Project Landship Update 5

Its been a few weeks since the last update. It's summertime in Hawai'i after all...

I've been doing little bits along the way but not enough each week to warrant an update post, so this progress report combines them all.

I had to start by taking a few steps backward - some of the older rivets I had made with the wrong material and the glue was failing after only a few weeks. So they were replaced and then a bunch more added.  Some more still to come on the rear decking as a minimum.

I've progressed the remodelling of the front, covering some holes and removing the old platforms that stuck out strangely. I left part of the structure that I'm considering turning into a ram. 

I also fitted the ventilators that I made earlier in the project. I cut them down in height and fixed them to the deck next to the bridge, where they can push air down into the engine room. I'm really pleased with the way they came out and help sell the 'ship-on-land' vibe.

The funnel has also been fitted into position. It works well but is maybe a bit modern? (it is a heavy tank barrel after all!) I may need a substitute a taller, less decorative piece. We'll see.

All up, the business end is starting to look rather good! She doesn't look nearly as boxy from this angle.

One of the structural issues I had to resolve was the Steersman's Cupola, which didn't have a floor. The original design just dropped into the open space inside the toy, as a space to put drop action figure crewmen in.

So I used a bit of plastic card and sprue scraps to make a makeshift platform that I could glue into position, for crew figures to stand on. 

The platform is deliberately wider than the opening, so two figures on 25mm round bases will fit comfortably (after a bit of wangling to get them in there!)

I then added coffee stirrer timbers to give it an appearance matching the gun deck and, more critically,  stop figures from dropping into the hollow centre of the model.

The view from above once glued into position. 

Overall, this was more fiddly than I had expected, but is good enough for the job 

And here is the outcome - the cheeky crewman can now see out of his compartment. Rather useful for the guy steering this iron beast.

Pretty happy with how this came out!

Rivet Count 

Rivets added in this update: 286 

Total Rivets to date: 672

...and yes I'm still procrastinating on the Bridge structure and the mast. I may have to simplify my overly complicated initial plan.