Watching with a lot of interest.  :)

Very cool Bish, I built this (might have been an earlier version) about twenty or so years ago. I remember it going together like silk, no real fit issues anywhere. 

I'm pretty sure you are not going to dissappoint anyone, Bish. ;)

Bish

gamera, this one dates from 1992 and the one it is based on didn't have the desert options, that's from 86 so before the Gulf conflict, so I would say it was this kit. that good to hear and of course just what we all expect from Tamiya. Mike, I will try my best. Will make a nice change to do something more modern.

 

It did have the desert optional parts and the Operation Grandby decals so it must have been the same kit. Looking forward to seeing you work your magic on her! I still have mine around somewhere, of course I didn't know anything about shading, colour modulation or anything like that back then so I just painted the whole thing with a single shade of desert tan with rubber tire/tyres and called her done!

I guess its about time i got an update posted on the Chally. I got started on Thurs but i ended up making a few corrections i had not planned on so tehre not that much done yet.

Despite my background, i don't know all that much about British armour, well, apar from the warrior i should hope. So i am not planning on going all out with accuracy on this, close enough will do. But i have come across a few things on a build on another site recently which won't be to difficult to correct.

First thing i did was prime and paint the rubber on the wheels so they are all ready to have the hubs painted when i get to that. I did some damage to the rubber on the road wheels which i was rather pleased with.

I then got the lower hull done which didn't take to long, after all, its not a Dragon kit is it. After that, i aded the upper hull and have started fiting the smaller pieces. You can see the bits i have had to modify, from what i have read, these areas were those on the prototype not the production vehicles

And that it for now. Going to crack on with the hull before i even think about the turret. I am considering a differant aproach to painting on this, so i will need to get the hull and tracks together first.

Very cool Bish, curious about your different approach to painting her and looking forward to it. 

Some nice extras that you have will dress it up.I got the desertized version sitting in the stash somewhere.

Sounds good Bish. I've been fooling around with a Trumpeteer T-62 and had the same issue with the skirts. I went ahead and painted them separtly but your way sounds like it would make more sense. 

Sorry for the delay in an update guys. I normally try and go for once a week. But this build had lots more to do than i had expected. I have also been following a build on Britmodeller and while i am not going to the same lengths to add detail as that guy has, there were a few things i felt realy needed some attention. And just when i thought i was ready, i realised there was somthing else to add.

Anyway, enough of the excuses. After the last update i starte adding the resin. These included new exhausts which i had not realised were in the AA set, but it was easy enought to remove the kit ones. And there was of course more PE to add.

Then it was onto the turret. Lots of PE on here with the handles and mesh for the bins and a few bits of resin.

Remember i said i was going to take a differant approach to painting. Well, scrub that. Some test fitting showed that the wheels and tracks can be fitted after the armour, so i decided to carry on with what i know.

I also added the last details to the lights useing some wire rather than the flat PE parts.

Then it was time to primer. A couple of areas needed a little more filling and sanding.

But there was also a couple of pieces on the turret that i had neglected. Phogto's show tanks carrying water jerry cans in the frame on the rear turret bin, but the kit does not include anything for them to sit on. The build on the other forum gave me the answer to that.

And i also had to add tarps to the side bins. I used white Milliput rolled thin, first time i have done this and it works a treat.

I only just added those so i need to let them dry for a bit. But in the meantime i can the fit the straps and a bit more detail.

I also got the tracks together and coated with NATO black. This Sword tracks are very nice, no flash and the holes are open. The only problem is the wire which is thicker than that used by Fruil and is a real pain to get through the hole. I had to drill most of them out.

And thats all for now. I have a couple of days to myself as the Mrs has had to go north to see family, and i have taken tomorrow off work so i am hopeing i can get a lot done to this.

Excellent, Bish. Just excellent.

I would've commented much sooner, but I have few words for what you've got here. I like looking at it. just scrolling up and down. Its purdy. :)

Looks good Bish! 

Ok, update time again. I finished off the tarps for the sid bins with straps made from Tamiya tape and the locking mechanisim from lead foil.

After those bits got some primer, it was paint time. I got a bit carrie away and started adding the decals before i remembered to take some pics.

I have noticed one sligth error from the PE set. The small bit on the drivers hatch next to the handle is PE part 80. The instructions call for one here and 2 for the pick head. But there are only 2 included. Some checking showed that there should be nothing here, so this needs to be removed and out in the proper place.

With the rest of the decals then added, i did a light dry brush, only doing one layer as i don't want to heavy a weathering job here.

The dry brushing was done Tues night with the base enamel and white oil. So i am leaving that to dry until tomorrow before a coat of future, which i hope to do correctly to protect it dfrom the washes to come.

Thats all for now.

Looks great, Bish. Will this have a base under it later? Or is this one for the shelf?

Its also a nice reminder that I'm going way too slow with my builds lol. Man, I need to paint something lol!

Right. The M-60 I'm working on is going into a case, but I'm not sure about the M-48 yet. I really need to practice with bases. I've only made a couple so far and that's an area I'm really lacking in.

I have some unfinished plaques to use, but I need to gather more materials for the groundwork.

Looks like you're almost finished already. How much weathering do you plan on doing?

For the sor of base i will use here, i keep it rather simple, it will be very similar to the one i did for my 32nd Bf 109. I just use a piece of pine shelf board cut to size and routed around the edges. I then stain and varnish it and add the ground work. In this case celluclay coloured and with some sand added and a few stones. My dio bases take a bit more work.

Weathering will not be heavy. The vehicle were freshly painted before deplyment and of course in that enviroment there not much rain leading to mud. So i will do a light dot filterin followed by a pin wash. The main part will be the dusting useing AK desert effects and sand pigments.

She's starting to really look like a Challenger, sharp work! 

What color are you using for the Desert Sand?

Excellent work friend. Glad you chose an oft-overlooked subject.

The decals layed down nice and snuggly. Thias is looking like a clean build. I'm looking forward to see how you handle the tracks 

Ye, the decals were rather nice. I have not used Bison decals before, though i do have a couple of sets waiting to be used. I'll definatly consider them again. And the clean look is about to change. I'll be geting to the tracks this week.

Just a short update. After the coat of future, i gave the hull and turret a dot filter followed by a pin wash. I used the AK interactive wash for DAK vehicles. It's now being left to dry fully before sealing with a mix of future and tamiya flat.

Its a bit heavier in some areas than i had intend, but the dust effects should tone that down a bit.

Once sealed, i can paint all the small details and ad the tools before adding some dust. But i am waiting on some stowage items from Accurate Armour before i can do that. So i will have plenty of time to finish the tracks, figure and a few other bits.