Help on when to attach top and hull

It often depends on the type of tank you are building. On this type, you can build it, leaving the road wheels and tracks off. Once it is completed, you can then add the road wheels, sprocket and tracks afterwards.

As Rob says, depends on the vehicle. For most i wil attach it sooner that the instructions say. I usually try and do this before adding any small parts to the upper hull which might get damaged if handeled after.

As stated, depends on the kit. Since yours was originally motorized they left that part for last. You need to look ahead and check that parts that come later in the assembly have the clearance and will fit without any issues. 

I sometimes don't follow the order in the instructions and skip around to make things like painting easier.

The open sections on the hull bottom are easily covered with plastic card. I like to coat the bottom with dirt pigment as part of the weathering process.  

Thanks Rob, Bish, Tojo72, and PJ!

I will check, as much as possible, clearances of any parts to be added under the fenders. If it seems to me that I can attach the wheels and track without too much of a problem I'll most likely glue the two parts together sooner rather than later.

I should probably have mentioned that the kit is Tamiya's 1/35 M48A3 Patton.

Thanks again.

Rob, thanks. (and by the way Colonel, thanks for your service).

Since I already have the Dragon sd.Kfz.171 Panther G Late Production in my stash I'll pay close attention to the order of the build when I get around to it. Looks like that kit will test my patience assembling those tracks.

There are several tuts on assembling the link track and it's really not that hard. The best way is using Testors liquid cement to soften up the tracks do they can be draped over the running gear. You can do each side broken into two or three sections, leaving the last long in the group unglued in order to get the desired droop. Once dry,  remove the sections forpainting and weathering then reassemble and add glue to the two or three unglued points. 

Hope this helps Mike.

1943Mike

Rob, thanks. (and by the way Colonel, thanks for your service).

Since I already have the Dragon sd.Kfz.171 Panther G Late Production in my stash I'll pay close attention to the order of the build when I get around to it. Looks like that kit will test my patience assembling those tracks.

 

 

Jagdpanther and Panther usually have enough clearance to work with tracks even hull glued together.There are some good tutorials here on MT track assmbly out there.I glue together the whole side with Tamiya Extra Thin,wait 25 minutes,then flex the whole track run around the roadwheels and sprockets,adjust the sag,let it dry over night,then take it off for painting.

Thanks Tojo72 and PJ.

I'll be looking for the tutorials when I get to those kits.

Tojo72, I appreciate your telling me how you put them together.

Back to my Patton.

Mike

Here you can get an idea how to assemble the link tracks. I like to leave them off unglued from the road wheels to make paint and weathering easier but it gives you an idea how to approach it. He also talks about skipping around the build order to make painting easier.

This Takom KT looks awesome and makes an impressive display left open as in the video.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nogimZGaSKM