T34/85 25th Guards Brigade No 234a

[Nick Farrugia]

HI Phil and Bob
sorry guys this was all done quickly , phil had trouble finding rounds for his superb racks he made but managed to sorce the dimensions from help on the forum from Fred and Tim, from there i asked phil if he was interested in me having a go at making some up ,from the pics and drawings and sizes people had supplied . From that point i made three up,one of each type for phil to to see,and then it went on from there with a few alterations along the way. Sorry Bob no C N C here these were done on my small manual lathe at home ,this is why they are not 100% correct in their shape i had to go with the simpler shaped shell tops due to having to do multiple rounds and the time i had to do them in . my lathe is kept quit busy on times ,when i started them i thought i had a good two weeks do do them ,so thats what me and phil agreed, but thing,s dont allways go as planed so had to pull my finger out and get them done sooner, in all there is about 18 hours of work over six nights to get them done ,not bad going i think all that remains to do is for phil to do his magic paint job on them (no presure phil) . I am looking forward as mutch as phil i think to see them in the racks.
best wishes to all ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nick

[phil fitzpatrick]

Hi Bob and Nick
No you can see from Nicks reply it was all his workmanship and time that
produced those rounds from his manual lathe,which I am very greatfull and
over the moon with
They look excellent and i didnt want to risk loosing any by sending them to
a brass plater, had small stuff lost before.
So far I have had them phosphated in our own plant at work and the guy who did
them was worried that he had lost the 2 bits out of the ends of the two spare
casings
They have had 3 thin coats of primer at the moment and I have been trying out
2 different brass finishes on spare metal,ones a laquer used on top of gloss black
and the other is polycote metalic brass.
The later one is not far off a sample of slightly dull brass door furniture.
The sample after only 1 hour stood up to scratching with a dull tool,so if I
am patient with the drying the racks will not mark them much.
Cheers
Phil

[Nick Farrugia]

HI Phil
sounds like your on the right track for the paint I hope your mate has fully recovered from his fright ,carnt wait to see them all dressed up all the best,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nick

[Robert E Morey]

Nick, Phil,
Thanks for the details on the rounds. Nick they look fantastic, well done. Can't wait to see them painted. Best regards guys,
Bob

[phil fitzpatrick]

T34-85 Amunition
Started on the brass casings

[Nick Farrugia]

HI PHIL
WOW AND WOW ,They look stunning that brass paint looks the bussines those two emptys look realy good what was the paint you used again ,for future referance ,they look great well done you have done them proud i carnt wait to see them all done thanks for the pics .
best wishes ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nick

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Nick
The paint is Plastikotes Metallic range of metal colours that I found when I
Googled them.
First time I have tried them,its difficult to disciplin yourself with thin coats but
I did,even though the first practice it went on like orange peal but smooths out
and finger dry in 5 minutes and full dry in 35 minutes.
I was happy with the look of them in the light and in the photo's.
I did the shell end tonight(take some pics tomorrow)a black under coat and then
a dark grey to try and match the grey in Fred's pictures.
I've got some spare metal I sprayed to practice the copper bands and the markings
on,I shall have a go at them,the rounds in Tim's pictures look as though they were
stencilled on and I like the way all the characters are different levels of black.
Cheers
phil

[Paul Morris]

Hi Phill.

These are going to look really good, especially in your very tidy racks!
Well done.
Cheers Paul

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Paul
My racks would have been empty for a long time if it wasnt for Nick,
now I can push on to Berlin,hope I dont meet any of your fine beats.
I have just been looking at all your Tanks coming out that workshop.
You must have loads of little fellas in there working night shifts.
Regards
Phil

[phil fitzpatrick]

Started on the Shell end

[Nick Farrugia]

HI Phil
they just keep getting better and better that brass paint against the grey heads looks brilliant you are realy doing a fine job as always . with the markings on them they can only get better again, what a differance the paint has made ,well done phil ,all the best ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,nick

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks Nick
Out of the paint I already had,I chose some Tamya "German Grey",
I just hope my crew dont find out
Cheers
Phil

[John Fitzsimons]

Great paint job. They will be great.

[phil fitzpatrick]

Thanks John
Having a go at the copper bands now then I will try the inscriptions
Cheers
Phil

[John Fitzsimons]

How will you do the text. Will you use decal paper.