Ram II Tank

[SoCalBobS]

It's me again, starting another thread. I'm going to be converting a HL Sherman to a Ram II tank using Vandramodel's conversion kit. The mod is on its way from DAK RC. While waiting, I'm disassembling my M4 Sherman, a "static" kit Toucan sells without electronics. A major step is to modify the bogies to an earlier type, like that found on the M3 Lee. To accomplish this, the bogies need to be removed.

(Photos from Vandramodel's assembly guide.)



I learned something about the "static kits" I thought I'd share. In reality, they are kits that failed quality control so they bill them as non-operational . In this case, two of the six bogies had been broken and glued on the hull because the screw posts were cracked. That was the bad news, the good news is they used CA, so debonder loosened them quickly. This isn't a slam on Toucan, the static kits are still great starting points for projects.

Anyway, once the kit arrives, I'll post more.

[SoCalBobS]

Ok, my box 'o parts came today. Having made three other Vandra kits, including the M3 Lee, I immediately looked at what my tasks would be. I'm sharing this build in case others feel like tackling one of their projects.

Specific to the HL Sherman based builds, the gearboxes have to be modified to allow the "early three piece" front end to fit. The metal frame has to be cut down for the front piece to mate with the hull. You'll see the black ink line where I'll have to cut. There may be some additional rounding of the metal. but that comes later. I have a bench rotary cutter, like a heavy duty Dremel, with a cutting disk that I'll use for the purpose. Can't be timid about cutting into stuff!

[761st]

Is there a risk of hot spark damage?

[SoCalBobS]

A couple of hours work with the rotary tool - cutting disk, sanding disk, router bit - has the front, upper hull and side boxes fitted, almost. Everything is only dry-fitted at this point. My procedure is to wrestle with the gross assembly steps, and go back later to add details, etc.



Working on a Vandra kit is like building the old balsa airplane kits. Instructions are minimal, and the builder is expected to adjust and improvise to overcome deficiencies. It's definitely not a "shake the box and its done" product! My plan is to make it into an IR battler since it's based on the very reliable HL Sherman chassis. I'll make the secondary mg turret move an RC Geek Random Servo Motion Generator, with the mg flashing LED mounted in it.



Interesting photo, showing a wavy black camo scheme. Might have to do that!

[tank_me]

Bob is spot on with Vandra kits. I still have a Vandra SU-122 I'm struggling with to get the gun to just go up and down straight.

[SoCalBobS]

Bob is spot on with Vandra kits. I still have a Vandra SU-122 I'm struggling with to get the gun to just go up and down straight.

I had a 76 turret for a T-34 that had the same problem. Not a Vandra product, but similar production quality. Sort of a pain, huh?

I don't usually post photos of tools, but this one has been absolutely indispensable. In two largely full time days, I trimmed the hull top to fit cut a bunch of stuff to make the barrel elevate and the turret rotate freely, started on altering the bogies to an earlier type, and other tasks. Without this machine, I'd be on step one, or maybe even Step X, the round file! Viva power tools! A lot of sanding & cutting is required for this kit.



As an example, major surgery is required for the bogies. (Their photos, it's all you get for instructions.)



Since I'm posting, here are a couple of progress shots:

[SoCalBobS]

Another day of "work". Don't know why my wife calls it play...

The front bins and fenders are in. A major caution here. The bins should be attached to the upper hull, not the chassis, and the fenders to the bins. logically one would think to attach them to the chassis. Nay nay! The bins/fenders need to be removable to access the front lower glacis, or the screws would be inaccessible. I discovered this when I wanted to install the headlights. Can't be done without removing the front. Thank god for a good debonder!

[761st]

Coming along nicely!

[SoCalBobS]

A short clip just meant to show my progress; turret and gun works, lights work secondary turret and mg flash work. Now for the tedious part, retrofitting the bogies. What an oddball looking tank, which makes it irresistible to me!

[SoCalBobS]

I cut a length of lucite rod and installed it in the secondary turret. I painted all but the end black. Works good!

[761st]

Looking great!

[SoCalBobS]

Status update:

First coat of paint. Many art pictures show a brownish khaki, and one modeller provided a mix to replicate the Canadian color. It's hard to know what it really looked like since the period photos and the modern examples display a shocking range, from a sage green, a dusty rose to a strong green, I guess whatever the owner had in their paint cans. Dirt, mud and dust will change it anyway. I have Forgebear decals enroute from the UK, so that's next. Disappointingly I won't be hinging the side, front and top hatches. I tried, but the resin isn't strong enough to endure much opening and closing.




A feature of this model is the M3 style bogies with return rollers mounted on top, not offset like the M4's. Vandra's design seems very fragile. I don't know if it will withstand battle stress, although I have driven it around on cement, brick and loose dirt. There is a plan B; I've seen wartime Ram II's with M4 bogies (maybe their M3's broke too?) so if these fail, I'll just replace them with M4's.



Some of the detail I anticipate adding is external stores, tarps, satchels, boxes and the like. My "what if "scenario is if Ram's were actually used in combat in WW2, which wasn't the case in reality. To this end, I have a question; how was this stuff secured on the tanks? Photos don't show enough detail to answer this, and if they aren't secured, I imagine they'd fall off like a Starbucks coffee left on your car roof!

[761st]

I use ropes on my Sherman and adlib a bit. There are so reasonable stowage photos here.https://www.theshermantank.com/sherm...-guns-and-men/

Hope it helps. The Ram looks great!

[SoCalBobS]

Variations on a theme..

[SoCalBobS]

Got some Canadian Tank Brigade decals from Forgebear in the UK. Sprayed clear gloss, applied decals, will wait for them to dry for the next step.


(Sorry about the preceding empty post. I encountered a technical glitch, called "I forgot" to add a photo.)

[761st]

WOW!!!!!! Looks fantastic! Well done!

[SoCalBobS]

Ok, these were the “variations” I mentioned earlier.

[761st]

Nice collection! Which is your favorite?

[SoCalBobS]

Ok, it's done. It received its baptism of fire today at the San Diego IR battle, and all went well. My chief concern is whether the return rollers which were CA'ed would hold up and they did.






(Photos also posted in the gallery.)

[761st]

Looks great! Another job well done.