templar1099 - don't worry, we're here to hold your hand and help you with this baby! I always say it's better to have the model a bit too detailed than a bit too simplified! Lookin' good so far, thanks for sharing and have a nice day

Paweł

Appeciate it Pawel,thanks.

Managed to cobble together the bottom chasis, drive and suspension. Didn't break or lose anything,and all the articulating parts actually articulate,but will probably glue all in place and not chance any misfortune  with further handling. I find myself using mostly white and tube glue so far,seems to facilitate the placing and adhesion of the smallest parts. That said I am disappointed in the ability to 'square' up and orientate integral pieces. On the up side my ability to manipulate with tweezers is rapidly progressing, there's nothing like repetition for muscle memory.

 I did have to remove and replace one of the front springs as, despite being "visually" identical, they had to be orientated in the same direction. A little nail polish and patience resulted in no damage done. At this point I think I'll have to prime and paint the hull. Looking ahead I think it will make it easier as this is definitely not a build and paint kit. 

Next steps are the interior and I plan on finishing it. The choice is buttoned with no view or opened and some interior view, it will at least allow the option,and it's just plain good practice. With no color call-out and with what I've seen on line I'm thinking some sort of gray and green for base colors. Any ideas considered.

Looking good so far!

Terry

Hello!

It's lookin' good, but please watch this one:

Either the brake chambers or their shields are crooked - I believe you still have the chance to fix it.

Good luck with your builds and have a nice day

Paweł

Pawel

It's lookin' good, but please watch this one:

You're absolutely correct Pawel,thanks. I was just pondering that. When I dry fit ( as best I could ) it seemed to follow the contour of the hub it rests on,better. But it certainly appears out of square,ergo;the prior statement of disappointment. Contemplating surgery for both,front and rear, as they both mirror each other in placement. I will bow to your judgement on being repairable.

Oh my,I don't even want to think about that slat armor,but you are looking good so far.

Thanks Tojo72,  yea the slat armor. I'm of two minds on that; one is to see if I can rig it so it's removable, and two is build it with slat on one side and all the details on the opposite. Long way to go before that decision. 

She does look really good so far!

And yeah if those anti-RPG screens are all PE, whoa I don't envy you!!!

Gamera

And yeah if those anti-RPG screens are all PE, whoa I don't envy you!!!

Thanks Gamera, the slats are not PE ,thank God, but they are delicate. The upside is that there appears to be no flash and are relatively well defined. Removing from the sprues without damage will be first hurdle.

Figured I'd update what progress I've made in between the last Fall clean up, a final round of golf, holiday prep, a week of mental constipation and the daily b.s. of just living. Cleaned up,primed and stained a little on the undercarriage, could have done a lot more considering the detail there but you're really not gonna see it unless it's turned upside down,but it's there so ... I put together the interior but have not cleaned up or detailed yet. Not planning on too much inside as even not buttoned up one won't see much, we'll see, I figured with a full complement it still would get pretty messy in there.

I will say that my proudest accomplishment so far is the piece of PE in the first picture, the fact that I removed and de-burred it without losing or breaking it was a quantum leap for me, placing it was the luck of the Irish. I have lost,due to carelessness, 2 PE vents for the dash. So far ,so good. Only 600 more parts to go. Per uaual any comments,critiques or suggestions appreciated.

That's some really nice work there on the underside and the interior. 

And congrads on the PE behaving, I've been using it for years and still haven't mastered the use of it. 

Gamera

That's some really nice work there on the underside and the interior. 

And congrads on the PE behaving, I've been using it for years and still haven't mastered the use of it.

---

Appreciated, as far as mastering PE, I'd like to master plastic first. 

 

Update, stopped working on the interior. Just brushed it up some so it at least,hopefully, looks used. I've finished the upper cabin and am getting ready to add the hood and side skirts, wheels are finished and the major headache, the 14 part front bumper, and some piddly pieces will be primed and placed today(?). Nothing firmly attached in the last pic but it starting to at least look like a vehicle.

thanks.

Hello!

The interior looks good - maybe a little fresh, but good. Maybe little of dark wash could help the details be more visible and add a bit of "usage"?

Good luck with this build and have a nice day

Paweł

Thanks Pawel, Yea I'm gonna live with fresh as none of it will be visible with the tinted armored windows, but it was a good exercise and there's still a long way to go. Happy New Year.

I got an hour here so before I go into silent running mode I figured I'd up date where I stand on the Buff. Looking down the road I think the painting process will be akin to painting a porcupine, all the fiddly,diddly parts that need to be attached rendering the handling of the body problematic, improvise,adapt,overcome.Immediately I've got some minor clean up to do on the parts to follow in pics and figure out how to prime,paint and attach. This is basically all topside and front.

 3 part hood handles

 Had to fashion a wiper blade,lucky to salvage the PE.

 3 of 6

 That's it for now,we'll see how it all plays out. The best laid plans of mice and men......

This is coming along very nicely.  The interior details are superb!

Toshi

Thanks Tosh, being familiar with your detailing work that's a high compliment.

Looking good!  Stay with it.

That's some amazing detail work there. 

Still plugging away at this. I've become much more adept at taking these apart than putting them together. Handling it results in at least one piece being detatched every time,royal pain in the ass.The biggest hassle has been the 'step' between the upper hull and lower chassis,with the port side being the worst. I attribute it to over zealous clamping on the interior panels.File,sand fill....... Got a base coat and rough outline for camo,next all the peripherals and see where I stand then. Haven't even looked at the bar armor yet. Thanks

Quick update. I was ready to add the splash guards and a couple of lenses and put the main body aside to work the bar armor but as you'll see in the head-on pic there is a slight list to starboard which upon closer inspection is due to a linkage break on the chasis. Got to figure out how to manipulate the body upside down and see what can be done to re-attach said link.

It's been a two step foward,one back process as handling this vehicle is my major headache, I like to be able to hold the subject close,and the almost non-existant to barely visible contact points do not lend themselves to a secure bond.C'est la vie. I did get the backhoe ( for lack of a a technical term) arm cobbled together,and it works, but I will leave it in the extended position for primer and paint and then cross my fingers and fold it in the stowed position and add it. The usual bad pics follow. Thanks.

Hello!

It's nice to see an update here, I have missed the last one - sorry! The paint looks good, but could probably look even better with a little shading. The "backhoe" should probably be called something like "manipulator arm". Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

Thanks Pawel,I plan to finish the arm and then the slat armor to be sure it will all go together nicely before any finish and weathering is applied.

Oops, I missed your last update too.

Anyway she's looking good now. And I know what you mean about stuff breaking once the body is cemented together and not being able to reach stuff- I've cursed up a few blue streaks there...

Thanks Gamera, yea a clamp like device that spins and revolves 360 would be perfect.

Update. To add insult to injury I finally picked up a new camera so the usual bad pics are compounded by unfamiliarity. Had to finish the body before the cage armour which is assembled and awaiting a fit for angles and spacing, then prime,spot lights and paint. I believe it sounds easier said then done.

I wanted it grimy,figuring it's more of an urban vehicle, but used the wrong wash on the tires and being acrylic based I couldn't justify taking the necessary labor ( lazy?) it would entail to start from scratch.In addition, for a kit that appears pretty robust the wheels are very tenuous, couldn't take much handling. The spare tire is not finished and it is sans whip antennas but I figured it is a configuration of these vehicles which are utilized in various roles,I've seen one kitted out in as a fire fighting rig. The camo was depicted on a French deployment. I won't list all the problems and mistakes , it has been dropped and rolled over,plus the handling. If this hobby wasn't so much fun.....

Any and all comments,per usual,are gladly welcomed.Thanks.

Missed this one. Nice subject and really nice job on it. Good luck with the bar armour.