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That's the MT-2 "lowered" turret version - the MT-1 turret was even higher - if I get enthusiastic I'll build the other turret as a comparison. You're right - I should have sealed the balsa. I think I can retrieve the situation by sanding off the loose paper and glue the skin with diluted...

Kevin - Aw shucks.... The frame is pretty much finished. The turret frame certainly needs reinforcers to keep it square but it seemed quite accurate. The turret rotation arrangement is quite clever although I'd recommend soaking the tabs in CA - I could just see it fraying in use. Spray...

Ok - here goes.... I took a break from my other project (sick of trying to figure out Modelik's hieroglyphics (aka build diagrams)) and decided to make a start on the KV-2. Had what's known in Oz as a "rush of blood". I used 2mm balsa rather than card for the basic frame - much easier to...

Thanks for that. I refill my inkjet cartridges so I'll make sure they are topped up before printing. The frame looks doable and reasonably strong. I'm not sure that I like the keyway for the turret - might convert it to a cylinder. It might be nice to build both turrets with a single hull - 2...

Some basic stuff about the KV-2 model..... The download is just under 6M and consists of: - 6 pages of instructions - the drawings are excellent - better than most commercial kits. - 3 pages of reinforced parts which should be printed on 80gsm - the main hull parts are specified as 2mm...

Everyone seemed to have fun in Free Models #3 - thought I'd give it a try. My choice is one of the KV-2s at http://www.papermodels-bg.com - I haven't figured out which one to build - the MT-1 turret version or the later turret. Both types seemed to have been in action with the RKKA in...

Very nice - you should think about building a 1/25 Halinski armour model - your skills would be easily good enough to build one of these well. Regards, Charlie

The same designers did Modelik's BT-2 and BT-5 tanks. The tracks on the BT are a real pain to put together - and that's a simple track design - I'd guess the T-100 tracks could be a real showstopper. Regards, Charlie

So - registration is a problem? I thought about the M2 tracks after I posted but they aren't like the WW2 rubber block tracks since the rubber is an insert in a steel frame and the track is driven by slots in frame rather than by the end caps like the M3/M4/M5 tracks. The other tracks offered...

Thread hijack alert..... I don't think there are laser cut tracks available for the Sherman (or any other rubber block (skeleton) tracked tanks). Try the M3 builds over at papermodelers.com for some ideas on building the M4 track. Regards, Charlie

Lots of paint stores will make up a "sample pot" from the colour match machine - usually this is around 250ml (1/4 pint?) - costs (in Australia) about $A5. This scheme is in Norway as well since Johnny (WAK Luchs, etc) gets his edge colours by this route. Regards, Charlie

It's called the mantlet - protects the working parts of the gun . It's often easier to scan and print the gun barrel on 80 gsm (20 lb?) copy paper - it's difficult to roll up a gun barrel from card stock. Alternatively wetting the card with methylated spirit (denatured alcohol) makes...

I think it's an inertia starter - in effect they wind up a flywheel - once the flywheel gets up to a reasonable speed it's then clutched onto the engine. There's enough energy in the inertia starter to turn the engine over for a number of revolutions. On the video you can see one of the...

Pic 2 looks like the crank handle to manually start the engine. Engines back then weren't high compression so they could be turned over with a crank handle - probably wouldn't have been easy to do though. There is a video of the King Tiger at Saumur being crank started at YouTube - "The Roar of...

It's the bullet deflector ring. The turret rotation ring with its rollers can be jammed by bullets or fragments - this ring is designed to deflect these. It doesn't happen as easily on modern tanks because the turret rotation ring is recessed into the hull. Regards, Charlie

Good technique - but before leaping into this some research is needed. Generally all tank hulls before WW2 were riveted plate on frames - the seams were the plate joins. During WW2 both welded and cast hulls and turrets were used. Casting often leaves prominent seam lines which shouldn't be...

I think you mean the travel lock for the gun. The idea is to support and lock the gun barrel so the breech mechanism won't move around when being transported. The tow shackle points on the Sherman are low on the hull beside the brake housings (see image) I should point out that the Sherman...

The GPM tracks aren't very realistic - but you've managed to do a great job with them. Most WW2 US tanks used a rubber block track (M4 Sherman Tank) which aren't easy to model in card. You might like to look at the Gremir M3 builds over at papermodelers.com for another take on US tank tracks...

It looks like a Pz IV turret with the storage bin at the back of the turret removed. I don't think it's Pz IVD turret - that had only one of the parts labelled "15m" on the parts sheet on the top of the turret - possibly a Pz IVE. Regards, Charlie

Is the model colour a camera/lighting artifact? My copy of the Sherman is green not brown. Impressive progress for a first AFV model. I found bogies are just about the most time consuming part of modeling WW2 US tanks (at least I did when I built the Gremir M3 Grant). Regards, Charlie