Takom 1/35th FV 432

[Bish]

My first armour build of the year is somthing we don't see often. As far as i know, this is the first kit in this scale in plastic of this vehicle. The only option before this was the Accurate Armour resin kits. The only extras i am adding as some metal tracks from masterclub and light guards from Accurate Armour.

 

 

First look at this kit showed that the detail is superb, both inside and out. Whats there is spot on. Of course, as with any kit, there are isues. Most are minor and many people would probably not even notice. But, for those who may be interested, i will point them out as i go along.

 

And one of those issues was obvious as son as i looked at the instruction. Step 2 has you fit the tillers, and they show them with the right tiller forward and the left tiller slightly back.

 

 

They can be positioned in any position you like, but the instructions don't indicate this. Without a driver in the seat, the only way to show them for me is both back with the brakes on. Easy fix.

 

 

I knew before i started that painting the interiour after it was built would be tricky, especially the driver/comanders compartment. Fortunatly the kit is made in such a way that sections can be put together and painted before fitting. In the hull, i added the panels on the lwer side walls as well as the panels around the back which goes around the fuel tanks.

 

 

The first section i put together was the front wall of the main compartment with the left side of the crew compartment. As i mentioned, the detail thats there is first class. But one problem is whats not included. The box at the front should hold the drivers night driving device. This is not included.

 

 

And for a vehcile in use in the 90's, there should be a stowage rack for the driver and commanders SA-80's. I had to scratch a lever for the gear range selector as the kit one flew off my tweezers into the great beyond.

 

 

The kit does come with some pretty lethal looking pour stubs. Most are not an issue, but a few are. The are the upper sides of the hulls, the middle stub on the upper piece and the one on the lower piece are both in visible areas.

 

 

As are theres around the hole for the rear door.

 

 

Once cleaned up, the upper sides were fitted.

 

 

 

Made a start oin one of the Masterclub tracks. These are nice and go together well, and the detail is perfect. better than Fruils IMHO. I have lost a couple of the resin tracks pins but hopefully have enough spare.

 

 

And finally a small selection of bits and pieces that will be painted before fitting. The kit does come with parts which would allow you to build different configirations as well as vehicles from different times. But as with the tillers, the instructions don't tell you this. It comes with 4 radios, though they tell you to fit 3 but then tell you to fit 4 antenna mounts . I will just be useing 1 radio and antenna.

 

 

Enjoying this so far, goes together well. My guess is that the issues will be down to the vehicle they used as a referance source, but they don't seem to have looked any futher. But nothing major.

 

 

 

[DAG058]

Nice start, I am watching with interest. 

[Bullbasket]

It's going well. I'm guessing that you are familiar with these vehicles?

 

John.

[Hamden]

 

Nice start I'll follow along if you don't mind?

  

    Roger

[Rogue705]

I'll be following, looking forward to your interpretation 🙂

 

[ivan-o]

Done this one! Watch out for the drivers seat when you want to fit it you will have to shave the outer runner to get it to fit properly. The tracks are very good but I binned the resin track pins and used wire instead.

As you say though it is a lovely kit. Enjoy 😀

Ivan

[Bish]

Cheers for lookin in guys. ivan, thanks for the heads up. I have the seat together but will do some dry fitting. I can see why you binned the pins.

 

John, unfortunatly, yes i do. I was in an armoured Inf battalion for 12 years and while i was mainly a Warrior driver i was also trained to drive these. I much preferred the Warrior.

[viper-30]

Nice build sir

[Bish]

Thanks viper.

[Rogue705]

On 08/04/2019 at 19:41, Bish said:

Cheers for lookin in guys. ivan, thanks for the heads up. I have the seat together but will do some dry fitting. I can see why you binned the pins.

 

John, unfortunatly, yes i do. I was in an armoured Inf battalion for 12 years and while i was mainly a Warrior driver i was also trained to drive these. I much preferred the Warrior.

Hey Bish, can I be nosey and ask which Bn. ? I was QLR and drove these back in early 80's 🙂

[Bish]

KORBR then 2 Lancs. I was in Catterick from 95 to 2007.

[Rogue705]

6 minutes ago, Bish said:

KORBR then 2 Lancs. I was in Catterick from 95 to 2007.

Kings Own! Excellent, was Don Baine still in?

 

I left in '97 so doubt we met

[Bish]

Name doesn't ring a bell, but it has been a long time. I was originally in 3 Royal Anglian but i stayed on with the Kings Own when they came to Londenderry in 92.

[Rogue705]

Ah, ok, Don would have left by then. Good to meet an ex-432 type 🙂

[Yeoman1942]

Bish which company were you in the Pompadour's? I was in B with Major Wilmot 

 

Apologies for the thread crash Rogue

[Bish]

A Coy, Major Clements., i only joined a few weeks before we went to Londonderry, just as the company was going into the FIBUA village at lydd and Hythe. I went into 3 (MILAN) Platoon.

[Yeoman1942]

Glad to meet another one of the old Battalion , 20 some odd years later. 

[Rogue705]

58 minutes ago, Yeoman1942 said:

Bish which company were you in the Pompadour's? I was in B with Major Wilmot 

 

Apologies for the thread crash Rogue

No apologies needed 🙂

52 minutes ago, Bish said:

A Coy, Major Clements., i only joined a few weeks before we went to Londonderry, just as the company was going into the FIBUA village at lydd and Hythe. I went into 3 (MILAN) Platoon.

LOL, loved that village, we got bollocked for killing the civvies 🙂

[Bish]

As a newbie, i was bricking it. Came straight from Bassingbourn with 3 others guys in the back of a lanny with all our kit. Gets there and a CSgt sticks his head in and says 'so are these the F***ing NIG's'. Next morning we were in the village. Welcome to battalion ☹️

 

Yeoman, glad to meet another Pompadour.

[Rogue705]

Hythe was for pussy's

 

Ever do Tin City?

[Bish]

No, only time i spent in Germany was 5 days in Grafenwöhr.

[Yeoman1942]

Done both, Tin City pre NI and Hythe Pre Telic. Tin City at 20 was much more intense, but I guess 11 years ant two tours of NI may have taken the edge off.

[Bish]

Before I post my next update pics, a bit of background into the vehicle I am doing which will help explain why I am building it this way. In April 1995, my Battalion, 1 KORBR, moved from Londonderry to Catterick and began converting to the Armoured Infantry role. I was in the Anti-Tank Platoon, equipped with the MILAN wire guided missile system. We were supplied with a bunch of 432’s which had clearly seen better days. Even though I was not a qualified driver at the time, I along with a few other guys spent many hours getting the vehicles in reasonable condition. All of the hatch seals had corroded and it looked like the vehicles had been stored outside for some time. We never did quite eradicate the lovely aroma of odeur de stagnant oil and water. The vehicles seemed to have been a rag tag assortment equipped for various roles which meant we had to remove radio frames and various other bits of equipment.

 

So, when it comes to the kit, it provides the options i need, partly i think by error. The fit options and colours are based on the instructions, the few pics i could find and my 20+ year old memory (not the most reliable of sources). My understanding is that the forward compartment was always painted white with the rear in bare metal. This was painted white at a later date, probably during a base overhaul. But i am positive ours where still bare metal, so thats the option i went for. All paints are Tamiya acrylics.

 

 

 

 

Then the padding was painted, ours was in a por condition with holes and tears all over, but i decided not to replicate this. Then the floor was dirtied up useing AK's engine oil and engine grime mixed with some dark pigments.

 

 

I was really pleased with how that came out.

 

With the smaller parts painted, the interiour was fitted out. When i went to fit the drivers seat, i realised that the tillers were to far back. No major isue bending them forward a bit, but would recomend building the seat and dry fitting before adding the tillers.

 

The kit includes 3 battery boxes, but no radio fit in the rear of the vehicle (I have found pics of a 432 with a similar layout which may be the one they used).  One of the battery boxes is a base and lid in one piece, this is intended to go under the commander’s seat. But i am positive our vehicles did not have these so I have used this to replace the main vehicle batteries. This goes to the right of the driver and the kit does not supply a lid, not a good idea when its right next to the drivers elbow.  So I have modified the complete box but cutting and fitting the top of the batteries inside.

 

The 3rd battery box is in the rear on the left side under one of the bench seats. Again going from memory, i am sure our vehicles had this box but without batteries, so after drilling out the interior i have fitted this.

 

 

 

The roof was finished off with lights and air ducting.

 

 

And the engine bulkhead and piano boards are done. The painting guide does not show some of the smaller details, such as the cap for the governor oil, bottle for the washers and so on, but the few online pics are enough to provide this info.

 

 

And the drivers instruments along with aformentioned washer bottle.

 

 

And the interior almost completed.

 

 

 

 

I still have a little to do before i add the roof and front plate. A couple more small bits to fit, some small detail to paint. But mainly adding some wiring. I won't fit the complete wiring harness, but i need to add something as the inside will be very visible. Alos need to come up with some for the drivers seat harness.

[ivan-o]

Coming on fine,looks good still painting Berlin camo on mine!!

Edited April 23, 2019 by ivan-o

[Bish]

Thanks Ivan. That Berlin camo looks a tricky one, look forward to seeing yours.