Ram Mk II OP - Formations Models Conversion kit - 1/35 scale

[Panzerserra]

Well, Guys...

This is my new project:
Ram Mk II OP
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP000.jpg


My kit was made by Formations Models, in 1/35 scale...represents this specific beast:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP00.jpg


I love the British Commonwealth tanks and the Ram it´s one of my favorites...

Well...the kit is this:
F062 Ram II OP Conversion
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP0000.jpg

plus this parts:
Three piece transmission cover plus Riveted Sherman lower hull:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP001.jpg

The riveted lower hull is super...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP002.jpg


As the tranny-cover, with awesome casting-numbers...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP004.jpg

And talking about fidelity, I was simply amazed with quality of details and finish of the Formation´s kit...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP003.jpg

FANTASTIC!!! This is the definition!!!

Well, let´s go:


The kit recommends the use the Tamiya´s M4, but as I have the Formation´s tranny-cover and lower hull, I will save one kit.
The instructions recommends the M4 Tamiya's bogies with Formations parts, but I used some bogies of my spare parts box. The M4A1 Dragon´s kit 6048 bogies ( I buy the M3 Lee style bogies, to build my M4A1 as early type) are exact the one of the Ram Mk II, without needing to use the Formations bogie resin parts:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP005.jpg

The bogies under construction:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP006.jpg

Time to build the hull:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP007.jpg

Minor adjusts and filler...

Well...End of the 1st chapter...

[Panzerserra]

Installing the bogies:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP008.jpg

Cutting a Dragon´s pin in the bogie, to adapt in the Formations bogie plate:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP009.jpg

and...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP010.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP011.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP012.jpg

Adjust the adjustable Idler Wheel Brackets (ops...): I used my sand-paper table to do this:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP013.jpg

and:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP014.jpg

Another contribuition of my spare-parts box: the front wheels of the Italeri´s M4A1:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP015.jpg

Some details added. Note the dummie gun and fixed mantlet...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP017.jpg

Turret and hatch details. Awesome details...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP018.jpg

I missing my rear cables hooks...Time to scratch:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP019.jpg

and the Ram, growing in good company:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP020.jpg

Well, Lads...For now, there this...more details soon...

a hug

[Panzerserra]

More up-dates:
The continuation of the Ram OP Project::

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP021a.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP022.jpg

Ready to paint:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP023.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP024.jpg



Primmed:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP025.jpg

...and painted. The decals was applied with Future:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP026.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP027.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP029.jpg

The tracks are italeri...

Cleaning the tools:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP030.jpg

Next stage: weathering...

Regards

[Ropi]

I like it! :thumb:

[Panzerserra]

I like it! :thumb:

Thanks, Ropi...new photos soon !!!

regards

[MartinD]

Ooh nice, the look of Formations items being built :D ...
Good subject Marco. Remember there's two people in the front hatch of the original photo!!

Cheers, MartinD

[Panzerserra]

The Ram is ready:

The kit of Formations its superb !!!!

I recommend, without reservations!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP031.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP032.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP033.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP034.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP035.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP036.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP037.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP038.jpg


regards, from Brazil !!!!

[Mark S. Pryor]

Dear Marcos,

As with all your works WOW! :thumb:
Thanks for the SBS.
I have a few questions; were the cables on the rear hull an addition or were they on a RAM tank? What are the small box like structures just outside the rear tow cables? And finally, what was the purpose of the RAM tanks?



The kit of Formations its superb !!!!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v722/Panzerserra/Ram%20Mk%20II%20OP/RamMkIIOP032.jpg


Reguards,
Mark

[Panzerserra]

Dear Marcos,

As with all your works WOW! :thumb:
Thanks for the SBS.
I have a few questions;
1- were the cables on the rear hull an addition or were they on a RAM tank?
2- What are the small box like structures just outside the rear tow cables?
3- And finally, what was the purpose of the RAM tanks?
Reguards,
Mark

Mark, cheers...

I will invert the order of the answers, to be clearer...

3 - the Ram tanks are a development of M3 Lee and Sherman, done in Canada. Production diversification and it helps in the war effort. The Ram OP (Observation Post) were tanks without main armament (the gun was false) and with more communication radios. Here is the reason of the racks with phone threads in the back of the tank

1- All the Ram OP used the phone cables in the back. But only OP!!!

2- They are air intakes, in the superior and back portion of the hulls.


If you want to know more on these machines, this site is fantastic:
http://www.ramtank.ca/

regards

[Mark S. Pryor]

Thanks Marcos,

Good photos on link. http://www.ramtank.ca/ And thanks for the answers.

Added the link to my Portaportal. It is a way of managing our large number of bookmarks. Its free.:D EZ to sign up and just copy and paste the links in.

I cloned a generic Portalportal for any Planeteer or "lurker" to use; and copy if they wish. Just go to advanced featuers (the icon that looks like a drive sproket):rolleyes:, then portal cloaning and enter your own information. Here is the link.

http://www.portaportal.com/

User Name: Modeling
password: New