nigelr32 Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 So, I have started this mammoth build... this kit appears to be fully detailed with every part of the original vehicle reproduced. I started an update build on the dragon kit a couple of years ago, and from memory, this kit seems pretty accurate.. like I said.. from memory. The Frame rails simply clip together, and stay together the fit is that good!! Here they are, top and bottom.. look at all that lovely detail!! Step One of the instructions has you build up one side of the frame, as does step 2 and 3 before adding the left rail. I have clipped the frame together as shown above and glued the relevant parts as required in step one to the right rail. The whole thing was then weighted down on a flat surface to ensure the frame comes out square and flat. Here we can see the right rail with step one's parts fitted and the diffs in the foreground. I remade the drive shafts from 2mm rod as the trumpeter shafts were very oval after the seam clean up.. probably my fault?? The Diffs close up, note even the lifting eye is included in the kit. Here's step one of the instructions. Anyway, here's stage two of the build.. very nice detail and good accuracy.. Close up, note the little lifting eyes supplied on the transfer box.. and the moulded on weld seams on the air tanks. Very nice!! And finally, stage 2 instruction manual.. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyC Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Plenty of interest here - looks a good kit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prowler0000 Posted December 6, 2014 Share Posted December 6, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelr32 Posted December 7, 2014 Author Share Posted December 7, 2014 Glad to see this build is getting plenty of views and people are following along...We have now come to stage 3 of the instructions which basically entails joining the main frame rails together.I painted all the transmission parts before joining the two halves simply because there's so much detail in there!! I think this will be the case going forward, everything in there will need a splash of matt black base before going in?To give you an idea of the level of detail in this kit, take a look at the next two shots... and this is only stage 3 out of 36!!Here's the instruction sheet..With stage 3 behind us, we move swiftly on to stage 4.. no hang on.. we've got ejector pin holes to fill and the backs of the bash plates to paint first..While that dries we can get on with the engine assembly and also start on the transmission cases.. they're for step 5.Here's the instruction sheet for stage 4. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelr32 Posted December 7, 2014 Author Share Posted December 7, 2014 Moving swiftly on, we have now finished stage 4 and have attached the skid plates to the bottom of the frame rails. The work that Trumpeter have put into this kit is admirable in my opinion. I'm not sure they've left anything out?? Here we can see the engine in position, less leads and fans, along with the transmission and shafts. The engine is clipped in so I can take it out for painting. So, that completes stages 4 and 5 of the instructions, here's the instruction sheet for stage 5... Thanks for following along 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintsclaire Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 (edited) Very Nice. I shall follow this closely as I have one on it's way from HobbyEasy Edited December 7, 2014 by saintsclaire Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelr32 Posted December 7, 2014 Author Share Posted December 7, 2014 Very Nice. I shall follow this closely as I have one on it's way from HobbyEasy I guarantee you will not be disappointed!! Did you see my review in the cold war section? There's a lovely SS-23 out there too!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saintsclaire Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 I guarantee you will not be disappointed!! Did you see my review in the cold war section? There's a lovely SS-23 out there too!! Yep, Waiting until after Xmas to order that one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snapper_city Posted December 7, 2014 Share Posted December 7, 2014 This should be interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Courageous Posted December 8, 2014 Share Posted December 8, 2014 A well presented staged build as per instructions...at least somebody uses them. Carry on... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelr32 Posted December 8, 2014 Author Share Posted December 8, 2014 A well presented staged build as per instructions...at least somebody uses them. Carry on... Thanks for the compliment.. As its the first online build of this kit, (I believe), I thought I should stick to the manual... though it is difficult!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelr32 Posted December 10, 2014 Author Share Posted December 10, 2014 Now we move on to stage 6 of the build, which is a comparatively simple step.. It entails fitting the suspension pivot points and the rear chassis stiffeners. here are the parts as fitted.. Step 7 is way more complex and involves assembling and fitting double wishbone and torsion bar suspension. As can clearly be seen, there is a lot of work to be done in this step, and much care is required as there is a lot of clean up to be done on the multiple sprue gates, (No ejector pin marks), and the left/right/front/rear parts must not be mixed up. Thankfully all the instruction part call outs are correct in relation to their sprue numbers.. These are the eight suspension assemblies. believe it or not there are 76 parts here alone!! None of the steering or up/down pivots are glued at this stage. I am beginning to wonder how the ride height will be set? I guess the shocks will come into play.. I am really looking forward to having all eight wheels touching the ground, square. Thanks for looking.. NOTE :- In the above picture I have assembled two of the front assemblies backwards. Top right and third in from the right have the torsion arms backwards, ie:- the long shaft should be pointing forwards. Lucky it's all snap together!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phildagreek Posted December 11, 2014 Share Posted December 11, 2014 I sense this might be an understatement, but, there looks to be a lot of work here! Going well though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelr32 Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 I sense this might be an understatement, but, there looks to be a lot of work here! Going well though. Yes Phil, there is a lot of work going on here. Lots of clean up is required on all the round shafts and tubes, but all in all, the kit has been a stunning build up to now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelr32 Posted December 13, 2014 Author Share Posted December 13, 2014 Hello everyone, We've now completed step 6 of the instructions with all the wishbones, hubs and shafts fitted. Everything is clipped together at the moment. The shock absorbers will support the weight of the vehicle. I intend to weight the hubs down between two lengths of steel bar and glue all the pivots whilst restrained. This should ensure all eight wheels sit square and touch the ground. On the subject of detail and what can be seen when completed, here's a shot of an old Maz kit compared to this new Trumpeter kit... Just a small difference eh?? Look at the underside difference.. As modellers, we are all being spoilt these days with the quality of the new kits on our shelves!! Thanks for looking in... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rom1 Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 Hi, Thanks for sharing this detailed build review! You convinced me to get rid of my Dragon box... Bye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawkuk Posted December 13, 2014 Share Posted December 13, 2014 I really like the way you're showing us the stages of your build. That instruction pictures and then pictures of a model. This is great. The model also looks good. Kinda want to get one myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelr32 Posted December 29, 2014 Author Share Posted December 29, 2014 Thanks for your patience guys.. I've been busy on "Other" stuff and have also been busy on the Scud trying to get the suspension all lined up so that all eight wheels sit vertical to the ground, touch the ground and form a straight line when viewed from front or rear. Let me tell you, this is not an easy task, but I think I got there.. pics to follow tomorrow. Right now she's sat drying in the jig. On a negative note, I have noticed that trumpeter have missed out some very visible steering parts under the drivers cab.. the Meng kit has them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 I take it you are also "gloucesternige" over on Armorama? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S.Tasker Posted December 29, 2014 Share Posted December 29, 2014 Astonishing detail thus far! look forward to more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smuts Posted December 31, 2014 Share Posted December 31, 2014 Hi,boss got me one for Xmas!,what a fantastic kit,great build will keep an eye on this Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andym Posted January 1, 2015 Share Posted January 1, 2015 Received my one yesterday. Need to decide wheteher to do it launch mode ( and add cables and hydraulic lines) or in transport mode. Andy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelr32 Posted January 1, 2015 Author Share Posted January 1, 2015 I take it you are also "gloucesternige" over on Armorama? Yes mate, I am. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nigelr32 Posted January 4, 2015 Author Share Posted January 4, 2015 Hi all, As promised, I have got some pics up together of how I got all the wheels in line, square and level. Basically, due to the many pivot points and parts in each assembly I managed to get it all wrong, some corrective action was needed... In this picture we can see three of the axles have a round shim on them. (Some of the shims have a shim on top to square the face up. This will get all the wheels sitting the same distance from the centreline of the chassis, so, all in line... Next I had to make a small cut in some of the upper axle pins, and gently bend them to get them square to the ground, so now all the wheels will sit perpendicular to the ground. The cuts in the axle pins were then shimmed with card to make them solid again. Now you can understand the long time left drying. I didn't want to use superglue for fear of it being brittle. In the next pic we can see the shim with a slither of card in the top, to make it perpendicular to the ground... Next, the shock mountings had to be broken, so the axles could all be lined up parallel to the ground. This was done using two lengths of ali square section as a jig. I think we can all see this "bodge" has worked a treat... In this next shot we can see the parts for stage 8 of the build, painted on their inner/under faces to ease the painting operation. Watch this space for stage eight of this great little kits build.. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activexp Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Eagerly anticipating further updates Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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