Oh! I can't imagine it will take too much to detail that. Since most of it will be hidden.

Another attention grabber, Carlos. You got me.

Welcome aboard Mike! The kit is molded so that the side engine deck grilles can be positioned open, but not the center grills over the cooling fans. So obviously I need to concentrate my efforts there. 

Neat! I had that kit waaaaaay back in the '80s. Remember I made a mess of mine. Looking forward to seeing you work your magic on her. 

I am really looking forward to this build!  I have the Testors version that I found on eBay for $3.00 in which all the parts had been removed from the sprues.  I will follow your build intensely!

Bill

That’s $3 well spent Bill. But I can’t imagine all of the parts being taken off the sprues. There some tiny handles and other such fittings. Not to mention similar looking parts on the suspension. YIKES!

Thanks for following, but just be forewarned that I will be deviating from the kit instructions on the turret to backdate this to an earlier production model using parts from my spares collection.

Carlos,

That is precisely what I am hoping to see!

Bill

Allright then Bill, I hope that you enjoy this project.

Today’s update: I finished steps 3 & 4, adding the shocks, road wheels, and return rollers to the suspension.

Next session will be where I start dealing with the upper hull and upgrading tne engine compartment.

Looking good Stik. 

Thank you Grey. I’m off to a good start here.

Carlos,

Nice start . . . By the way, shortly after purchasing my kit, I was able to verify that all parts are present, and I put each part in very small zip lock bags with the part number written on the bag.  So, there is some organization.

Bill

Nice, all that running gear is probably the most tedious part of the model. Good to see you've got that behind you. 

Your last Patton tank was impressive stik! Can't wait to see how this build turns out.

Carlos,

I missed your previous Pattons.  I will search for them. I'll bet they were great!

Bill

Bill, I can just picture such madness with all the parts cut off the sprues. Who does things like that? The potential for parts mix up is big! I’m glad to hear that you have some organization to the mess.

Gamera, yeah, the running gear is a bit tedious, but not too bad on this beastie. And pretty familiar i might add, after building multiple M60s, M48s, and M26s for years and years. The M46 that I built last year was just a refresher.

John, I’m glad that you liked the last Patton build and I hope that you like this one also! At least this time I’m doing my research before I get to the steps where I need it! Lol!

So today was spent doing steps 5, 6, & 7. Although step 6, adding parts to the underside of the upper hull, and 7, finishing the fender items and attaching the engine and upper hull to the lower hull, I only did partially due to my choice to upgrade the engine compartment.

I am also backdating the kit to an early production model, so I had to swap out the driver and assistant driver hatches periscope brush guards for the older type used, rather than what comes with the kit. Fortunately I have some in my spares bin.

and lastly I started detailing the engine part that comes with the kit. I only did the transmission section today.

And this is what you can see thru the open grilles

More to come in a few days...

Looks like your headed in the right direction as the detail you added in the engine bay look really nice so far.

I see that you added all of the roadwheerls before painting the rubber. I see other people paint them prior to assembly. In your opinion, which is better and why, or is it depending on the model?

Also, thanks for sharing the build with all of us....

Ben

Thanks Ben. These roadwheels rotate on their axles, so painting the tires will not be a problem before I add the tracks.

As far as painting the road wheels before or after installation goes, that depends upon the model and on what my finishing look will be.

Looking good Stik. I recall seeing you post something about a mechanic figure in the latest acquisitions thread. Are you gonna do a maintence scene for this build?

Keyserj

Looking good Stik. I recall seeing you post something about a mechanic figure in the latest acquisitions thread. Are you gonna do a maintence scene for this build?

 

John, that’s kinda what I had in mind. Have that figure kneeling on the engine deck by the open grilles looking in. A simple base to look like a motor pool hardstand. 

Easily one of my favorite kits from my college years. Who loved the Testors yellow boxed kits like I did? Those instructions with history and detailing guide were the best!

I did get the Takom one.

Yup, those yellow box Testors kits are great. Good decals, good clear instructions, and usually a nice kit at the end of the build. I can see why you like this one Rob, it’s a fine kit.

stikpusher

Yup, those yellow box Testors kits are great. Good decals, good clear instructions, and usually a nice kit at the end of the build. I can see why you like this one Rob, it’s a fine kit.

This kit (1978) and Italeri's Leopard 1A4 (1977) are thought of as two of their best armor kits and each is still a respectable build 45 years later. And have only been surpassed in recent years.

Stik the wires and hoses really add some zest here. I bet It'll gives it a really nice 3 dimensional effect too through those engine grates.  

That is really looking good stik. These older Testors kits are nice. I have a couple from the 80s in the yellow and black box and are very nicely detailed. I like what you did with the electrical wiring details.

It's interesting . . . Italeri 1/35 armor kits are generally maligned but the old Testor's kits were "nice kits" or "great".  They are one and the same, except for those kits that Italeri have redesigned or retooled.  I love them.

Rob, the Italeri Leopard kits are still considered by leopardclub.ca as being among the best on the market, with disappointing reviews of the newer Meng and Hobby Boss offerings. I just finished their Leopard 1A2 kit and am  very satisfied.  There are minor detail problems as with any kit, but it built into a very respectable A2.

Bill

Chad and Steve, thank you. I figure two more bench sessions on upgrading and plumbing the engine compartment, then a paint session, and it’ll be all ready to install and close up.

Bill I agree. I love the old Italeri armor kits, and their Testors boxing’s. I’ve always had good results with them. 

plasticjunkie

That is really looking good stik. These older Testors kits are nice. I have a couple from the 80s in the yellow and black box and are very nicely detailed. I like what you did with the electrical wiring details.

warshipguy

It's interesting . . . Italeri 1/35 armor kits are generally maligned but the old Testor's kits were "nice kits" or "great".  They are one and the same, except for those kits that Italeri have redesigned or retooled.  I love them.

Rob, the Italeri Leopard kits are still considered by leopardclub.ca as being among the best on the market, with disappointing reviews of the newer Meng and Hobby Boss offerings. I just finished their Leopard 1A2 kit and am  very satisfied.  There are minor detail problems as with any kit, but it built into a very respectable A2.

Bill

It is virtually impossible to classify Testors yellow box kits as "all nice" or "all bad" since they were all reboxes of other companies' kits. Their armor kits could be Peerless Max from the 50s or Italeri kits from the 70s & 80s. There were even some Fujimi car and plane kits I believe.

The Peerless Max armor kits were okay, just old. They included the M3 White Scout Car, the WC Dodge series kits, GMC 6x6s, Chevrolet tractors and the 105 mm howitzer.

The original Italeri kits like the Leopard, M24, M47, Willys Jeep, Puma, Crusader, etc. were not bad for the time.

Yeah I really like the added plumbing in the engine compartment. 

Think I've said it before- my first 1/35th kit was the Testor's yellow and black box Panzer IV F/G. Waaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyy back in the dawn ages when I had much more hair but no internet... 

Guess I'll have to put my two cents in on the yellow Testors boxes as well. They were some of my favorite kits through the 90's. My most memorable being both 1/72 scale kits of the Stuka and a Spitfire Vb with the clipped wingtips.

I also have a fond memory of the 1/48 Gee Bee racer that I desperately wanted to paint in yellow and black like the one from the movie "The Rocketeer". Unfortunately I never could get a good finish with gloss yellow Testors enamel and a hairy stick, lol.

****

I love what you've done with the plumbing! I'm eager to see it painted.