Here's a T-62 that was caprtured by the IDF in Yom Kippur....Syrian I believe. Just for some reference. I trained on this (familiarization) back in '77 in Germany.

Rbaer:  WOW, I can't even see the original kit under all those AM goodies and scratchwork! I always love to see the results after the paint starts flyin', any idea when that'll be happening?  

She looks awesome!

Question: What's the reason for the green painting in the engine compartment?  I forget the name of the finish the airplanes use (the bright green..aluminum chromate?) It looks like that.  

Oh my god but you're a glutton for punishment, lol! Boy this old bomb has wrinkles on her, she's so old! 

I have learned to be dubious too about "correct" turrets. Usually you can't see much of anything worth complaining about, like that alleged "non-symmetrical" Tiger turret controversy years ago. But you might as well smoke it if you got it. I'm sure you'll knock this ol' bag out of the park nonetheless! 

Where has my life gone? Two months with no modeling....   Good news, now that I've cleaned up my cave, I actually have room to work on a model (relatively speaking: my cave is small) and so I took a look at this thing. Two things occurred to me: 1) I didn't like all the engine hatches being open, and could find pics of T-62s operating with only the one fan cover open, so I close the others, and 2) It wouldn't take that much to finish this thing. Hmmm.....

No worries. Get back to it later when you feel like it. There's nothing wrong with that lol. My Bf-109 is still waiting for me to get back to her lol.

Oh, man, I got noooo time......

I did move this out of the way yesterday morning, first time I've touched it in a while. I think I'm a tad burnt out on it.

...Goooooooooood. lol

Give in to the build-side.

You're fearless, Russ! I like it. More than I would do for an old turkey like this kit, but I know you're going to knock it out of the park!

That is looking fan-freakin-tastic. Getting the tracks mounted is one of my favorite steps. :)

This is wher I start to feel good: Tracks are fitted, easily removable for further work (of which there's a LOT) and I've started to add bits and doohichies to the turret. The shell ejection door needed some detail, done with plastic stock. Next will be more turret bits, I think, as I'm notreal anxious to do the fuel cell plumbing yet. We'll see.....   anyway, pics:

Mike, ya never know.....

Thanks Cliff. Yup, it's been an on and off thing here, and I'm going to be wandering about in the woods with a bunch of people for the next few days,so it's on hold again. At least I got the tracks resolved.

Very cool, good to see you back underway with her! 

Enough for another tank, you say? I wonder what you can come up with next??  :)

Mike, Pawel, thanks.

I like Friuls.

Usually.

I have to say that once I spent about three hours drilling all these links, I had two runs of 80 links together in under one hour, and several more 10-link segments as well. I'm going to check when I get a chance, but I think that when I get this one all done and count the left-over links from it and the last two that used the same tracks, both T-55s, I may have enough for a whole tank. Hmmm.....

Oh this is coming together nicely, Baer. Its a good feeling when the parts start looking like they belong on the model. Once again, excellent work with the details. Good luck (though you don't need it lol) with those tracks.

Oh yeah, I had my adventure with the tracks just yesterday (the CEV!). But isn't it a good feeling, when they are finally on? Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

I'm in my happy place.

Friuls are almost all drilled, but I ahd some time Friday night and decided to actually work on the model instead of the mind-numbing tracks.

Engine deck is done, using parts from the two Eduard etch sets, Verlinden resin and a bit of the Verlinden etch as well. I also added some bolt heads to the drive sprockets.

Something I should do: Make sure the tracks I'm planning to use on a build fit the sprockets I'm using before I assemble the tracks. I decided to use some Spade Ace tracks on this, got them assembled and went to test fit them on the Tamiya sprockets and had a "moment". They're too narrow by at least 1mm. Oh joy. So my choices are two: 1) Find some Trump T-62 sprockets for the OmSh track, or 2) Assemble the Friuls I was originally planning on using but didn't because the set I have will require drilling all the holes in every link.

I can hardly wait.

Da pic:

That's on the list, also copper wire.

I've got a local show this weekend, need to get a couple of others buttoned up, so the T62 is on hold for a few days.

You can do it!

Try using thin solder.

Stick, thanks. I've done it once before and it wasn't a whole lot of fun.

Cliff, I think I'm genetically predisposed to jack with everything. I've tried OOB and get the cold shakes as soon as I start.

Wow, that's some cool aftermarket goodies! I know what you mean about stuff not fitting though, one of the main reasons I mostly go with outta-the-box builds.

RBaer

Oh yeah, I can't wait.....

 

word of advice... best added before gluing the fuel cells in place. Don't ask how I know this... 

Oh yeah, I can't wait.....

fuel cell plumbing... oh the fun...  Seriously though, this really looks great!

I just can't build OOB, no matter how hard I try.

One day, maybe.

So, some fenders:

The red arrow in the first pic points to the engine exhaust pipes in the Verlinden drop-in, and you can clearly see they don't line up with the actual exhaust outlet. No problem here since I'm building this one with the engine cover closed.

Not to mention that this is not straight OOB. There is some serious surgery going on to fit all these add on parts... Definitely not shake & bake!

I can see this is going to be another one of your stunning builds. I'm starting to wonder how you power through all of these builds. So far I estimate you build 3 tanks to every one of mine, and your details are better lol.

Dangit lol.