Different in that it's not based on anything US, but same since it's IDF, so almost something different for me. It's this kit:
IMG_4001 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
I bought it last winter in KC and have kind of been anxious to get into it. I also bought San Xin tracks and a DEF Models canvas covered mantlet, so last week I jumped in. First thing, AM (Amusing Hobby) doesn't do the reinforcing ribs on the inside of the road wheel rims. I tried doing one myself and it came out okay, but then I remembered the Takom Chieftain Marksman kit I bought a while ago just for the turret. It was a lot easier to use the Takom wheels, so I did, leaving the one AM wheel on because I seem to have lost one of the Takom wheels. I give up.
After that it's just a matter of assembly, the hull going together nicely including the included 3D printed glacis armor. I just added welds from stretched sprue.
IMG_4012 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
I boxed in the driver's area so I could add a fig later. Then on to the turret. There was a slight fit difference between the top and sides, no biggie to fix. I did have to re-texture after though. Storage bins and turret have had all the tie down loops replaced with wire and I still need to add the weld bead around the turret's top. The DEF mantlet cover fit, sort of, but since I think it was designed for the AFV Club kit, I'm happy.
IMG_4016 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_4015 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
The kit comes with a three piece gun tube which works fine. It's kind of neat to be doing something so nearly out of the box for a change but I'm a little wigged out by how fast it's coming together. I get about an hour and a half to two hours at the bench, four times a week maybe, so compared to my usual builds, this thing is flying together all by itself. Even the tracks went together quickly, very nicely cast, polished so no flash, with pre-cut brass pins. I had two runs of 102 links each done in under an hour.