SaintsPhil

This is looking really good, I've book marked this to shamelessly copy your detail work (attempt to at least) when I build mine!

Time for another update I decided to paint the lower hull and tracks with the base colour, as I thought this might be easier now rather than later. I have fitted the tracks too but neglected to take a picture! The sand colour is the Mig British desert sand as per the link in the first post. I think the colour is pretty close and it sprayed ok. I only say ok as my AB was playing up, I think I have a split nozzle! I have since fitted the tracks as well. I painted them first with black primer, Mig again, then with a mix of tamiya metalics to give a steel colour, I will paint the rubber pads later (I'm lazy and will have to paint fewer when the tracks are fitted!). When I test fitted the tracks the lugs perfectly fitted into the holes, so I thought joining the tracks would be simple...now the paint has closed the holes up they no longer fit!! In the end I cut off the lugs and glued the tracks with rapid Araldite, the only glue I've found that will stick the vynil tracks. In between painting it has been a mammoth etch session. I do like the detail you get with etch but it's a pain to fit sometimes, plus I really don't like superglue!! What you see I'd most of the first Eduard set, I still have the second set of grills and the mesh storage rack for the top of the turret to go! Kevdan, thanks for the tip about the convoy light I now know what you mean! To balance the PE I have some resin to use! My Accurate Armour order arrived Saturday, but I'm yet to fully look over it all so I'll save that for the next update. One other part that did arrive was the Live-Resin GPMG. It's a real beaut, better than my camera skills show it off!! I ordered direct from russian and got 3 off guns for just over £10 posted, they arrived in just over a week. Impressive service! That's it for now, comments very welcome! Phil

I think not, the FL had the broad cord tail as per the PFM, you'd have to cross kit the spine and tail from that kit with the PF. Phil

Maybe by the time SMW comes round I'll be up to try a set! I may yet try the bronco plastic links for the AS-90 as a step on the road to fruils.

Cheers Dan, I was somewhat cautious about using hot primers on the vinyl, I wasn't sure what it would do to it! I would love to try fruils but I can yet warrant the price vs the price of the kit, especially on vehicles with side skirts hiding part of the tracks.

I agree with ploy caps and the wheels, it's the tracks I was more interested in. I find with the rubber band type the paint can flake off a bit when you try and fit them...

Looking good! Here's a question for you, do you leave the tracks and wheels on when you paint or are you going to remove them before hand? I always wondered how people manage to paint it all in one piece...

Nice, dogfight double boxing with the SHAR....

Excellent piece of comrade Heath Robinson tech there this one will be one to watch!

Works of me

Looks stealthy to me, angled corners etc, I imagine the glass is radar absorbing too. Certainly more stealthy than a cylindrical pod dangling in the breeze...

It has all the fancy designation pod gubbins, plus other new stuff, in the EOTS chin housing http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/F-35_EOTS.jpeg

Nice subject and great kit, interested to see how the new nose looks.

Ah ok, which parts the convoy light then? Not the lights on the top of the mud flaps?

I think you did mention it in a previous post, if it's the bit I think it is then the Eduard Etch set has a replacement for it, so I can alter the hight, just need a decent photo...

Excellent Dan, I'll be watching this one, got one of these to do my self, got some echelon decals for SFOR machines to use on mine!

Thanks, starting is normally the easy bit I find, finishing can be more of an issue....

Right then! Got a bit of an update, the mother in law is staying which meant I got a few hours at the bench over the weekend, I should be finishing some half built projects but..... 80 mins of work on Saturday afternoon got me this far (very precise timing as it was completed during the Tigers vs Wasps game, which sadly tigers managed to win!). The wheels are test fitted only, the joys of poly caps. I had read on line that the fit of the tracks can be a touch loose. There is adjustment provided for in the kit via the 'float' in the idler wheel mount and the 2 part shock absorber on the mount, meaning you can set the angle of the idler mount to get the correct track fit. Once happy with the fit I committed to glue with the idler mount, roughly right angles to the hull seemed to give a decent track fit. I had looked at the bronco tracks for this, but Trumpeter have done a decent job with the rubber band ones. Not the best pictures as I was lazy and used my phone. I will break out the camera for the next round!! Now the glue is cured I have primed the lower hull and wheels plus the tracks ready to paint them. I have also started on the top half of the hull, mainly removing detail to make way for PE. Thanks for looking in and stay tuned! Phil

I'm in, really enjoyed the last Tonka GB, not least due to the fact that Merv's hosting and invaluable insight helped with all the builds!

This was indeed a great GB, sorry Algeria didn't quite make it to the end, the arrival of my son some what got in the way of me finishing!!!

Great build, I've dipped in and out of the thread but only just commented, especially good work on the base, I'm determined to give trees a go at some point but they look difficult to get looking realistic, but you've managed it!

In 1/48 the Trumpeter kit is nice, although the cockpit is a bit fanciful and you could consider replacing with the very nice Neomega resin one. I've not seen it or built it, but apparently the Revell 1/72 scale kit is very nice and is due to be re-released this year, if it's not been already.

Thanks for both of those, the PDF on the link has some great pics, I was after some showing the wear to the temporary sand finish and there's a few good ones there, plus a couple that show some of the bits in the black dog set in place!

That would would be great, pictures on the net seem few and far between! I'm sure you're mate will be well pleased to receive that, if you can let it go by then...

Thanks, no I'm not ex services at all, the RHA option from the 2003 invasion of Iraq just stood out to me! I've got those ammo boxes and the GPMG on the wish list for my buildalong with this http://www.accurate-armour.com/ShowProduct.cfm?manufacturer=0&category=4&subcategory=34&product=2227 There's also this as an alternative the the AA GPMG live resin do an L7A2 which I think is the right type http://models-hobby.com/catalogsearch/advanced/result/?sku=Lre35088 Phil