Thread: Slow build of a half track

Derek,

Thanks for your photos and details on how you are making the components - very informative.

With the painting - my opinion is that you can use different methods - spray for some components - brush for others to bring out different highlights of the build and provides different contrasts. My "two bob's" worth.

It's looking tops.

Regards

Keith

I agree about the painting Keith but I tend to stick to mainly using the wood colour and therefore only apply a clear finish.

Before I start explaining what i have been up to I thought I would show the workbench mess this is my main work area where all of the build and other build are preformed. Mind you there is no other workbench area to work on the half track is on a shelf behind where I work so as you can see not a lot of room my back is against the grinding station at the end of the shed.

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So today started with completing the glue up of the jerry can cradle and also the angled back support for it. While this was drying I cut out the front light frame which is very flimsy especially before the base is glued in. put this to one side go have a cuppa knock on the door and a woodworking friend appears bearing gifts of wood "can you make anything from this" well to be honest those that know me can guess what I say to this.
By the time he leaves it has given the glue enough time to at least handle the parts I had glued. Drilled the larger light so a dowel can hold it in position can now fully assemble the light s together after a light sanding.
Now to stick all the hinges in place 6 on the bonnet and 4 on the side doors this allowed me to glue the jerry can holder in place on one side.
Cuppa and a bite to eat lets the assemblies that I had glued enough time to dry for handling first job fit the lights on the side where I had done the jerry can holder.
While this is drying I decided to start to cut some wood that I had prepared for the tracks into stripes at the required width, these will need to be cut into 62 pieces for the tracks and 62 pieces for centre pieces which will be glued to each of the links, but that is for another day.

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By this time the bits I had stuck to the right hand side are dry enough for me to turn over the can assembly and stick the bits on the left hand side.
Tomorrow I have some small pieces to make, I thought I would be a little more ahead of where I am today.

I had not taken any photo this time of the bits as most of them where in previous post.

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Originally Posted by Dalboy

..... I thought I would show the workbench mess.....

Dalboy, who cleans your bench?... that's neat... for a woodworker!

Come on Derek, The work bench looks very neat and well ordered compared to some [especially mine]...

The front end of the half track looks superb sir...top detailing on all those little parts..well done..

Cheers, Peter

Thank you Guys you want to see the shed sometimes 6" of wood shavings.

OK OK so I said I would be finished today and ready to start the tracks. Well all laid plans and all that. First thing go to shed tidy up before starting the days work sound easy OOOPS can't get into the workshop lock has played up AHH a little oil may do the trick OK that is fine in the other shed put oil in lock still no joy I say to wife will need to cut this one off and get another, OK problem being the tools to cut it off are in the shed I want to get into so the wife suggests borrowing some from a friend. Before she goes I have an idea give it a tap with a hammer yes you guessed in the shed "I have a small one in my case" chirps up the wife short story give it a couple of taps and it is free. Hooray in the shed at last still will buy a new one.

First job tidy up from yesterday and clear all the unwanted wood I had accumulated during the build.

The first pictures show 4 pieces that I could not work out where they went but then it suddenly became clear as can be seen in the third one with these glued and left to dry.

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I turned to finishing the other odds and ends which are the little detail while sanding and have the extractor on I hear a clanking noise which stopped as quick as it started. I recognise that noise as something has been sucked into the extractor and I was not wrong one of the jerry cans I had made a while back disappeared, turned off and rummage in the collection bag yes found it but in a sorry state so now need to make another luckily still have the makeshift jig to rout the cross on the front and back.

The parts that I had already stuck are dry enough to handle the front and add as much of the detail I had made again put to one side next cut out the small apertures in the side drop down windows.
Had a cuppa while glued dried enough to hand cab again and then spent a couple of hours doing test fit to the rest of the half track so that it sat on the chassis and fitted nice at the two areas circled in red on one of the photo's managed to get a respectable fit.

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The only other thing that I have now stuck on are the four plates in front of the tracks these are attached to the rear of the cab.

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The rest of the photo's show all the bits now stuck on except the two jerry cans so tomorrow finish those and apply the finish before glueing the cab in place and while they are all drying I can start on making jigs for the track pieces to be cut all the same.

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Sorry this seems to be a very long update.

The more you add showing your skills - the better it is Derek.

Really like the jerry can

Regards

Keith

Model is looking fantastic Derek. All the little details are poppin' and making it come alive. It will look the real deal when you have the 62 tracks done.

Bret

Originally Posted by Dalboy

Thank you Guys you want to see the shed sometimes 6" of wood shavings.

Dalboy, I'll give you "E" for Effort in false modesty... I saw a picture of the outside of your workshop... It's not big enough to store 6" of shavings.

I still watch in awe of what you can produce in such a tiny space.

Thank you all just having a quick browse while I have a cuppa before venturing out to the workshop to start another day of having fun.

Originally Posted by Alexkara

Dalboy, I'll give you "E" for Effort in false modesty... I saw a picture of the outside of your workshop... It's not big enough to store 6" of shavings.

I still watch in awe of what you can produce in such a tiny space.

You should see it when I rough turn a load of blanks into bowl shapes to help dry the wood quicker I am wadding through shavings.

So all the main superstructure is now been given it's final coat of finish and the bench is cleared. Well not for long as I have been digging bits out to make some jigs to help make the track links there are at least three that I need. Once these are made plenty of cutting of the links. The first photo is the material for the jigs and the rest are what the Half track looks like at the end of today, you will not see it again until the tracks are finished but I will be posting pictures of the track construction. So A nice short post today as while applying the finish nothing done in the workshop dust and wet varnish do not mix.

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Beautiful work and great photos Derek - Thanks

Regards

Keith

Thank you Keith.

I forgot to add another photo this is just for Bret

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Outstanding is the word for this project, just outstanding!!!
Can hardly wait to see your jig set up, this is the best part of this project.
Got to love them tracks!!!

What a beautiful job!!! Are the colours just the natural colour of the timber with a clear coat over the surface? Or have you added a thin stain? It looks really good