Latest kit from Vandra. Resin cast seems much improved, also switched to 3D print for the finer pieces. The resin barrel surprisingly is nice and straight. I have a Lee/Grant kit from Dean so took the lower as the M12 is also based on the M3 lower. Would have love an M40 but this will do for now. Nothing fancy mechanically. Just be able to move around looking pretty and maybe servo elevation for the barrel. The upper is even lower than the Lee/Grant so need to get a medium/low mount gearbox and still have to cut to make it fit the M3 tranny cover. 

That looks cool!

Almost done. Found an old Tamiya Sherman spruce so going to add non-working headlights and taillights which is not part of the kit from Vandra. Will get decal from Dean when we meet up after boxing day. Not too sure how durable the threads are for the back spade/steps but we should see. Asked my wife for threads and have to tell her what I am using it for and she suggested dental floss which was brilliant. Waxed one would work better but probably won't take paint so will have to see.

That looks very cool! Does the back hinge up? You could use fishing line. I would try to put a servo winch on the inside to open and close. Cheers!
Ok edit 1. After looking at it closer, did they really use a hand crank to raise and lower the spade?? I was wondering why it used so many pulleys.

If you are using fishing line, I recommend Spider Wire Braid which is woven threads, it gives a much better cable look.

Shoveler74 wrote:

That looks very cool! Does the back hinge up? You could use fishing line. I would try to put a servo winch on the inside to open and close. Cheers!
Ok edit 1. After looking at it closer, did they really use a hand crank to raise and lower the spade?? I was wondering why it used so many pulleys.

Indeed it is a hand crank ! I think only the M40 has the gas struts. The hand crank and all the pulleys are 3D printed and quite fragile, so there is no way I can use a servo to put the spade up. Purely decorative and if I need it up, I just "hand" crank it up and the friction will keep it from falling.

Jarlath wrote:

If you are using fishing line, I recommend Spider Wire Braid which is woven threads, it gives a much better cable look.

Fishing line will rip everything up no doubt. It will the strongest point in the whole chain.

Then the string or dental floss will be just fine. Fra gi lie will always be a major award. I put a functional winch on the front of my M16. The frame is strong enough to hold it but would tear it right off if I tried to actually pull something with it.  
As for the pulleys, I have 1/10 snatch blocks for my crawler winches. Too big for this application. not sure if any are made in 1/16. 
I can only imagine the Pvt with the Popeye guns that had to crank that up. Ha haa
Excellent as always. Cheers