Small Scale Military Headquarters

I have officially started my M24 Caffee project last night.
So far, no pictures, but will add some as soon as work progresses
I cracked open the 21st C M41 tank last night and am thinking the easiest way to build this one is to make the back end the front and the front end the back. I am also wondering if I dare shorten the tank body due to the track length. In this project, I will be using a M41 made by 21st C, a BBI Sherman and the ball mount MG from a 21st C Sherman. The BBI Sherman will get the 76mm Gun and mount from the 21st C Shermie, The M24 will get the BBI gun mount with custom cannon and the 21st C Sherman will be converted into an M7 Preist. I just thought I should start the thread now that I've cracked the shell on the M41 Da General

I took several hours tonight to start work on the M24 tank.
First task was to work on the underframe and get the end with the transmissions in the front. So instead of cutting out the toothed guide wheels and swapping them with the upper bogie wheels, I deceided to turn the whole frame around and make the back end the front end and save a TON of work The engine popped out easily, but the stand offs were a task, but the most fun was measuring the angle and length of the cut to make on both sides of the back shell, cutting it and moving and gluing it in on the former front end Here's some pic.s





Now I still have to remove the former drivers seat and the former mid-section stand offs, but just to test fit the top of the shell(unmodified so far) to see if it fits and looks alright.





Now that looks more like a WWII tank, not a post WWII tank
I still have to relocate the stand offs and glue them in place as to fasten the upper shell in place, but it's a good start. Oh yeah, I bet you want to see how the back end looks



Not too bad AS I may have said, this is just the start and not the finished assembly. I also need to change out the #2 and #4 lower bogie wheels and assemblies due to the shock absorbers. Also need to make and add a pair of shocks to the #4 or #5 bogie wheels. I also ruled out shortening the length to get the driver wheels closer, thus no headaches to shorten and reglue the tracks. But what do y'all think ???

More progress pictures tomorrow night or Wed.s night( got a game tomorrow night) Da General

I think I'm going to run out and get some of that Cosmic Catnip! Finally, we have discovered the secret to your creativity.

Mark

KAMIKAZE wrote:I think I'm going to run out and get some of that Cosmic Catnip! Finally, we have discovered the secret to your creativity.

Mark

Well shucks, my secret is out
Haven't done alot of work on the model today due to illness - d*mn cold But I have jumped to the turret and did some cutting, then took apart the BBI tank and stole out the cannon and mount. Now this is just experimenting mind you, but I'll be playin' with it some more tonight Now some pictures







Not alot I know, but I did cut down the length of the turret and am presently cutting or filing down the top of the turret, getting it ready for the main hatch from the BBI tank. I will have to custom craft the flush gunners hatch will hinges and I am slowly working/developing the front end to mate with the BBI cannon mount. I'll try to post a couple more pictures later tonight or tomorrow morning Da General

Cool. Nice start.

(I don't think I could get myself to cut up a perfectly good tank.)

Not just one tank, but two tanks
M41 doesn't fit for me, it's post WWII. When I built the P-2 Mountain steam loco in G scale, it took THREE steam locos to build it. Close to $2000 But it's the ONLY one in G scale and one guy offered me $5000 cash for it. No sale, it's one of a kind So cutting up 2 $50 tanks is just a drop in the bucket Da General

Now back to work

It looks pretty good GB. believe me I know how much cutting and sanding can go into one tank but it will be worth it!

Mark

hay what is a p2 mountain steamer? please post pic

Hey Dragon,
This was the P-2 I kitbashed in G scale. Da General

Just keeping things up to date
I didn't do alot of work late last night, but did do some planning on the turret gun mount. I got the turret cover about to fit on the lower cover, but still have some trimming to do. I got a great idea on the side armour off to the ends of the cannon mount. Here are the pictures so far



Sorry, that's a bit dark



Frontal shot. Note the gaps I'll have to fill.



These are the two former front corners of the M41 turret. I filled them down to see if they will work as the sides of the cannon mount.

Still lots to do on the turret, but just keeping the build log current
The turret will look much better after I remove the old commanders hatch and replace on the other side with the BBI one from the BBI Shermie
Hope to get some more done after the game tonight or maybe in the morning. I'll keep you updated Da General

Didn't know too much about the M24 Chaffee, so googled/wikipediaed it:
Did you know:
- A new lightweight 75 mm gun was developed, a derivative of the gun used in the B-25H Mitchell bomber.

-The first M24s reached Europe in December 1944 (actually, the U.S. 2nd Cavalry Group (Mechanized) received thirty-four M-24 Chaffee's in November 1944 while in France, 17 each being issued to F Company, 2nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Battalion, and F Company, 42nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Battalion, all of which were rushed to the southern sector of the Battle of the Bulge in December). Two of them took part in the Battle of the Bulge with the 740th Tank Battalion of the U.S. First Army.

-Reports from the armored divisions that received them prior to the end of hostilities were generally positive. Crews liked the improved off-road performance and reliability, but were most appreciative of the 75 mm main gun, as a vast improvement over the 37 mm.

-The M24 was not up to the challenge of fighting German tanks, but the bigger gun at least gave its crews a chance to fight back when it was required. The M24's light armor made it vulnerable to virtually all of the German tanks, anti-tank guns, and hand-held anti-tank weapons.

Looks good General!

GeneralB..:

Very neat idea. You really don't have to go crazy with dimensions....they are close.
Width (mid track to mid track)
M-24 96"
M-41 107"

length
M-24 196"
M-41 221"

What is the difference scaled down to 1/18?

Nice work.

TTT

Looks . Can't wait to see the finished product!

Threetoughtrucks wrote:GeneralB..:

Very neat idea. You really don't have to go crazy with dimensions....they are close.
Width (mid track to mid track)
M-24 96"
M-41 107"

length
M-24 196"
M-41 221"

What is the difference scaled down to 1/18?

Nice work.

TTT

Just a quick calculation here, but by my figures, the M-24 in 1/18 scale would be about 16mm narrower than the M-41, and 35mm shorter. Really not too big a size difference.

-Rob

Not much to report tonight.
Got busy with projects yesterday and had a game tonight, BUT I got a little more work done on the turret. Looks like this tank will need a bunch of filler putty Here's a couple pic.s, I got to get some sleep Da General

Time has been short, but a little more has been done.
First off, I removed the old gunners hatch and periscope fittings and I also removed the commanders hatch from the BBI Sherman and used it for the new hatch on the Caffee. For now, it's just sitting on top of the turret. I will be adding a layer of styrene to the top of the turret to cover holes, add a bit of height and to have a clean area to do the new gunners hatch. I also have sealed the holes and gaps around the main cannon and will soon modify the cannon shielding and add the MG to it also. Slow but sure, it's starting to look like a WWII M24 Caffee tank Now here's the latest pictures Da General

What a shame you had to destroy to perfectly good 1:18 tanks

The turret is coming right along and looking good! What I'm curious about, however, is how you are going to do the driver and gunner hatches on the front of the tank.

Keep up the good work

https://mightyputty.com/spark/index.php?ai=8

Try this, it works great. I have used it before it was Mighty Putty before it was called that, You could find it in most hard ware stores a few years ago.

Well what good is a 1 18th tank if it doesn't fit your era
No pictures yet tonight, we're watchin' an away game on da Tv.
But I am cutting styrene as it goes along. Hope to get a new top on the turret tonight Da General

General Blasto wrote: No pictures yet tonight, we're watchin' an away game on da Tv.
But I am cutting styrene as it goes along. Hope to get a new top on the turret tonight Da General

Better keep a good eye on that X-Acto blade, and not so much on the game.

Lookin' good so far.

-Rob

Rock,
Looking Good so Far, can't wait to see the Finished tank,
---Rock On----
TheHun

I am long over due for an update
Truthfully, I hadn't got alot done, but I received another build of a M-24 in progress yesterday(Thanks Harley !!!) and was just playin' around with it and part of my project. Didn't get alot done last night because I was watchin' the Lightning game other than glue my fingers to the MG mount I was building But it looks more like a WWII tank. Here's one quick shot Da General

It's shaping up nicely!