Thanks Ivan @Jacko464 appreciate the support mate…
Dan, it’s an odd feeling, when in the grand scheme of things … … it’s just a drivers hatch … But finding it … Was like a massive weight had been lifted…
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NBC pack now finished. Took a bit longer than expected as the PE was a bit fiddly, although not complex.
Also added the bottom grab rail out of
florist wire
Will continue with rest of turret tomorrow…
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Thanks a bunch John, this is now where my eyes are at…
like I need another dog(!)
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Seriously John, gleaming work Mate, gleaming…
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Looks pretty damn complex to me!
Ken
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Outstanding attention to detail John, that NBC pack is a kit in it’s own right, simply brilliant mate, 
.
G, 
.
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Cheers mate, once I get it primed, the PE detail should show a bit better
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I sometimes go on about how some PE is no better than kit parts for various reasons and sometimes a piece of PE can be used with the kit part to enhance it…
So I thought I’d do a quick side by side comparison with the D10 reel and one of the spare Smoke grenade boxes.
The D10 is a straight kit v PE and the grenade box is how the under detailed kit part can be enhanced by some of the PE bits …
D10 reel.
The kit part is pretty good. It has the deep lip/edge on the outer side of the reel, and the inner raised portions are clearly defined with good proportions.
Compared to the PE offering which is basically flat with no real definition or height , and absolutely no lip/edge which is very obvious…
And side by side …
The PE one is possibly a bit narrow as I didn’t bother to measure the inner drum… But it’s clear to see the lack of edge or the detail on the outer side of the reel wall compared to the kit one.
Kit part is the winner.
Smoke grenade box …
The kit offering…
Details are minimal… And that’s being kind …
The PE offering is ok, but to my eye it is slightly to big.
After some very simple additions of the PE hinges, locks and the folding upper panel (cut from the PE box) they have really changed the look…
Thoughts ?
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Absolutely agree with you John. PE has a place and a function but it’s not always the best medium to represent every shape. It’s perfect for intricate detail that is beyond the technology of injection molding, but styrene still wins out for three dimensional objects. Of course, there are the motivations of the PE manufacturer to consider. To create a set that has perceived value to the consumer, they have to produce what appears to be a comprehensive set. This objective is more and more difficult today as modern modelers become more demanding and model manufacturers include basic PE in the model box. So the PE company has to provide a large PE fret for the price. That means including as many replacement parts as possible, including many that are in fact worse in representation than the kit parts. But it makes a bigger PE set, making it more attractive to the modeler. Then when the modeler gets it home and compares the PE parts to the kit parts, the PE set becomes a lesser value. Indeed, even expert modelers will tell you that they normally will use 40% of a PE set.
Then there’s Aber, who I am convinced design their PE frets at 100X magnification, filling every available space on the fret with the tiniest most useless conceivable part, just so that when they reduce it back to 1:1 scale it is humanly impossible to use an entire Aber PE set, no matter what your skill level or tools owned.
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True. I look at some of the insanely small bits, that they tell are workable, and indeed they probably are if you have fingers 3mm in diameter…and when it’s blown up in the instructions at x5 the real size and you say “that looks doable” then reality sets in and it takes an hour to find a part on the fret that is 2mm wide and needs 5 bends or angles putting into it 
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Just to prove I am still hard at it …
Turret side baskets on, less internal PE and smoke grenade boxes… baskets bins are made, just need fixing on. NBC pack is also now on…
Will put the very small PE like handles for the battery compartment cover and turret tie down loops and cupola wipers on once the turret is finished of all major parts.
TOGs boxes next.
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Massive progress John when we get to see all the intricate bits come together into a whole. The turret looks phenomenal!
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Cheers mate … its starting to look like a Chieftain now
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Some of those parts are tiny, my hat’s off to you John for your attention to detail and craftsmanship, a truly phenomenal build thus far mate, .
G, .
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Cheers mate… Much appreciated
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TOGs barbettes are built up.
Nice and straightforward … carved away a few areas for PE replacement parts which were better detailed and added some white plastic cut to shape.
Rear barbette. Added the lifting lug to the top and the white strips as the 1 to 1 has a slight lip in those areas. Still need to add the fan mesh screen to the rear.
Front section. Again, another lifting lug and added a white plastic square to the front of the access cover and drilled a padlock hole in it. The part behind was drilled through for the spring loaded securing pin shaft to sit in. The handle would flip over the blocks and then you could secure the cover and padlock it shut …
You can just about see the padlock hole… Drilled out with .3mm bit.
And both dry fitted.
Still needs the armoured plate fitting that sits between the barbettes and the turret roof edge… Will use the PE part for that and get it all mounted tomorrow night.
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Your ‘intimacy’ with the subject is really showing through John, many of us wouldn’t know about all these extra little bits and would build straight OOB…least that would apply to me, 
…and it’s that detail you’re adding that will lift this build way above average, .
G, .
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Oh John, I do enjoy your builds, possibly as they serve as therapy for me and my AMS .
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Wasn’t aware of it ,might have to have a look mate.
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Thanks G and Russ @rfbaer … Always nice to find you checking in…
TOGs barbettes are now secured on, and PE in place, and the inner side basket PE is fitted.
Added MENG washers and nuts but they looked a bit to big, so cut off the nut head and they look ok now.
Top view of turret.
And basket mesh.
Still need to fix in one grenade box to the RH basket.
Will try and get the cupola finished tomorrow.
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