been easier to cut them off and replace them with brass.

Gather your References!

One of the things I love about the hobby is learning the history behind the vehicle I’m building. I’ve accumulated a rather large library on almost every possible modeling subject you can think of. I’ve picked up four references for the M-10. The first two are by Steve Zaloga; one of the best armor builders out there, and a prolific author of great model reference books. I picked them up pretty cheep ($9 each) at www.overstock.com. One of his latest books “Modeling US Army Tank Destroyers of World War II,” is a gem, full of lots of great modeling tips. He has a build of the Extratech M10 Achilles in the book. It’s basically the same kit as the one I’m building, but it has the British 17pdr and late style turret with duckbill counterweights. The other two books are more photo references of the M-10, with only a minimum of text.

First the Kit

For this on-line build I'll be using Extratech's “Extrapack” version of the M-10, in 1/72 scale. It contains pretty much everything you need to build an M-10 with the earliy style turret and counterweights. I got the kit from http://www.rollmodels.com/ for $18.50. It’s a little pricey for a 1/72 scale kit, but comes with a nice set of photo-etched brass, turned brass gun, and lots of resin stowage.


In addition to the nice little 1/72 scale plastic kit, the profipack version throws in all these extra goodies.

I'm married!

Ok, so I didn't post this on our wedding day, and I'm posting one month and 5 days into marriage bliss. It's really October 20, but I've been sadly lax in my blogging. Jo and I are both pretty exhausted with one event after another and lots of visitors since we got hitched. This weekend it's my brother his wife and two boys. They’re coming down for the 1 month anniversary party my family is throwing for Jo and I. Lots of relis and coworkers are invited, and neither Jo and I are looking forward to be the center of attention!

Jo’s been teasing me about my blog or lack there of, and about never finishing a model in the hole time I’ve known her. I figured what better way to show her up then to combine the two. Now she claims I’m copying her x-stitch blog! ;-)