That reminds me, there was some sort of gyroscope on the top of the turret on the MBT 70/Kpz 70.
How it all worked, I have no idea.
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Right, just about all modifications made - crew still being worked on - but nearly time to get some primer on the turret:
God, it is a strange looking beast!
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It looks like somebody grafted the back end of an M-48 to a Leopard 9 turret then sat that upon a 1/48 scale Russian tank with M-60 tracks.
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More or less straight out of “Thunderbirds Are Go!” I thought.
Still, that’s Think Tanks for you c.1956.
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It definitly cries for an “exotic” paint scheme. Digital maybe?
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It sort of does - otherwise it’s going to look a bit bland; however, I’ve set it in 1959. I know it’s technically a What-If but I’m afraid good old OD Tamiya XF-74 (JGSDF Olive Drab) which is about right for the time frame I believe. I say “bland” but we’re talking huge white stars here plus some colourful numerals.
Later iterations - not that I’m going to tackle any whatsoever - could be Bundeswehr Brown (Gelboliv), MASSTER, even MERDC say - with different searchlights, smoke projectors, and say, a 105mm main armament - but that’s for other modellers, not this Call Sign!
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Got to have oil and water cans for a US vehicle!
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Ah, but by being forward next to the gun, it will reduce light scatter amongst the other optics further back, not least when using the Gunner’s sight.
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Definitely not in 1959.
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I also noticed - just in time - that I had not added liners to the hatches, so I’ve now added some plastic card to try and replicate some sort of padding and handle/strap:
I’ve also added model railway flock to the underside of the turret, as sans any trackguards, the thing would have gotten filthy I’m sure:
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Slight delay in progress as my wife had a couple of days off and we had to “do something”; so we did. Despite the freezing rain and howling gale we visited a beach on Thursday (soaked but slightly restored after a pub lunch in the New Forest) and yesterday, despite living near Stonehenge, whereby one might just think we had had more than enough of Neolithic stones, we travelled the short distance to Avebury, purportedly the largest stone circle in the UK (possibly the world – I’m no Neolithic Ninja – there’s a term you won’t hear much):
I hadn’t been for some years but it reminded me how impressive it all was:
More rain and gales, but again, redeemed by a decent pub lunch:
Despite the domestic distractions, I did manage to get the turret in primer; more pics to follow.
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Right, normal service resumed; the turret in primer (I prised off the machine gun barrels which I’d foolishly glued in earlier - I need to paint them separately):
The chassis component - in its base colour but now needs the details painting:
Lastly, accessories and crew:
Still a bit of work to do.
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Now we’re talking!
It took a little bit more paint than I’d planned for and infuriatingly, I found out I’d run out (Tamiya XF-74) so a trip to my local model shop is required, but that’ll wait for tomorrow.
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This is a great thread about a very odd vehicle. I must admit I am quite enthralled with your build, axles issues and all other associated quirks aside.
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Well, thanks for the interest Doug, that’s very kind.
I don’t normally dabble in What-Iffery (although I did cut my teeth on a Soviet T-74/Object 450 a little while ago); I do quite enjoy the challenge of envisaging a prototype and devising what might just have been fitted or added. As I’ve acknowledged though, sometimes I overthink things, but I’ve fought my way through that and the home straight beckons. 'Still got the figures to finish though - always an essential I feel - but they do take time.
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Its built up really well Brian. It really sings out to me as 50’s/60’s SciFi even from other worldly realms … trundling across a barren moonscape.
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Thanks John; as I mentioned earlier, sort of straight from Gerry Anderson’s Thunderbirds I think! It’s going to look a bit surreal just motoring down a German road, but I think that’s the best way ahead - as I said - trying to make the abnormal look normal.
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If I’m honest, it looks a lot better without its tracks, as a kind of 1950s spaceship or even submarine, than it does on them 
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