Faraway Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 I've never made a Dragon kit, and as I remember these vehicles from when I was a child, I thought it might be an interesting and easy build, no internal detail at all. Following are a few pictures of the parts and then what I've gone so far. A few strange things so far, I'll comment next to the picture. Jon Next, work so far. Next, a wheel. Strange colour for the soft plastic tyre. I mention at the start that there were some strange things. Here's one. According to the instructions, the 'wishbones' in the next two pictures, are NOT to be glued in place. However, if I don't they will just fall off. So after much experimenting, they have been glued in place. Neither the suspension, nor the steering work so this won't be a problem. Jon. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef N. Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 Blimey, you don't hang around. I remember doing the Tamiya one decades ago and it was a bit of a lump compared to this. Dragon make great kits on the whole but sometimes their instructions really let them down, so be a bit wary. Good luck. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M3talpig Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 What a strange coincidence David Fletcher and his huge moustache just did a tank chat about the Saladin it was rather interesting as you would expect from David and the tank museum. great work so far will follow along. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faraway Posted September 9, 2020 Author Share Posted September 9, 2020 1 hour ago, Stef N. said: Blimey, you don't hang around. Now I’m not wasting valuable model building time, having to go to work. I’m trying to catch up. So many kits to build, so little time. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan-o Posted September 9, 2020 Share Posted September 9, 2020 Looking on with interest. Ivan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper dog Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 Should be a nice project, tag along with this one! Good luck 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 If you're interested, I've got about 15 photos of Duxford's Saladin. John. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faraway Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share Posted September 10, 2020 2 hours ago, Bullbasket said: If you're interested, I've got about 15 photos of Duxford's Saladin. John. I would like to see them. Thanks. Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 Will follow this one, like the Saladin family a lot. Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted September 10, 2020 Share Posted September 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Faraway said: I would like to see them. Thanks. Jon Give me an hour or so, and I'll resize them and PM them to you. John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faraway Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share Posted September 10, 2020 1 hour ago, Bullbasket said: Give me an hour or so, and I'll resize them and PM them to you. John. John. Excellent photos, they will be really helpful, very many thanks, I was hoping the rear reflectors weren't going to have a white surround, as I remember them from when I was a very young boy. But no, they are white, no idea how I'm going to paint that, but I'll try. I'm probably going to paint this car as if its in a museum, so no weathering and maybe even shiney (shock horror) bodywork, well, at least satin finish. Jon. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faraway Posted September 10, 2020 Author Share Posted September 10, 2020 (edited) Good afternoon. Bit of building today, some of the turret ( hatches can be open, but no point, as there is NOTHING inside to see) and both the mudguards (?), which I dry fitted to see what it's going to look like, plus the wheel hubs. I'm probably going to paint this vehicle as if it's in a museum, bit like the video from @M3talpig so NO weathering. I'm going to try and get the correct paint, Vallejo do a Bronze Green which should do. It's going together really well except the instructions would have had me putting a periscope in the wrong place, thanks for the heads up @Stef N. about the instructions. Jon Edited September 10, 2020 by Faraway add text 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faraway Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 (edited) Good Afternoon. Just about finished all the building I can do for now, before painting. Not got the colour I'm going to use, but should be getting it on Monday, so will begin painting then. Also, yet more slightly misleading instructions. Jon Finished turret. I thought I'd put everything together and get an idea of what it'll look like. In the photo above, you can see a cylindrical object, on the right (no idea what it is). But on the photos that some fellow Britmodellers have sent me, the front end should have a wire mesh over it, this is not included in the kit, although they do provide a PE grill to go mover the slats at the back. So a search of my spares box and a grill has been installed. Far better than the gaping hole that was there before. Edited September 11, 2020 by Faraway 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M3talpig Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Great work going on here...and what a lovely looking kit loads of detail and really crisp moldings.....looking forward to seeing this painted. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faraway Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 (edited) 3 minutes ago, M3talpig said: Great work going on here...and what a lovely looking kit loads of detail and really crisp moldings.....looking forward to seeing this painted. Thanks. The detail is very good, the weld lines are actually textured. Although you do need to magnify them to see it. I'll definitely think about making another Dragon Kit, just a shame about the errors in the instructions, you need to keep your wits about you. Jon Edited September 11, 2020 by Faraway 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Good looking build, looking forward to seeing it in paint now. The cylindrical object on the right rear is the silencer if memory serves me right. Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan-o Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 That looks really well and yes the round ‘thing’ is the silencer and it should have the end of the exhaust sticking out the bottom. looks like it is actually a cover over the exhaust. Ivan 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diablo rsv Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Another one on my list of to-dos. Looking forwards to seeing your build evolve. Wayne 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faraway Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 57 minutes ago, ivan-o said: That looks really well and yes the round ‘thing’ is the silencer and it should have the end of the exhaust sticking out the bottom. looks like it is actually a cover over the exhaust. Ivan Many thanks for this info. I’ll see if I can find any pictures. And perhaps add the outlet Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ivan-o Posted September 11, 2020 Share Posted September 11, 2020 Saladin walkround on Prime Portal has N amount of photos. HTH Ivan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faraway Posted September 11, 2020 Author Share Posted September 11, 2020 27 minutes ago, ivan-o said: Saladin walkround on Prime Portal has N amount of photos. HTH Ivan Brilliant site. Many thanks. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faraway Posted September 14, 2020 Author Share Posted September 14, 2020 Bit of a delay with getting the paint. I bought some Vallejo Bronze Green, but to be honest it’s much more grey than green. So I’m going to try another Bronze Green, this time from AK Interactive. If this is the same, I’ll choose a green paint from my stock, and to heck with accuracy. Jon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faraway Posted September 18, 2020 Author Share Posted September 18, 2020 (edited) Finally, the AK paint has arrived. I've sprayed the Saladin with the new paint and it's looking ok. Probably another coat later, and then once it has hardened off, I'll be removing the maskol from the lights, assemble the wheels and paint all the little bits that need it, side lights, indicators, mirrors etc. Then I'll put it all together and post some photos. In the mean time, I thought I'd post this photo of the two BRONZE GREEN paints, what a difference. Jon Edited September 18, 2020 by Faraway add text 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faraway Posted September 19, 2020 Author Share Posted September 19, 2020 Good morning. It's finished. I have to say, a nice kit to build, parts went together well and good surface detail. Only let down by the inaccuracies in the instructions, but they at least kept me on my toes. I will definitely be looking to build another Dragon Kit. My thanks for all the advice and information I have received from you all. I'll post more photos in "Ready for Inspection". Jon. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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