I have always liked the T1E2, which evolved into the M6 Heavy Tank. Two things about it really got my attention. First, it has a lot of guns sticking out of it. Second, it has armored skirts that cover the suspension.............and that means ya don't have to build a fancy bunch of detail for what ya can't see. Yippee! This is gonna be a walk in the park!

The big problem with scratch building a tank is finding proper track that has acceptable tread design and size and will look like the real thing, or at least something that can be modified to come close to looking right.

Thanks to some of the members of this forum, I was made aware of a website source that had some track for robotic applications that had possibilities for 1/16th R/C stuff. So I ordered two sets and was pleased to find out the track would really come close to how the track looks on the real M6 prototype. It was the right size and the design could be modified to resemble the real track, after a few simple (hahaha) modifications.

Then I found an M6 walkaround website that showed close ups of the detail of those armored side skirts. Good Grief........there is as much detail to contend with on those side skirts as there would be to build a totally exposed suspension. The good news is there are no rivets......... but a bunch of screws instead! The turret was going to be a fun project as well. It has an interesting shape, not very simple, but not too bad to fabricate.

Undaunted, and with great resolve, I stepped forward and solemnly swore that I would accept the challenge to build a T1E2 to the best of my ability, no matter what the cost, or hardship, or consequence to my mental health or welfare.

Failure is not a option! Death before dishonor! I regret I only have one life to give to my hobby!

Or something like that, but maybe not as severe and terminal. Hey! .....this hobby is suppose to be fun! Gimme a break!

When I first started scratchbuilding, it was because I wanted a tank that wasn't available as a factory RTR model or a kit. I wanted something nobody else had. I wanted to be the guy who had the only one in the world!!!!!!!

I soon discovered there were about a million other guys in the world who had the same idea. No matter what I built, there was somebody who did it first.......and better. Dang it!!!

Soooooo..........I would like to extend an invitation to the dozens (hundreds?) of other scratchbuilders out there to post photos of their T1E2 (or M6) project. I really would like to see how their model turned out..........(probably better than mine..........I hate it when that happens).

It still needs some detail clean up before painting, but this is it so far.........I hope paint will make it look better.

Rex