Back for an update. The lower hull is now completed and I am ready to work on the mine plow for the next phase.

I am afraid that I have been bit by the pe bug.  Next thing I know, I will be spending more money on aftermarket parts than the kit itself.

The mine plow itself is now mostly completed. All that is left to do on it is the mount for mounting to the Stryker. 

I do have one quick question, what should I use to cut the excess chain length on the end?

I don't think the ESV should have any extra chain hanging off the end - but I also think you might have your chain on too tightly - all the pictures I see have it draped fairly loosely from each of the springs.  My suggestion is to loosen it a bit so the excess disappears on it's own.

That looks good! You're making great progress on her. 

Can you cut the excess chain off with a pair of wire cutters? 

LonCray

I don't think the ESV should have any extra chain hanging off the end - but I also think you might have your chain on too tightly - all the pictures I see have it draped fairly loosely from each of the springs.  My suggestion is to loosen it a bit so the excess disappears on it's own.

 

Gamera:  Do you have two accounts now? All the wire cutters I have would be to big. I will just have to invest in a small pair from the hardware store.

I can't get into my old account. So I after three weeks and four emails to tech support with no luck I just created a new one. 

It's friggin' annoying since I can't edit anything in my GB stuff now... 

I had a pretty productive weekend. The rest of the mine plow is complete and is now dry fit onto the Stryker. The plow can freely raise and lower and can be taken apart for painting by removing the pins that hold the mount together.

Haven't had to much time at the bench now that school back in session but I do have a little progress to show. The rear has now been assembled and is attached to the lower hull. With this being my first modern armor build, I also thought I would try doing an anti slip coat.

The anti slip coating is made with Testors tube cement that was stippled with a cotton swab. Enjoy and please tell me what you think of it.

Oh cool, love the plow and the PE fenders. Sorry, don't know enough about the anti-slip coating to comment on how accurate it looks. 

Thanks Gamera.

Not to much progress on the build lately but I did start scratch building some slat armor. Still have quite a ways to go but it is a start.

Oh gosh that slant armour looks like a royal pain. But your results look fantastic- you're doing a great job on it! 

Thanks for your compliments gamera. Cutting styrene gets pretty tedious but the end result will defenitly be worth it.

I did have a big screw up yesterday. I was soaking the chains for the mine plow in some vinegar to blacken them but, I lost track of time and left them in for too long. Now the chain is in pieces and I will have to order some.  

Keyserj

Thanks for your compliments gamera. Cutting styrene gets pretty tedious but the end result will defenitly be worth it.

 

I did have a big screw up yesterday. I was soaking the chains for the mine plow in some vinegar to blacken them but, I lost track of time and left them in for too long. Now the chain is in pieces and I will have to order some.  

 

Yikes!!! 

I almost bought the mine roller version. Overall, I am really liking this kit and will probably build some of the other variants when I get my hands on them.

I now have completed the slat armor for the right side of the hull and was able to dry fit to make sure everything fits right. Got a bit of the slat armor for the rear door and left side of the hull started but they are still a ways off from being completed.

Oh wow those slats are amazing!

Those would have driven me to drink...  

The past month was very hectic with covid related issues but I was finally able to get some bench time in this week. Basic construction on the stryker is just about done with it only needing some work done on the headlights and front bumper. With the weather starting to turn cold, it is looking like I won't get any paint on it until things warm up in the spring. Until then, I have plenty of time to work on the front and finish the remaining slat armor.

Oh wow, love the plow! Looking forward to seeing her construction all finished up and ready for paint.  

Thanks Gam. The plow is the main reason I picked this kit up. It is held together by pins so that you can raise and lower the plow.

Got her painted up and applied decals. The color is a little darker than I wanted but some weathering should lighten the it up a bit.

Finally finished the slat armor up this weekend. Very pleased with how it turned out.

Getting close to finishing everything up. All it needs is a flat coat and some stowage

The chalk pastel weathering all but disappeared after a clear coat was applied so I dusted the model with some sand color spray paint.

With the model itself now finished, I picked up the meng ordinance disposal figure set for a small roadside ied clearance diorama.

Time to call it done and just in time for display at the local fair's model contest. Overall really impressed with the detail this kit and the meng figures I added had. 

Brilliant.