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Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
Canadian RG31 Mk3 with RWS
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Monday, August 31, 2020 - 09:40 PM UTC
Hi all,
I just started this kit by Kinetic. It is variant of their original US RG31. It comes with an interior and the M151 RWS with a 0.50 MG (not the best I've seen).
The detail is a bit soft and there are some heat sinks to fill. The instructions are clear enough for the average modeler. The great thing is that Kinetic require parts from the same sprue during a series of steps. Why don't all the manufacturers do the same? IT's way easier for the modeler.

After some hours on the workbench, here is the hull with the front axle and part of the transmission in place.





Olivier
Youngun
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: November 10, 2010
KitMaker: 587 posts
Armorama: 550 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 01, 2020 - 08:27 AM UTC
Swap the kit .50cal for a GPMG. The Canadian RG's were most commonly seen with the C6 GPMG
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, September 01, 2020 - 10:17 PM UTC
Alex, I haven't seen close pictures of the C6 fitted to the RWS. Could you show some please so I can see if I can do something from the various MAG58 I have in the stash?

Olivier
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 02, 2020 - 12:47 AM UTC
Here is my interior basically painted. I'll weather a bit as even with the hatches closed the large windows will allow to see inside.









Olivier
flugwuzzi
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Lower Austria, Austria
Joined: November 02, 2007
KitMaker: 633 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, September 02, 2020 - 01:13 AM UTC
Great progress Olivier, interior is looking great.

cheers
walter
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 03, 2020 - 01:37 AM UTC
Thank yo uWalter.

The interior has been a bit weathered. This looks probably overdone but through the green tinted glasses I think few will remain visible. So I tried to enhance the contrast.







I will now close the box and continue the build.

Olivier
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 03, 2020 - 05:43 AM UTC
When looking at reference pictures I noticed that the antennas configuration of the kit does not look standard. I came across the following configurations:
1 large antenna at each rear corner of the cabin and a short mount for a round plate with the IED jammers on the roof.

1 large antenna at the right rear corner of the cabin and the same IED jammer support with 1 jammer antenna and 1 large antenna like the rear corner one.

2 T shaped supports on the roof with 2 large antennas on one side and 1 jammer antenna and 1 large antenna on the other side.

The kit instructions claim for installing the 2 large antennas at the rear corner as well as the 2 T shaped supports with 1 jammer antenna and 1 large antenna each. Is this configuration correct?

Olivier
junglejim
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Alberta, Canada
Joined: February 18, 2003
KitMaker: 1,728 posts
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Posted: Thursday, September 03, 2020 - 07:30 AM UTC
The two large antennas at the rear seem most common in the pics I have, plus the smaller one behind and to the right of the RWS (may or may not be fitted). Could be dependent on time frame as well.



Here's one (version without gun ports in windows) with the larger mounts.



Jim
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
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Posted: Thursday, September 03, 2020 - 06:01 PM UTC
Thank you for the pictures Jim. The second is another configuration with jammers antennas only on the T shaped supports.
Maybe this is the one I'll depict.

Olivier
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Friday, September 04, 2020 - 12:16 AM UTC
The cabin is closed. The suspension is complete and the side bins are all glued. It's time to add the various accessories all around the vehicle. The rear bins needed some trimming to fit to the rear plate.









Olivier
terminators
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France
Joined: February 20, 2012
KitMaker: 1,932 posts
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Posted: Friday, September 04, 2020 - 09:22 AM UTC
Nice progress.

In an article from the french model magazine Steelmasters about the US version, transparent parts for windows were compared with jelly. A bit exaggerated in my mind. The transparent aspect is rater correct, even there are some minor irregularities.
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 05, 2020 - 08:27 PM UTC
Alex
I haven't used any window part yet. I'll give my feelings later about this issue.

I made some progress on the exterior details. I modified the position of the vertical handle on the rear panel. Putty is mandatory in many areas and between parts of sub-assemblies so it is a slow build.

The instructions often are vague. For instance, the round bases for the IED jammers posts on the right side have no marking at all to be placed. Moreover theye are beveled so you need to be careful when you put them on the roof.
The rear door is impossible to glue in the closed position. So I'll put it open when time comes. The hinges needed some serious trimming so the door could fit.







Olivier
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
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Posted: Monday, September 07, 2020 - 12:24 AM UTC
I have another question for the Canadian members. Kinetic ask for putting armored shields around the roof hatches but on the decal instructions they've written no shields for the both decorations. This is a bit weird. So should I just let the shields away or use them?
TIA

Olivier
ArtyG37B
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: August 13, 2009
KitMaker: 420 posts
Armorama: 416 posts
Posted: Monday, September 07, 2020 - 02:57 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I have another question for the Canadian members. Kinetic ask for putting armored shields around the roof hatches but on the decal instructions they've written no shields for the both decorations. This is a bit weird. So should I just let the shields away or use them?
TIA

Olivier



short answer, yes. I built mine with the shields on. if you do the 2 rearward antennae mounts need to come off or else the shields won't sit right.

here's mine

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y9HF7xVoID1vzm9tatkOnDBtCEZVHc6H/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19PZzQOlnsqs9u92-cj921CVY-q1FemDW/view?usp=sharing

bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
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Posted: Monday, September 07, 2020 - 05:59 AM UTC
Thanks Ian. Google ask you give me your authorization to access your files. You should get an email from them.

Olivier
ArtyG37B
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: August 13, 2009
KitMaker: 420 posts
Armorama: 416 posts
Posted: Monday, September 07, 2020 - 10:47 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Thanks Ian. Google ask you give me your authorization to access your files. You should get an email from them.

Olivier



changed the settings,should be able to see it now.
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 08, 2020 - 01:00 AM UTC
Thank you Ian. Very nice paint job.

Despite the kit inaccuracies and the vague instructions I managed to do some progress. The RWS is not glued yet. I'm not happy with it and I'm hesitating to buy a better one by AFV Club. Will see. I'm not sure this kit deserves more money.
I didn't manage to fit the blast shields because of the antenna bases. I didn't want to do any surgery on the front shield.







The clear parts got a coat of Klir with some drops of Tamiya Clear Green. Hopefully this will be enough to depict the greenish hue.

Olivier
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 10, 2020 - 03:50 AM UTC
I finally added the blast shields and applied the base coat. Some details are already painted too.
I need to glue the PE lights protections and I'll spray a coat of klir before applying the decals.









Olivier
LeoCmdr
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Alberta, Canada
Joined: January 19, 2005
KitMaker: 4,085 posts
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Posted: Friday, September 11, 2020 - 11:51 AM UTC
Great looking base coat. What did you use?
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Friday, September 11, 2020 - 08:33 PM UTC
Thank you Jason. This is AK122 base color for US vehicles in OEF/OIF.

Olivier
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 12, 2020 - 05:02 AM UTC
I applied the decals today. The good point is Kinetic give some stencils.
The bad points are vague instructions, some too large decals nearly useless, one of the large heads is missing (according to the instructions you need four large and one small while you get three large only and two small).









I intended to use a C6 to replace the kit poor M2 HMG but the right cradle is missing. I need to source a correct M2 to put on the RWS. Concerning the antennas, according to the instructions, the vehicle depicted only has the antennas on the roof T brackets.
I'd like to add some water cans and fuel cans in the right side stowage shelf. Can I use US models? The only "Canadian" ones I have are the odd two handles type and other with straps.

Olivier
LeoCmdr
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Alberta, Canada
Joined: January 19, 2005
KitMaker: 4,085 posts
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Posted: Saturday, September 12, 2020 - 06:19 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Thank you Jason. This is AK122 base color for US vehicles in OEF/OIF.

Olivier



Perfect, thanks!
LeoCmdr
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Alberta, Canada
Joined: January 19, 2005
KitMaker: 4,085 posts
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Posted: Saturday, September 12, 2020 - 06:24 AM UTC
For water cans any modern plastic type with a single handle should work.

For fuel cans the Scepter 20 litre fuel cans used by Canada and the U.S. are what you should looking for.


[url]https://www.scepter.com/products/military-products/military-fuel-water-containers/military-fuel-container/5-gallon-20-litre-military-fuel-container-05552/[url]
flugwuzzi
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Lower Austria, Austria
Joined: November 02, 2007
KitMaker: 633 posts
Armorama: 599 posts
Posted: Saturday, September 12, 2020 - 07:55 PM UTC
It's looking really good Olivier!

cheers
Walter
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 13, 2020 - 03:38 AM UTC
Thank you for the answer Jason.
Thanks for the comment Walter.
The model is nearly complete. I just need to find a better M2 MG as the kit one is really simplified. Unfortunately I don't have any in my stash and mounting a C6 is not just swapping the weapon. The C6 needs an adaptor.

Olivier
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