Looks good so far. I remember that kit from the late 80s. The tracks were the worst though.

Suffering through problematic kits - does build character.  What a cool subject though.  Looks like you've got a handle on the issues.  Suspension mod looks great.

Yeah, it's a tough kit.  But I have seen some outstandng builds (of which mine will NOT be one of them).  Still, that super long barrel makes the M107 stand out in a crowd.

Now only if Tamiya had made new dedicated figures for their reboxing.

Very cool G! As always it's really neat to see something a little different like this.

The terror continues.  The road wheels are REALLY low friction, so the model rolled off the box when I tried to move it.  Of course it had to land upside down, directly on the only fragile bit on the hull!  The impact fractured one of the seat supports and sent it flying into regions unknown, and the other support got a nice "S" bend.  Grrrr.  

I have to admit this kit gives the builder their money's worth when it comes to skill building.  The hole for the gun barrel is out of round, and the plastic is thick, making it difficult to neatly ream out the hole. There is also an alignment slot which has no purpose, as the gun barrel lacks any tabs.  The easy solution is to savagely file down the mating area on the gun barrel until it is lopsided like the opening.  I used a tag off the sprue to fill in the alignment slot, as it is still visible after the barrel is in place.

I am exercising more care assembling the kit compared to the last time, so some things are turning out better like the hull joints.  Not perfect, but easy to deal with.

Anyway, filling and sanding continues.  Whoo, look at all those misaligned molds - gonna be fun, fun fun!

She may be an old kit but you're making a good show with her G!

Coming along. Misaligned molds make for a bear of a kit.  Looking forward to paint as I'm sure you are.

I wouldn't know a good armor kit from bad at this point. I watch in wonder as you guys take these and make them look real. Looks like you are well on your way on this one.

BK

Still hammering away at the awful fit, but making progress.

The big event last week was the arrival of the metal track set from China.  They look good and match the sprocket teeth.  The coil of steel wire provided to link the tracks is, well steel, so is hard and is of a heavier gauge compared to Friul sets.

I'll source substitute copper or brass wire.

That looks good! The metal tracks look really nice but look a real pain to put together. The only ones I've done are some for a IJA Type 95 and they were a friggin' pain- esp how small they were. These at least are bigger!

Gamera,

Nah they are not so bad.  Like you said, they are large.  The really horrifyingly tedious ones are the kind with separate end connectors plus a middle connector with separate guide tooth, AND individual track pads.

I hear you about teeny tracks like those found on Japanese WW II tanks.  I have a Modelkasten set of plastic tracks for a Type 3 tank, and it is driving me batty.  Gluing the little end pins without cementing the tracks solid is tricky.

I wandered over here from my M110A2 thread. Coincidentally, I was about to ask you about suspension sag. On aircraft models, a lot of times the kit landing gear is molded almost fully extended, and the plane looks weird. Your description and photos are very insightful.

Here's a photo of the one we have. It looks like the effect is even more pronounced since the Detroit engine has been removed.

Hmm... Image problems. Stand by.

PGBolt,

Oh, hey I just had a brain fart.  If you can take photos of the folding bench seat, that would help me rebuild the suppports I destroyed.  I figured Italeri molded the parts for ease of assembly rather than authenticity, so if I have to make new ones, they may as well be more accurate.  TIA

Sure thing. I'll be at the Post Friday night for our Canteen Christmas party. I'll see if the photos come out OK with phone flash. If not, I'll run up there Saturday.

Glad to help.

Hi;

 Have you heard of the German " Dicker Max"? This too is a self propelled gun. This is the only model I put FruilModel tracks on. Boy did it add weight to it. Talk about realistic sag. 

    Putting them together was a challenge, But, when I remembered how " Cat" tracks went together It became easier!

I took photos Saturday, Sunday and Today. Here's the Flickr:

https://www.flickr.com/gp/162361944@N08/46M78J

I learned Sunday that someone from the US Army who's responsible for donated equipment wants us to provide some proof that the spade is secured and won't fall and crush a schoolbus-load of unbaptised babies. I ended up writing a detailed engineering report that concluded that the spade cylinder locks were in the LOCK position, and could not be released from that position. I had excerpts from the TM and 8x10 color GLOSSY photographs with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one, explainin' how they was to be used in a court of law. Whew. Excerpts from the TM and a few photos. Sorry. Went all Arlo there for a second.

Regahhhhhhhhhhhdless, let me know if you want more photos of anything.

Thanks PGBolt!  A lot of information there!

BTW, would it be any safer if the spade were fixed in the lowered position?

BTW, I have made some headway:

Most of the gun parts are now attached.  The hull still needs some rough work, so the delicate stuff stays off for now.

I'll repair the folding bench after all the other stuff is done - it'll just get boken off otherwise!

Sounds pretty typical. BTW, my wife got the Arlo reference immediately!

Looks really good. A little dry-brushing/washes will really make the detail on the gun 'pop'.

Maybe. You'd still have to secure the cylinders somehow. Plus, the shafts would rust and be pretty unsightly. It's fine like this.