Good work .I’ve been building this kit, it’s a dog but strangely satisfying.Thanks for the tip regarding photo etch.
I was lucky to get someones spare tracks so won’t have to deal with those hideous rubber ones.Who knows , I might even get it finished ….eventually .
The contructionfase is pretty much done now.
All the useable PE is added. The brushguard for the lamps in the kit is all but useless/incomplete. Not that that mattered to me, since I had to scratchbuild all the lights, mounts and guards anyway! This was horribly fiddly and timeconsuming. I also added the handles and locks to the hatches .
This thing keeps fighting me!
First, the fit of the hull upper and lower…. which is nonexistent. I had to farce it into place, using a lot of clamps. And putty to fill up the ginormous gaps… in places that make sanding a real PITA.
Then the camouflage colours. I opted for Tamiya’s flat earth and deck tan. Turned out both are too dark, especially the flat earth. I had this colour in my head somehow and did not check references prior to swinging the airbrush.
So first a lot of masking. Then spraying…. then discovering my error…. then a lot of masking again, respraying the flat earth with buff. Removing the tape…. and PE parts.
Then adding the tracks…. and both idlers just broke off…
And I haven’t even mentioned the ZU-gun and how fiddly it is with matching unclear instructions.
For now, I am done with this one…. I need something simpler and more compliant.
Firecrackers can make any model more “compliant!”
Seriously, you have done an amazing job on this! So take a break, and then come back to it later and things will seem much better.
Ken
Skif, Skif, Skif…these kits even give Steve Zaloga the fits. You’ve fought the good fight Ron, going above and beyond simple assembly. Don’t feel bad - I touched one Skif kit and never again. Go build a nice Tamiya, Meng, RFM, or Takom kit and save spending money on therapy.
