International Scale Modeller

This is my entry into the SIG.
MENG's FRENCH FT-17 LIGHT TANK (RIVETED TURRET) with the diorama base kit number TS-011.
http://www.meng-model.com/index2_new.php?id=243
(Mine won't look that good haha)

I ordered this kit from luckymodel a couple of weeks ago with the intention of entering it in the SIG.
Seemed like a good idea at the time.
Well... it still is.
This is my first MENG kit, so I was pretty excited about getting right into the build, and luckily the SIG had already started when it arrived so I could just dive right in.
I ran into problems on page one of the instructions and it's been a battle of the vague every since.
The fella who drew these instructions needs a sharper pencil or a sharper mind. Cause the silly beggar can't draw. It also doesn't help that the plastic is "Broncoesk", meaning it's brittle and difficult to work with.
The detail is off the scale (hence the brittle plastic... that is the trade-off), but the tiny parts are so easy to break that it's beginning to become boring fixing them or finding them all the damned time.
Though I managed to build 80% of the kit in one evening, I wouldn't recommend this kit to a new modeller. It's a bit of a handful.
Anyway... on to some photos.

The Kit...



The Instructions...



The sprues... in separate heat-sealed bags.





The build lasted only a couple of hours, spent on a hangout with Paul and the fellas.
I did the main hull assembly in about 20 minutes not including puzzling through the instructions.
Since this kit doesn't come with either a figure or a complete interior I decided to leave the hatches closed. I may pick up some German figures for the trench later if I can find some that would be appropriate.







This is where I actually decided to close the hatches and button her up completely.
The crispness of the details on this thing are spectacular.





There is a tiny amount of PE to dress up some detail here and there.



A mock up of the diorama base with the 17 on top so I can judge the size of the thing.
There were a number of fit issues with the base that need to be addressed.









So that's if for now. It probably won't take too long to build this as I'm not doing a video build of it at all.
Just here.
The painting and the base will take a bit of time though. I'm not sure how well that base will look.
I'm not a fan of these kinds of bases. We'll see.

It tiny mate but look good so far I'm sure you will knock that base in shape in no time.

Nice start on this one. You are really getting into these tiny tanks aren't you?

looking good buddy real nice touch that it comes with the base in the box "mengtastic"

Nice one Coen, look forward to seeing the end product.

looks great coen!
i am looking forward to the final product especially with the vignette!!
kutgw

Thanks guys, I'm not the only one building this kit either.
At first I thought that Robert was building the one with the full interior.
I didn't realise it was the same until I'd already posted my build and then went to read his.
http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 285&t=7956
Sorry about that Robert.

Fantastic start Mike, i love the FT-17, such a teeny tank...
There are numerous Youtube video's showing these "first real" Tanks being driven about..
I have downloaded the PDF listing the surviving Ft-17's and your Renault FT “Five of Hearts“
is shown at Fort Meade, MD (USA)

Here's a link to the .pdf

http://the.shadock.free.fr/Surviving_FT-17.pdf

a little slow to load but can be saved as a pdf for off line viewing..

Good luck buddy, i have an FT in an old Matchbox 1/76 scale kit... 30+ years old and unopened..
Maybe i might open it up and give it a build??
Take care Mate, i'm hanging round your thread for a bit, waiting for the next update...
" Munch...Munch...... Hangout...BURP..."

Coen wrote:Thanks guys, I'm not the only one building this kit either.
At first I thought that Robert was building the one with the full interior.
I didn't realise it was the same until I'd already posted my build and then went to read his.
http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 285&t=7956
Sorry about that Robert.

No worries man. In fact I like seeing how the pros tackle the same kit that I'm building.

I'm no pro Robert. I'm just a schmo that likes playing with plastic like everybody else.


Thanks for that PDF Andy... that's going to be wickedly handy! And you should definitely give that FT-17 of yours a go.
If anything for the sake of the commemoration.
Speaking of Burrp!!! you need to join us on a hang out some time sweety.
The boys would probably love to have you drop by. I know I would.

So here's my update for today.
I managed to mock up the base and clean up the parts that will go on it. My wife was looking at it and said that I can do better than that.
She said it looks like someone melted crayons and stuck barbie furniture in it.
Blunt anyone?
haha.
I love her cause she's the only person that I know that will call me on being an asshole.... shut up Paul.... Lee.... the rest of ya.

So I'll be re-working that base then. haha.
I also got the running gear and tracks assembled.
No easy task... they're over engineered and you need to be really good and managing parts to put these bits together.
I wasn't and there was a lot of swearing.
The entire thing was a bit of a styrene part showoff by MENG. They could have done it in a much simpler way. Less parts.

Ether way, here's a few photos of where she sits now.


The base mocked up.


The inner roadwheels.



All of the sub-assemblies for one set of running gear.


And all assembled minus the tracks.



The tracks are wonderful and just click together. 32 all together per side.



Both sets of running gear installed with the tracks on.







Mocked up on the base.

Coming along good. I must admit that it's a deceivingly difficult kit. More so than I anticipated. Doesn't help that it's effing tiny for 1/35 scale! It'd be hysterical to see a 1/72 version.

1/72 I'd lose in my styrene shavings on my bench!

Lol.....
The 1/76 scale FT-17 measures a rather tiny 6.5cm....
A little over 2 inches long..
If I build it I'm worried I might lose it!
We will see.. Maybe for commemorative sakes...
As for the Hang out sessions.... I will be there.....Soon.....
Hopefully anyways...
Good luck both Mike and Rob with these little beauties..
... awaiting the scratch building on that display now..

I don't seem to be able to leave this thing alone.
It's all built now.

Not too much in the way of drama, a couple of pain in arse bits, but in the end it looks the part to me.
When I was finished I was a little disappointed when I looked at the sprue map (I only look at the sprue map at the end of a build) to double check the "not for use" parts. There was no call out for the "not for use" parts.
That makes it a bit annoying to double check that you've assembled everything.
There weren't many bits left over so there's not much of a contribution to the spares bin.

The only PITA bits were the commander's sling inside the turret and the engine bustle. The two bits of assembly required a lot of double tweezer manipulations and attention to the instructions... which aren't that hot.

I built mine with the 37mm gun over the machine gun which allows me to have the MG assembled and set up next to the tank.
I don't know if I'll leave it that way though. I'll be stripping the base and trying to dress it up anyway.

So here is how she looks now. It's on to painting now.

The bustle was fiddle little bugger.




The turret assembled.






Fully built mock up

That looks so cool mate.

cracking kit i want this kit

Looking great dude.

I love that is comes with its own diorama base.

Thanks guys, I'm hoping to start the painting in a few days or so. I want to see about finishing my KV-1 that I'm building or moving further ahead with the panther that I'm working on for the dangerous cats SIG.

damn that looks cool!!
awesome work with the construction! i cant wait to see the paint and the weathering go on it!

She's a little stunner Mike!

When I first saw it came with a base, I thought, ooh, that's a good idea, but I can see why you might have your reservations about. If there's one thing for certain, you're definitely the man to knock it into shape.

It's looking like another winner to me!!

Thanks Fellas.
Blushin.

Looking good Mike, its coming along well..

That's a cool looking kit....it even has suspension springs in place!

thats a nice looking kit , never done one of those , now i ve seen it might give it a go .
it will be intersting to see what you do with base

Wow, nice job! I'm really liking the look of the overall diorama.

I'll be starting my Emhar Female Mk IV tank shortly, just need to finish off my D-Day build first.

All the best with the rest of the build,


Simon

That looks excellent, Mike When do you sleep?

Lately.... never. haha.
It's been a really rough week. I haven't been sleeping so I've been building instead.
I just finished a Russian T-70M to go with my Kursk GB this morning.
I hate PTSD.

Sending BIG manhugs dude...
Hope the PTSD eases up a little soon and you can grab some Zzzzz.....
On a plus, still loving this FT matey....
......And still tempted with my teeny one...
Continued success Buddy..

WOW MIKE

you're gonna make this one shine until the next milenium. ..... I have my work cut out for me

How so? Are you going to build one?

Coen wrote:How so? Are you going to build one?

Yup won one yesterday on ebay and gonna pick it up in about 3 weeks. ....

Ah! Cool. You won't be competing with me Seb, if that's what you mean.
I don't enter the contest, I just participate.
I just like the fun, I can't handle the stress of prizes.

Just catching up with this one. Looks really good, and sounds like you're enjoying it (part from the pita bits!) looking forward to seeing what you do with the base. KUTGW Coen

You did not get stuck in the trenches for sure, really cool progress makes me want to continue on mine, but the engine parts do not really fit into the hull which is weird. i have to figure out a solution.

That's really odd Michael, MENG are supposed to be awesome for fits.
Is it a defect with the kit do you think?

That looks great Mike. Despite its challenges you are knocking it into shape. I like the base too - quite dramatic

Coen wrote:That's really odd Michael, MENG are supposed to be awesome for fits.
Is it a defect with the kit do you think?

I think i made a mistake, but i can´t really detect it. i might remove the engine and show only the fighting compartement in opened position. I plan to build it as a museum vehicle with a little diorama.

You mentioned that before about the museum dio. I'm really curious as to your plans for that.
It should be really interesting.
I'd also considered modelling mine with the fighting compartment open, but I don't have any WWI figures. I may get some yet though.

Coen wrote:You mentioned that before about the museum dio. I'm really curious as to your plans for that.
It should be really interesting.
I'd also considered modelling mine with the fighting compartment open, but I don't have any WWI figures. I may get some yet though.

Manta Figurines do a nice set for the FT (the commander hanging out of the side hatch is particularly good) http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/n ... rines.html

Those are fantastic Rob, I'd have to rethink the dio quite a bit to use those but it may be worth it. They're wonderful.
Thanks bud.

Looking awesome! Love the camo base and... that trench!!! It's already eye candy Cheers mate!

Looking real nice there!! Can't wait to see it all together

This looks superb, i really like the camo! It is not eay to apply that on such an oddly shaped vehicle. Well done, the diorama definately puts it into the right atmospehre I´d love to see some figures there, if you wish i could provide you some late war Germans from ICM.

HamilkarBarkas wrote:This looks superb, i really like the camo! It is not eay to apply that on such an oddly shaped vehicle. Well done, the diorama definately puts it into the right atmospehre I´d love to see some figures there, if you wish i could provide you some late war Germans from ICM.

EXACTLY MATE with figures good idea

Thanks Michael, thanks Eyrk.

HamilkarBarkas wrote:This looks superb, i really like the camo! It is not eay to apply that on such an oddly shaped vehicle. Well done, the diorama definately puts it into the right atmospehre I´d love to see some figures there, if you wish i could provide you some late war Germans from ICM.

iCM? I haven seen them Michael. Do you have the kit numbers? I'd like to see what they look like.
This dio really could use some, but all that I've seen so far I wasn't happy with.

Hi Coen ,

I suppose that Michael is mentioning kit 35291 , WWI German Assault Troops , you may want to see images of the sprues in my WW1 Building thread :

See in end of page 2 , you may see the box and the sprues

http://intscalemodeller.com/viewtopic.p ... 5&start=10

I'm not an expert , even far from that , they were my 3rd figure set built , but think they are very nice , different from Tamiya's but they make a very nice bunch that I used im my WW1 Dio , If you can buy the ICM's Armament set , the Helmets are more perfect and you have a lot of weapons to use different thatn the ones that the figures bring , may see the weapons set in my thread also .

Hope that this help .

Another superb dio and build mate.