You are off to a great start so far! Good thinking to use the Tamiya running gear to replace the older Italeri parts. This should be a fun one to watch...

Very cool, kudos! 

Thanks gents. DEF Model kit just arrived, whoopie!

Nice start, will be following along on this.

I generally enjoy Italeri kits even if they aren't top-of-the-line these days. Look forward to your build

Looking great so far.  This is Italeri's best kit, hands down.  I found the kit roadwheels to be pretty nice on it though.  Looking forward to seeing how it comes out w/the DEF Models set.

Thanks guys.

Eric, I used to build the Italeri once a year, way back when. It's kind of a trip down memory lane, which I'll have a couple of pics up of shortly......

Here we go:

Lots of fit small fit issues aroung therear of the hull, luckily (?) I'll be using the DEF tail lights so I was able to get some filler in the gaps inside the brush guards. Rather than using the DEF etch light guards, I just thinned the kit's plastic parts.

Sorry to have dropped this like a hot rock, we moved in June, had to pack the stash in April, and I'm just now getting un-packed. Hope to get back in the swing of things soon and pick this one back up.

I had wondered where this went.
I'll be watching.

                                   

Hi Russ,welcome back aboard,will be checking in on this.

Good to see you back.

Bish

Good to see you back.

 

Happy here too to see you pick this back up. I'd completly forgetten about you starting this.

HeavyArty

Looking great so far.  This is Italeri's best kit, hands down.  I found the kit roadwheels to be pretty nice on it though.  Looking forward to seeing how it comes out w/the DEF Models set.

 

Moveing is always so much fun. I and't wait to see how this comes out.

Robert

My how time flies....  After settling into the new digs, I bench this one becasue I didn't feel like messing with the kits tracks, typical Italeri: so stiff they are near to impossible to use without breaking the suspension.

Until today, when I had a flash: I had stashed a set of Dragon DS tracks from their Orange Box M46 that I had started for another project and changed directions with, why not give them a whirl? And they're the metal chevron, very good for what this model may end up as. Anyway, it's back on the bench.

IMG_0551 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_0552 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Ohhhhhhhh, looks good to me! 

I'm really, really liking that! Nice work with those tracks! :)

Nice to see it back RB, looking good.

Thanks gents. I have the DEF Model update/detail set for this one, looking forward to using it. It includes a new mantlet with cover, very nice stuff.

I love DEF Models stuff. I've got a whole load of it in reserve for Patton projects. 

I am looking forward to seeing the next round of progress. :)

Small progress, getting into the DEF stuff. I'm passing on most of the PE, it's just too tiny for my fat hands. I will however use as much of the resin as possible and applicable, as it's lovely.

I've added a few hull bits, done some stippling as Italeri has molded the hull (and turret) perfectly smooth, and begun the turret assembly, using the DEF mantlet cover. The turret halves' seams will require lots of putty to fix, and then the mold parting line will have to be added, no biggie.

IMG_0555 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_0554 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_0553 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

More soon, I hope.

Looking real good!!! The added texture is well done. And that mantlet cover looks to be a much simpler option than scratching one up.

What scheme and markings are you planning for this build? 

Thanks Carlos. It'll probably be Korean, thinking about the camo now. I have some thoughts on doing it very dirty, as I will have to do the different colors with a brush and the scheme is definitely what one would call "soft edge". The other, more workable option is Jordanian, since the camo is green over tan and hard edged. I just need to find some more pics of Jordanian tanks with the front fenders cut back like the Koreans did, hopefully soon as it's moving along nicely. Pics soon.

I look forward to what you're gonna do next. Its looking great so far.

Thanks.

I had a day off yesterday, and hit to bench for some 70's style Italeri fun. Turret condtruction is moving along, texturing started, and some more hull work, including the PE tool rack. I have to say the Italeri storage box handles are pretty good. I have some resin bits in the stash, but decided to use the kit parts here. I've also cut and thinned the front fenders, comitted here. Rear fender edges will be thinned also. I used the kit mufflers, heavily textured, along with the DEF inlets and outlets, much easier than trying to use the very nice but incredibly fragile DEF PE muffler mounts and shields along with the resin DEF mufflers.

IMG_0559 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_0558 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_0556 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I'm off again Tuesday, hope to get some more done then.

Great texturing on the turret! What did you use there?

Thanks, it's my favorite, MrSurfacer 500. I will smooth it a bit as it's too rough is it is now. I'm thinking it's time to do the headlight clusters and guards next, gonna have to use the etch parts as the kit parts were broken. Apparently my kit got some rough treatment: lots of small bits are broken on the sprue, oh joy.