Author Topic: 1/35 Thunder Models Case VAI tractor  (Read 5776 times)

Offline Frank3k

  • Excession
  • Global Moderator
  • Formerly Frank2056. New upgrade!
    • My new webpage
1/35 Thunder Models Case VAI tractor
« on: December 25, 2016, 04:41:45 AM »
This is one of the few kits I've finished this year and it was a relatively quick and easy build. It's well designed and has excellent fit except for the PE parts (especially the foot rests); there are no positive locators on the plastic and their exact placement is vague in the instructions.  The rubber tires stink, even after they've been painted.

Here it is, mostly finished.


I thought about making the front wheels movable, but it was too much work. I ended up giving them a slight left hand turn:


I went with a post-war civilian version. The only scratchbuilt parts are the flapper valve on the exhaust and the distributor wiring:


The figure is made from several ICM donors from their "Russian Army vacationing in Afghanistan" set. The Bruce Willis - look alike head is resin.





The not-Bruce Willis (or Michael from "Hot Fuzz") was indisposed (I accidentally broke one of his arms off) so he's not in the following studio pictures:



The base is a MiG base - probably a generic model railroad base. The engine cover is loose; it fits well enough that it doesn't have to be glued down.

I kept the weathering, dust and rust to a conservative minimum. The kit comes with nice decals for the instruments and the technical specs plaque. I added a short length of sprue that was missing, based on pictures of the tractor.



Overall, it was a pleasant build. The PE floor pads/foot rest placement took up most of the construction time. Surprisingly (for me) I only had to paint this once.

Thanks for looking!



Offline Jeffry Fontaine

  • Unaffiliated Independent Subversive...and the last person to go for a trip on a Mexicana dH Comet 4
  • Global Moderator
  • His stash is able to be seen from space...
Re: 1/35 Thunder Models Case VAI tractor
« Reply #1 on: December 25, 2016, 05:06:05 AM »
So "Red Acres" instead of "Green Acres?"  :P

Nice looking tractor!
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg

Offline Camthalion

  • The man has done a pink tank...need we say more?!
Re: 1/35 Thunder Models Case VAI tractor
« Reply #2 on: December 25, 2016, 05:50:30 AM »
very nice one

Offline The Big Gimper

  • Any model will look better in RCAF, SEAC or FAA markings
  • Global Moderator
  • Cut. Cut. Cut. Measure. Cut. Cut. Crap. Toss.
    • Photobucket Modeling Album
Re: 1/35 Thunder Models Case VAI tractor
« Reply #3 on: December 25, 2016, 06:27:16 AM »
Agreed. Great build. Bruce Willis would be awesome killing terrorists while riding this tractor.
Work in progress ::

I am giving up listing them. They all end up on the shelf of procrastination anyways.

User and abuser of Bothans...

Offline Claymore

  • It's all done with smoke and mirrors!
  • Alt Hist AFV guy with a thing for Bradley turrets
Re: 1/35 Thunder Models Case VAI tractor
« Reply #4 on: December 25, 2016, 07:09:04 AM »


The not-Michael from "Hot Fuzz" was indisposed (I accidentally broke one of his arms off) so he's not in the following studio pictures:

Yarp!

Great build and great finish.  :)
Pass the razor saw, there is work to be done!

Offline Volkodav

  • Counts rivits with his abacus...
  • Much older now...but procrastinating about it
Re: 1/35 Thunder Models Case VAI tractor
« Reply #5 on: December 25, 2016, 10:15:39 AM »
That is really cool, top job!

Offline Frank3k

  • Excession
  • Global Moderator
  • Formerly Frank2056. New upgrade!
    • My new webpage
Re: 1/35 Thunder Models Case VAI tractor
« Reply #6 on: December 26, 2016, 03:00:46 AM »
Thanks for all the comments! This was a fun build, despite spending about half (or more) of the total build time - including painting - on the PE foot rests.

Bruce Willis/Michael is carrying a gun in a holster, so he's not putting up with any funny business on the farm...






Sorry about that, I meant to hit quote and I hit edit by mistake.  BdaB.
« Last Edit: December 26, 2016, 12:50:45 PM by Brian da Basher »

Offline jcf

  • Global Moderator
  • Turn that Gila-copter down!
Re: 1/35 Thunder Models Case VAI tractor
« Reply #7 on: December 26, 2016, 12:51:03 PM »
Nice.  :)

Looks just like the '46 Case I used to drive as a young teen,
'cept ours was more rust than red.
 ;D
“Conspiracy theory’s got to be simple.
Sense doesn’t come into it. People are
more scared of how complicated shit
actually is than they ever are about
whatever’s supposed to be behind the
conspiracy.”
-The Peripheral, William Gibson 2014

Offline Brian da Basher

  • He has an unnatural attraction to Spats...and a growing fascination with airships!
  • Moderator
  • *
  • Hulk smash, Brian bash
Re: 1/35 Thunder Models Case VAI tractor
« Reply #8 on: December 26, 2016, 12:52:23 PM »
<snip>

Bruce Willis/Michael is carrying a gun in a holster, so he's not putting up with any funny business on the farm...



Well, plowshares are swords after all.



Nicely done, Frank! Your weathering, especially on the tires, is simply exquisite.

Brian da Basher