Hi all
Waiting for the decals for my VPC, I decided to start another project.
I wanted something easy and as close as possible to an OOB build.
Academy issued this model in 2014. It includes 2 sprues dated 1991 for the suspension and the running gear and 6 new sprues. It also comes with vynil tracks, a small plate of photoetched parts, a sheet of decals, a length of tread and the instructions.
The detail is quite good but sometimes simplified like for the turret bins locking handles which are molded solid.
There is no clear plastic sheet for the driver vision blocks. And the antislip coating is missing.
The fit is good. However several parts do not have any marks to be positioned. Cleaning the mold lines is mandatory.
The instructions have you deal with the upper then the turret and finally the lower hull.
I have one of these in my stash and thought it looked pretty good. Definitely will need a few adds, anti slip being the main one. I thought about tracks but after examining the vinyl that came with it decided that unless they fit horribly I’d use them. They look quite good and are the correct Batash style for the 2D. Plus over 50% is hidden by skirts
I don’t intend to add any aftermarket items. I’ll fix the main flaws (empty vision blocks, missing antislip) and maybe filling the large turret bustle basket.
After 2 afternoons at the workbench, the turret is pretty close to the end. I still need to assemble the MGs and add a sensor mast at the rear of the roof.
I had to shorten 2 parts so they could fit (the kind of bin in the bustle basket and the connector at the back of the rear left side antenna base).
I thought the kit was quite good, as previously mentioned the tracks are barely seen so I used the kit tracks. I slid slivers of plastic card from underneath to plug the gaps in the sight heads and then painted them black.
I keep peeking in the box of the one I’ve had in the stash for several years now. Once the old hull is brought up to date, it looks like a good build from there.
Nice job. I notice you fixed the way Academy tell you to secure the cables to the turret.
The antislip coating looks excellent.
I can’t see on your pictures where the cables from the 0.50cal MG run into. I guess it is in the angled protected conduit just behind the MG.
Cheers fellas. Yes the MG cables go into the ducting which runs at a roughly 45 degree angle up left from the gun which I drilled out. I found a picture online which showed it. I’d post it but last week my PC decided to die and I lost all of my pictures. Luckily everything important I had backed up to two hard drives. The anti slip is done using Hull Tex, a bit of a learning curve with it but I was very happy with the result. Paint is Vallejo 71.013 Hemp.
I have made some progress with the lower hull and the turret too.
First the turret, I replaced the “hooks” to secure the tow cables with plastic card ones. Like the actual cables, the kit ones will be secured with small chains.
At the rear of the bustle basket I also added 3 hooks to support the cables. Academy list them as unused parts and so they do not appear in the instructions.
The suspension is complete. The next step will be the assembly of the roadwheels. I will use the late type with the holes which are present on the Academy wheels.
The rear panel is quite basic detail wise. The fit of the half doors was a bit tricky.
I still need to fill the holes for the spare track links and make the stowage baskets.
Thank you Johnny.
I have thinned and hollowed the RPG grilles of the rear baskets. I also installed the belly armor. I cut away the lug at the rear used to position the armor because it was still visible.
I have some minor details to add. However I’ll do it after the hull is assembled.
I made a test fit of the vinyle tracks. They are to tight and prevent the sprockets to keep aligned with the roadwheels. So I think I won’t assembled them. Instead I’ll glue them around the sprockets and the idlers and keep a gap hidden by the skirts.
Tedious work session today as I applied the antislip coating. I used some fine sand. However I forgot to use a sieve to keep the finest grains only. So it looks a bit coarse.
I also made the bags for the rear baskets. I simply used some tissue soaked with PVA glue. I still need to add the straps.
Now I need to paint the lower hull and put the tracks on so I can assemble the hull and add the very last details.
