I have found the plastic to be mostly hard. The tub was a one piece affair and the top of the hull was a single piece so two pieces gets you the basic hull. Very unexpected and appreciated.
Hope that helps.
Nice work!
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I am in with a mini art base to use with a diorama.
Here’s the 3Ton service crane … yay !!!
Finally got it yesterday, and will open it up tonight once I get off this duty and see what the contents are like 
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@Tank_1812, Ryan, are you still doing the Service crane ? if so, are doing it a chain or cable as I have seen pics of both ??
Yes I still plan to build it @Johnnych01. No, I have thought about which one. As you will probably compete it faster then I, probably do the opposite of yours as either version sounds cool to me.
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Any idea which way your leaning, chain or cable?
I haven’t seen what the chain is like yet, but i was leaning towards the chain anyway. The only thing I was worried about was painting it and its finish as it would have to be paint as I dont have any chemicals / means to age it … will say chain unless it looks to chunky when I see it later
That’s cool. I have cable and blackening liquid so I am good either way.
What color are you thinking? I am thinking panzer grey as it was repurposed German crane and do give some color to the 4BO body.
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For the crane body I am going for a dirty red primer finish with a very heavy filthy dirty workshop look … something that was dragged out of a French garage ( I read quite a lot were exported to France pre war) and then hitched onto the back of the Maultier by a Pzr Div workshops unit and then used constantly.
That sounds great.
The overall plan will be for the Maultier & crane to be lifting the back end of a Kubel to get both back wheels changed at once, which will be positioned on a Miniart building dio base (yet to be picked or ordered) and to have at least one or 2 figures (possibly Miniart as well) working on the vehicle with a good spread of workshop type tools and equipment laying around.
I haven’t worked out a good diorama idea I like. I hope to have the T-80 and Zis-5V truck. I have a few Miniart figures I can use. Maybe pulling track back on the side of a road or track replacement.
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Track pulling or keeping it taught would work … I wonder how much a T80’s turret weighs ? Maybe prepping for a field turret lift ? or taking the engine out ? Im not sure how detailed the T80 is ??
It’s a light tank, wiki says 9 tons. A turret lift might work but not sure the truck would be tall enough. The kit has no interior and to far along to scratch something inside.
Tracks it is then
The pain of track life no one talks about. Now the search for how the Russians or T-70/80 did track changes during WW2.
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I used to dread changing my Chieftain or Chally Tracks … and the Sprocket rings … so many tears and crushed fingers … and strained backs lol
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Finally… Some Miniart work done.
First thing, @Tank_1812, Ryan, when you get onto your crane, be ultra careful when removing ALL the parts from the sprue, it’s very soft and fragile, especially the parts for the frame… I ended up using a new very sharp blade on mine.
Now the bits.
Instructions are on the back of box and easy to follow, although towards the end it does direct you to put one of the arms onto the wrong location so be aware of that. Just check the box art.
The sprue is nice and clean, parts have no flash or marks that I could see that need sanding or filling etc. And everything is on one sprue.
You get one small PE fret with mainly support bars and a manufacturer’s plaque in it. It is also protected by a clear adhesive panel on both sides. The chain comes in its own little sealed bag, and it actually looks nicely aged and not bright so it doesn’t need any type of chemical ageing in my opinion.
On cutting away the frame I was initially a bit worried as the plastic is quite soft and pretty fragile and bends easily, so great care needs to be taken on its removal. I ended up cutting very near the sprue to avoid damage to the part then trimming away the excess.
Basic frame assembly was actually a bit fiddly, probably more to do with me than the kit.
Basic lower frame body assembly done.
And the last pic shows a rough fit on the turntable on the cargo bed of the Maultier.
First impressions are good and it has some nice crisp details.
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You got this yesterday and you are already assembling? I’m jealous…
It looks cool. I’m glad mini-art makes all this interesting stuff.