Hi guys...

Ok, I know I've been showing a lot of progress pictures but bone has been completed yet. I'll try to complete them one by one but most of it is halted due to lack of items to continue to proceed with it.

After chatting with Kuman a few weeks back (big mistake... :lol: ) he managed to convince me to join the MGB08 with another build (apart from the Mi-17) which is the Pendekar.

A few days later I was at MH getting myself a box of T-72 and a box of Abrams individual tracks and getting myself into trouble again (as usual... :lol: ) which includes a lot of cutting, modification and hopefully in the end a completed model of the PT-91M or known as the "Pendekar".

Ok... since I forgot to take a picture of the box (it's the same with the one Kuman posted in the PT-91M thread) this model kit is a T-72U from Mini Hobby Models which includes a set of mine plow (hmm... maybe I should make a what-if together with the mine plow... ).

First thing first, upon inspection there is a lot that needs to be done to turn the T-72 to a PT-91M and hopefully with this build I can show you guys a step by step on how I done each and every modification.

First of all, since this is a motorized kit, I need to remove the "on-off" labels below the hull. What I do is by using a sharp knife, I slowly cut off the labels. Shown below is the step-by-step.

The on-off label.


Cut it using sharp knife.


Finished.


There are a hole on the rear that also needs to be filled and I'll use some plastic sheet to cover it (I'll do it later) but I have attached the base for the sprocket so less filling needs to be done.


As BV has pointed out, there are some huge gaps on the turret area that needs to be filled up, so being lazy, I just glue the both halves and sand off all irregularities using a very coarse file. The remaining hole will be filled with either putty or superglue.


Shown below is the partially completed hull. The white part is actually pieces of plastic sheet glued on the insides before I fill the hole with either plastic sheet or putty.


I'm sorry for jumping from one area to the other but basically, those are the few things that I detect that can easily be resolved before going to the problematic part... the MAJOR SURGERY... which will be coming up next...

druid...

Nice choice... will be watching this thread closely...

Thanks Thomas... :D

Ok, now for the first modification. There are minor difference from the PT-91M and the T-72 and I'll show the minor modification first.

Shown below is the rear part of the tank.


If you guys notice, there are a circle in the rear middle of the tank with four screws on top of it. The ones that came with the T-72 has 5 nuts on the sides of the circle area as shown below.


To tackle this, I cut off the ones with the five lugnuts.


Leaving a hole at the back.


Using a circle template I select the template with the exact size with the previous one, trace it on a 0.5mm plastic sheet, cut it off, sand to shape and glue it into place. Cut some thin plastic rod to replicate the lugnuts and there you have it the first modification. Looks ok to me... :D




That's all for now.

Nice one, man. I PT-91 stuck there when I still trying to get the suitable pla-plat to replace the 'round' hatch on your second post.

Question from me. :P

What cutter to use and how you manage to cut the round shape?

For my scratched sprocket wheel, I'm using a compass, not a compass cutter but a compass use in those secondary school. With a repeat circular motion and the needle tips to cut the round shape, this method will be taking very long time if to cut pla-plate which is thicker than 0.5mm.

Thanks

:D :D
wah imran... finally this one surfaces... :D

and i saw that my name is being mentioned afew times... bukan racun.. nut like an old saying said.. "sharing is caring" so i'm sharing the info with him thus resulted in getting him into the MGB08 mood :lol:

anyway.. good progress imran... i also have the same question as Kirin san.. what is this circular thing u mention when making the circle.... i would make square and then chipped the side off bit by bit to make a circle... very tedious way and frustation... so share la the template you mentioned there.. :D

anyway good progress.. i'll watch this closely

kuman

I've shown my method of doing circles during my scratchbuilding workshop last year but I'm more than willing to share my method which is not that complicated (I think).

What I do is, I use a circular template (a lot of sizes) that I purchased from the stationary shop (I think for RM3.00 a set) and using the closest sized circle and a compass (the same one used by Kirin) and scribe the circular shape a few times. Then I cut as close as possible using knife and sand to complete. I'll show some pictures if needed but not today lah...

As for the sprocket wheel, I will not be scratchbuilding the whole thing. Again I will use the circular template to get the closest size with the sprocket, then I will rebuild only the outer part of the sprocket and replace it. The middle will still be the kit ones. I'll show you how I attempt to do it maybe next week (if I manage to do it during the weekend lah).

Good to see another 'Pendekar'. This may actually 'poison' me to do one too. I'm also curious how you did the circular cut. Mine usually don't end up so round :lol:

Some questions:
1) Are the Abram's track too wide for this tank?
2) Did you get a chance to test the Leopard tracks? Would this be more suitable since the Pendekar also uses tracks made by Diehl?
3) What would be the best way to do the ERA? Cut individual blocks or scribe them?

IIRC from the workshop, Imran cuts off the unwanted bits at a tangent as close to the scribed /marked circle as possible and sand away the remaining bits for a perfect (or as close to anyway :lol:) circle.

Perhaps a combination of both would save a lot of time and effort whilst still maintaining the look of individual tiles where visually perceptible.

Well, as mentioned in my reply previously, scribe around the circular template to have a deep groove on the plastic sheet before cutting it bit by bit. The scribed area will act as a guide for me when I file the excess plastic.

As for your question:
1) I'm not sure yet because I've never actually get it out from the packaging yet... I might try to do it this weekend.
2) Nope. No budget to get the Leopard track yet... maybe if the Abrams track is too wide, then I'll try the Leopard tracks.
3) Depends on the arrangement of the ERA. If it is grouped together I will just scribe it and if it is cluttered I will cut it individually. I just scribe it because the ERA in the picture is actually too close together that I don't see any need to do extra work of cutting and rearranging the tiles.

Hope this answers your queries. :D

You are correct Jason... I see that someone is paying attention during my workshop... :lol: :lol: :lol:

hehe driud.. do you know that you're flexibel.

finally imran, u started, thanks for the detailed guide, since I'm not familiar wth scratch building.

bty, i wont be posting in comin days as my laptop just down. I'm using my phone 2 online now.

Feizar: Me??? Flexible ke? More like lack of focus lah... :lol: :lol:

Bomber Vince: No problem. I will try and share any progress done on this build, so to all the Pendekar builders... start your engines, sharpen the knives and lay down the sandpapers... it's building time!!! :lol:

Ok guys, more update this time....

Before I forgot, this is the tank that I used for this build... (I know, I know... the alphabet mat is back... :lol: :lol: :lol:)


First off, since there are a few guys here is asking how I build the circle, I'll show you how I make it. Before that, the picture on the progress is a bit grainy and blurred and some picture might be a little too bright because my own camera is borrowed by my younger brother and I have to use his' which has the said problems. Ok, back to the regular program.... :D

This is the template that I use to make the circle.


First, I get the size that I want, then using a sharp pin (in this case I use the pin for removing blackheads... :D ) I trace the circle onto the plastic sheet.


This is the circle that I have traced. Notice the scribe marks? This will be the guidance for the sanding process.


Next, I cut off the plastic sheet with the circle template. This is to make it easier to handle.



Then I cut off the sides as close as possible to the scribed circle.


Finally, using the big file shown below, I sand off the excess plastic.


This is the finished circle after cleaning it up using 500 grit sandpaper.


Next... the progress on the Pendekar... :D

First progress... converting 14 point sprocket to 12 point sprocket.

This is a very tricky one and are very time consuming. I'll show you how I do it.

First, this is the sprocket that needs conversion. The others are the same with our Pendekar ones.


See... it has 14 points instead of 12 on the Pendekar. Apart from the extra "teeth", the other details is similar.


Using the circular template I shown previously, I get the size for the outer part of the sprocket.


Then I get the size for the inner part of the sprocket.


Then using the measurements, I trace the circle onto the plastic sheet and again using the sharp tip blackhead remover (got to give a nicer name for this thing... :lol: ).


Then using a protactor (is this what its called?) I mark 30 degrees point on the plastic sheet to get the 12 point "teeth" location. This is what it looks like.


I forgot to mention that I removed the teeth on the kit's sprocket using the PE saw prior to this. :lol: Ok... the progress continues...

When that is done, using the kit's sprocket teeth, I glue it onto the plastic sheet as a guidance on the shape.


Then I cut off the inner circle area and apply some epoxy onto the part that is made. This time, the plastic sheet has not taken shape yet.


When the epoxy is hardened, I sand off the excess plastic and walla!!! a 12 point sprocket... This will be glued onto the area where the kit's sprocket was. I have not shown the ones glued onto the kits part as I have yet to finish four sets of the 12 point sprocket.


Next... other build progress... :D

I'll show other progress that I've done on the Pendekar.

First is the wheels. I have test fitted the wheels but there are some allignment problem but it will be resolved when the tank is completed (the weight will make the wheels alligned).


I have also completely filled the holes on the bottom of the tank.


The nuts and bolts that I previously add on to the circular part does not look right for me so I remove it and replace it with smaller ones. Looks better I think. I have also filled up the area where the spare tracks should be placed as the ones on the Pendekar is at a different location and with different spare tracks (I'll be using the Abrams tracks...).



I have also filled the holes on top of the rear sprocket area because previously the holes are there to ease the installation of the motorized engine. Since I won't be adding the motor, I have fill it up using plastic sheet and epoxy putty.


I have also partially assembled the individual tracks I got from the AFV Club's Abrams individual track set. It does not look oversized I think. It looks ok at this angle don't you guys think so?


More updates after this... :D

Next progress is the turret area.

I have replaced the kit's canon barrel tip with a brass tube. I just drill a hole to glue in the inner brass tube onto the barrel, then slide the thinner tube on and glued in place with super glue.


There are fitting problems on the barrel cover so, I decided to remove a part of the cover and rebuild it using epoxy putty. First I remove the plastic part.



Then, using epoxy putty I cover the area and using the pointy part of the blackhead remover, I put some wrinkles on the cover (I might have overdone it... )


Next, other modifications... :D

The kit gives a sheet of plastic mesh to cover the rear part but I replace it with the steel ones that I got from the tea strainer. Looks much better than the plastic ones.


Then on to the side skirts. The model kit's side skirts replicates the sides that uses rubber for the cover so the side skirts have a "wavy" look on it. This needs to be replaced as the Pendekar's is steel.


Close-up.


I remove all the panels except for the front mudguard (I just removed the rubber part) and the rear skirts, then I replace the area using a 0.5mm plastic sheet. Since the hinge on the T-72 is the same as the Pendekar, I carefully remove it and glued the hinge onto the plastic sheet after I scribed the lines. Sorry, I was rushing to do this and I'm just trying to replicate it... Since it works, I'll show you guys the progress when I tackle the other side skirts... :D


That's all for the update. Comments and criticisms are welcome... :D

very interesting read...

need to "copy cat " the step for my Pendekar as well.. :D hope its ok ahh imran :lol:

many step in so little time.. :D)

the sprocket idea is very neat..

kuman

Well, the reason I'm showing this is to share the steps I've made in converting the T-72 to the Pendekar. Feel free to follow the steps and do not hesitate to correct me if it can improve the builds.

By the way, I've found out that the hinges is not correct for the Pendekar. I'll rebuild this later. :D

Nice and detail WIP... As like what kuman said, I will also just be a copycat... :P

Looks like the way you use to convert the sprocket from 14 to 12 is easiesr than mine, which is re-do all with pla-plate. Thanks a lot.

Well, I was thinking of redoing totally with plastic sheets as well but my main concern is the shapes and size of gaps from one "teeth" and the other might create problems in the future. That's why I was thinking of casting all the four sets where I will use the ones I build in the thread as the master.

good work imran..
the SBS article really helpful
as usual, your craftmanship is superb...
and btw, i like your new cutting mat! :D
pin this one!

Nice work Imran, just one thing on the gear, have you test-fit the M1 tracks on the gears, like mine I modified but still don't fit well.

Silantra: It's not new cutting mat lah, just blue mounting board for photography purposes.

Bomber Vince: The tracks actually fits the scratchbuild gear nicely, that's why I wanted to cast the gears so that I won't have to do four sets of gears.

Ok guys, a bit of update on the Pendekar. In the picture you can see that the rear mudflaps is different from the T-72. Shown below is the PT-91M.


Here is the T-72.



This needs to be cut off. So using my trusty PE saw, I slowly cut off the mudflaps.



and......

TADAAAA!!!!!..... no more mudflaps... :D


When that is done, another task is to remove the details on the front fender. The Pendekar has a non-slip coating on the fender and the fender itself is a bit shorter than the T-72... so, this is the front fender before the "treatment".


Using the coarse file, sandpaper and nail file, I remove all the details on the front fender. Shown below is the "cleaned" fender.


Then I need to remove some part of the fender (I don't know what it is called) as you can see in the picture below. I removed the part on the front beside the fender since it is not on the Pendekar.


Next... some more side skirts modification.... :D

I have replaced both the side skirts on the T-72 to the straight ones as per our Pendekar.


Now the ERA tiles...

I am using the 1.5mm thick plastic sheet for this... For this build, I just get the measurement through sight only where I just simply "agak-agak" the measurement from the picture. I draw the outline before I start cutting it.


From the picture, there are 13 x 3 and 3 x 2 ERA tiles on the sides. Each square is 4mm x 4mm to get about the same length as the ones in the picture. The picture below is the tiles after I cut it out and scribe the lines.


This is the ERA tiles dry fitted onto the side skirts... the measurement looks about the same with the real thing is it?


That's all for now... :D

Imran,

cool techniques..i never imagine to do ERA that way... creative giler nko ni!!!

btw, i was referring to this mat

huhuh

Hey Bang Zaidi, lets join us for the Merdeka Group Build la..... :lol:

@Imran, I'm follow you~~~ :D

well.. Zaidi got his ATM Scorpion for this MGB.. isnt that right Zaidi :lol:

me too KIRIN.. i also follow his steps :D copycat.. :lol:
if he somehow decided to stop WIP.. then all of us are doomed!! :lol:


kuman

Hahaha... that is the famous alphabet mat lah... :lol: :lol: :lol: Very good to learn the A... B... C.... :lol: :lol:

Kirin dan Kuman
Scorpion tu kalau rajin aku siapkan la... mood aku still rendah lagi ni...
kalau takde ape2 halangan, i will try to finish the scorpion for MGB... it was supposed to be in MGB07..

sorry Imran hijack thread ni...huhuhuh...
mat tu kat rumah aku berlambak2

Ok guys, it has been quite some time I haven't posted anything on the progress. This is mainly because I have not done much but to study all the modifications that need and need not be done. There are a lot of small2 things that needs to be identified and removed or modified for the Pendekar. Shown below is the area that needs to be removed/modified/replaced which I note on the instruction.

First is the front light. The Pendekar has identical front light where the T-72 has different headlight between left and right (not size wise but the accessories wise) so, it needs to be the same as the left headlight.


Item B34 and item B35 need not be attached as the ERA tile will be on top of it. It's either the area is left as it is or filled with putty. I decided to left it as it is.


Part B36 is not used and part A17 will be rebuild or modified to be located on top of the ERA tiles.


I have circled the parts that needs to be removed (labeled "remove" in the picture) as it is non-existance on the Pendekar.


All the part B51, B52, B57 and B58 is not used. The shape and accessories on the commanders' cupola is totally different on the Pendekar.


Tool box A needs to be relocated to the sides and parts A29 is also not used.


I have identified the parts that needs to be removed, replace or rebuild and this makes it easier for me to plan and get the works to progress again.

Continued the progress after this... :D

Ok, back to the progress... starting back, the parts in the 4th picture needs to be removed. This is the first thing that I did to start the ball rolling.

This is the area that needs to be removed. All the radars and all cluttered in fornt of the gunner's hatch needs to be removed.


First, I cut it off using PE saw from Crazy Modeler.


Then I glue some plastic sheet underneath before I fill it with putty.


Sadly, that is all that I can do last night. Hopefully I can do much more progress this weekend. :D

I have also completed the ERA tiles for the front side of the tank. I have revised the size. Previously the size was 4mm x 4mm but I make it slightly bigger to 4.5mm x 4.5mm which looks more accurate than before.


That's all for now. Comments and suggestions are welcome. :D :D :D

writing from the hospital bed!!!.. hope the nurses dont make me switch-off this notebook.. :D

imrn nice progress... u have to give me the exact measurement for tht ERA...
since i dontthink i'll be able to update my Pendekar anytime soon.. :D

anyway nice progress/.. :)

kuman

Hope you get well soon... waa... got free Wi-Fi ke at the hospital? Any idea when you are going to be discharged?

I have given the measurement for the ERA in the progress thread. It's 4.5mm x 4.5mm per tile. Just count the number of tiles in the picture and you will get the total measurement. Same goes for all the other ERA tiles. I'm using one size fo all... :D

Lan, take care....

Imran, nice progress... I've burned out since the herc build, didn't touch plastic 4 3 weeks

Ok, more progress on the build. I have started working on the shape of the turret. The T-72 has different accessories on top of the turret and all the unnecessary things has been removed as per the previous thread.

Shown below, I have closed the holes with plastic sheets before I fill it with epoxy putty.


All the holes is then filled with epoxy putty and left to harden. When it is hardened, the reshaping process needs to be done. Using the most coarse file, I removed and shaped the turret according to the reference. Shown below is the completed turret which have been shaved and all the wierd holes on the turret is also filled with putty.


Here's another angle showing the look of the finished turret. Now it needs the ERA tiles and other accessories to complete...


Since the major work on the turret is done, I move my focus to the commander's cupola. The kit comes with some sort of extension where the gun is placed but the ones on the Pendekar did not have this so it needs to be removed.


A simple but careful cut, sand and some scribing the commander's cupola is done, but not complete. There are a lot needs to be done before I can say that it is complete.


That's all for now... :D

Good Luck Imran, the master of bondite!!

I'm no Master of Bondite lah Zaidi.... I'm Master of Puppets (Metallica)... Hahahaha.... :lol: :lol: :lol: