Amusing Hobby ARL 44

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Olivier Carneau
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Amusing Hobby ARL 44

Post by Olivier Carneau »

Hi all
this has been a long time since I last showed one of my builds.
I've recently bought this unusual kit for me. Although it is a post-WW II tank it is not modern.

The kit comes in 4 beige sprues and a huge one piece hull to which you just have to add the rear plate and the floor.
Here is the large hull part.
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After a couple hours here is the beast with the hull assembled and the track rollers attached. This is step 4 out of 15.
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So far it is an easy build. The most difficult step certainly was the assembly of the mobile track rollers as they are secured by small lugs.
Olivier
http://olivier.carneau.free.fr

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Olivier Carneau
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Re: Amusing Hobby ARL 44

Post by Olivier Carneau »

3 more steps completed today.
The exhaust assembly looks daunting on the instructions but comes easily in fact. The only thing you need to pay attention to is the direction of parts A14. On one side there are tiny flat rectangles which help hold the both parts together when they are glued according to the instructions. I noticed that it was easier to glue the lower part to one frame then add the upper part and then only glue the second frame.
In the end you have a strange looking exhaust.
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Here is the step 7 result.
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It really is a smooth build so far.
Olivier
http://olivier.carneau.free.fr

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Philipp Gross
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Re: Amusing Hobby ARL 44

Post by Philipp Gross »

Definitely one of the weirdest tanks of the post-war period, but then again the circumstances of its development were rather unique as well!

I wonder what the idea behind the exhaust construction was....it came a little too early to be concerned with suppressing the infrared signature :lol:

Philipp
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Olivier Carneau
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Re: Amusing Hobby ARL 44

Post by Olivier Carneau »

Philipp Gross wrote: 21 Jan 2022, 17:43 it came a little too early to be concerned with suppressing the infrared signature :lol:
Obviously :lol:
Olivier
http://olivier.carneau.free.fr

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Olivier Carneau
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Re: Amusing Hobby ARL 44

Post by Olivier Carneau »

More progress on the hull which is 98% complete. I still have to decide whether or not I glue the tools prior to painting the whole thing.

The driver and the radio/MG gunner hatches are a bit tricky to install. Amusing Hobby tells you to assemble the two parts of the hatch (without glue) and then install the sub-assembly. This can prove difficult as there is a groove in which the rotating part is supposed to be inserted. So I decided to glue the squarish part of the hatch first and then to have the rotating part pivoting as on the actual vehicle.

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Then I tackled the engine deck as per the instructions at steps 8 and 9 which was a piece of cake. You'd better glue the gun cleaning rods first so it is easier. The PE grilles perfectly fit into their locations.

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Olivier
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Olivier Carneau
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Re: Amusing Hobby ARL 44

Post by Olivier Carneau »

The build is complete. The tracks were a treat. As the sprockets and idlers are mobile the tracks remain functional. This is totally useless except to show the excellent engineering of Amusing Hobby.
The huge aluminum gun is not glued yet. It is strange that the aluminum gun is mentioned neither on the parts list nor in the instructions.

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Olivier
http://olivier.carneau.free.fr

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Olivier Carneau
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Re: Amusing Hobby ARL 44

Post by Olivier Carneau »

First painting steps. I applied a base coat of XF-58 Olive Green. I then applied a pre-shade in XF-85 Rubber Black. I ended with the highlights in a lighter shade of Olive Green.

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Olivier
http://olivier.carneau.free.fr

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Olivier Carneau
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Re: Amusing Hobby ARL 44

Post by Olivier Carneau »

I managed to add some weathering to the hull and the tracks. I think the turret sides need some streaking but I don't want to overdo it.

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Olivier
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Swiftnbold
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Re: Amusing Hobby ARL 44

Post by Swiftnbold »

This builds up to be an unusual but nice looking tank.
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience but where he stands in times of challenge and controversy"

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Olivier Carneau
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Re: Amusing Hobby ARL 44

Post by Olivier Carneau »

Swiftnbold wrote: 29 Jan 2022, 01:49 This builds up to be an unusual but nice looking tank.
Definitely! It looks like a B1 bis hull mated to a Tiger 2 turret. :D
Olivier
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