Sorry for the delay in an update guys. I normally try and go for once a week. But this build had lots more to do than i had expected. I have also been following a build on Britmodeller and while i am not going to the same lengths to add detail as that guy has, there were a few things i felt realy needed some attention. And just when i thought i was ready, i realised there was somthing else to add.

Anyway, enough of the excuses. After the last update i starte adding the resin. These included new exhausts which i had not realised were in the AA set, but it was easy enought to remove the kit ones. And there was of course more PE to add.

Then it was onto the turret. Lots of PE on here with the handles and mesh for the bins and a few bits of resin.

Remember i said i was going to take a differant approach to painting. Well, scrub that. Some test fitting showed that the wheels and tracks can be fitted after the armour, so i decided to carry on with what i know.

I also added the last details to the lights useing some wire rather than the flat PE parts.

Then it was time to primer. A couple of areas needed a little more filling and sanding.

But there was also a couple of pieces on the turret that i had neglected. Phogto's show tanks carrying water jerry cans in the frame on the rear turret bin, but the kit does not include anything for them to sit on. The build on the other forum gave me the answer to that.

And i also had to add tarps to the side bins. I used white Milliput rolled thin, first time i have done this and it works a treat.

I only just added those so i need to let them dry for a bit. But in the meantime i can the fit the straps and a bit more detail.

I also got the tracks together and coated with NATO black. This Sword tracks are very nice, no flash and the holes are open. The only problem is the wire which is thicker than that used by Fruil and is a real pain to get through the hole. I had to drill most of them out.

And thats all for now. I have a couple of days to myself as the Mrs has had to go north to see family, and i have taken tomorrow off work so i am hopeing i can get a lot done to this.

Sounds good Bish. I've been fooling around with a Trumpeteer T-62 and had the same issue with the skirts. I went ahead and painted them separtly but your way sounds like it would make more sense. 

Thanks for popping in guys. gamera, normally, I assemble everything apart from the whels, tracks and tool and paint then. But with this, I am planning to paint the inside of the add on armour and the lower hull. Then fit the wheels tracks and said armour, mask those off and then paint the rest. We will see how that goes. Tojo, this kit does give you that option, its basically the same kit but with one extra sprue. Seems typical Tamiya, goes together pretty nicely.

Some nice extras that you have will dress it up.I got the desertized version sitting in the stash somewhere.

Very cool Bish, curious about your different approach to painting her and looking forward to it. 

I guess its about time i got an update posted on the Chally. I got started on Thurs but i ended up making a few corrections i had not planned on so tehre not that much done yet.

Despite my background, i don't know all that much about British armour, well, apar from the warrior i should hope. So i am not planning on going all out with accuracy on this, close enough will do. But i have come across a few things on a build on another site recently which won't be to difficult to correct.

First thing i did was prime and paint the rubber on the wheels so they are all ready to have the hubs painted when i get to that. I did some damage to the rubber on the road wheels which i was rather pleased with.

I then got the lower hull done which didn't take to long, after all, its not a Dragon kit is it. After that, i aded the upper hull and have started fiting the smaller pieces. You can see the bits i have had to modify, from what i have read, these areas were those on the prototype not the production vehicles

And that it for now. Going to crack on with the hull before i even think about the turret. I am considering a differant aproach to painting on this, so i will need to get the hull and tracks together first.

Bish

gamera, this one dates from 1992 and the one it is based on didn't have the desert options, that's from 86 so before the Gulf conflict, so I would say it was this kit. that good to hear and of course just what we all expect from Tamiya. Mike, I will try my best. Will make a nice change to do something more modern.

 

It did have the desert optional parts and the Operation Grandby decals so it must have been the same kit. Looking forward to seeing you work your magic on her! I still have mine around somewhere, of course I didn't know anything about shading, colour modulation or anything like that back then so I just painted the whole thing with a single shade of desert tan with rubber tire/tyres and called her done!

gamera, this one dates from 1992 and the one it is based on didn't have the desert options, that's from 86 so before the Gulf conflict, so I would say it was this kit. that good to hear and of course just what we all expect from Tamiya. Mike, I will try my best. Will make a nice change to do something more modern.

I'm pretty sure you are not going to dissappoint anyone, Bish. ;)

Very cool Bish, I built this (might have been an earlier version) about twenty or so years ago. I remember it going together like silk, no real fit issues anywhere. 

I'll try not to disappoint Mike. I am having a night off tonight, just doing the post build bench tidy and spending some TV with the other half before she forgets what I look like. I';ll be making a start tomorrow.

Watching with a lot of interest.  :)