SimonL Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 (edited) Picked this up last weekend for not very much: Excellent choice for a quick build to start the vacation. Going to build it straight from the box all closed up as the Australian example. Here we go: and here is where I am at lunchtime (a bit of a delay due to a swift trip to Bunnings - Australian members will understand). So far no major issues. Running gear was a bit fiddly, but went together OK. So far only lost one handle to the carpet monster. Easily replaced by a bit of wire. Edited January 4, 2022 by SimonL 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 Nice start I'll follow along if you don't mind? Stay safe Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robw_uk Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 Been considering a Lee/Grant kit so watching this with interest... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 19, 2021 Author Share Posted December 19, 2021 Absolutely! @Hamden @robw_uk to be honest was not necessarily looking to do one - but Aussie markings always draws my attention. Gradual progress while listening to the Test match from Adelaide. Here is where I am at at 5 pm. That’s it for the today - off to the movies with the kids tonight. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo1966 Posted December 19, 2021 Share Posted December 19, 2021 Don't mention the cricket!!!! 😱 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 20, 2021 Author Share Posted December 20, 2021 @Geo1966 I’ll try to resist (although suspect it will all be over soon 😜) Got a bit of early work in this morning. Used a smidge of filler here and there. A dry fit to see how everything looks. That’s it for the morning - off into town for a bit. May get onto painting this afternoon. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 20, 2021 Author Share Posted December 20, 2021 Nice spot of lunch with my daughter. I picked up some reading for the holiday as well as a surprise find on the bottom shelf in a wargamers/hobby shop that my girl pointed me towards. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyingdutchman Posted December 20, 2021 Share Posted December 20, 2021 I have never build an Airfirx armour kit, but this one looks very nice in term of details. Evert Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 20, 2021 Author Share Posted December 20, 2021 Hi Evert, I believe it’s actually originally an Academy kit reboxed by Airfix (I think that’s true of all their new 1:35 kits except the Cromwells). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 21, 2021 Author Share Posted December 21, 2021 (edited) Construction complete and painting started. Had to build a second headlight from scrap as heaven knows where the original went to. Brush painted with Tamiya acrylics. XF62 Olive drab with a bit of XF49 Khaki mixed in. Here is where I am at this evening. Probably needs another coat. So far the only (deliberate) deviations are to not fit the hull MGs (as I gather they were usually omitted from Grants in Australia). I’m also going to leave the “racks” down each side of the hull off as they don’t seem to be fitted on any images of Australian Grants I can find. That’s it for today. Edited December 21, 2021 by SimonL 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 22, 2021 Author Share Posted December 22, 2021 (edited) That exciting (challenging?) step when the tracks go on. In the end reasonably straight forward. Used the hot screwdriver approach once I’d carefully threaded the preprinted tracks around the running gear. The tracks were painted with Tamiya XF69 NATO black, and then I picked out the edges with MIG Old Rust. It’s a bit stark at the moment, but from past experience will be less obvious after some weathering. Then on went the sides (sand shields?) and a coat of olive drab. Some touching up to go, and a few details to be sorted,but almost time for the decals. Edited December 22, 2021 by SimonL 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted December 22, 2021 Share Posted December 22, 2021 This is coming together very nicely, looking great in paint Stay safe Roger 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyingdutchman Posted December 22, 2021 Share Posted December 22, 2021 11 hours ago, SimonL said: That exciting (challenging?) step when the tracks go on. In the end reasonably straight forward. Used the hot screwdriver approach once I’d carefully threaded the preprinted tracks around the running gear. The tracks were painted with Tamiya XF69 NATO black, and then I picked out the edges with MIG Old Rust. It’s a bit stark at the moment, but from past experience will be less obvious after some weathering. Then on went the sides (sand shields?) and a coat of olive drab. Some touching up to go, and a few details to be sorted,but almost time for the decals. Were those tracks single pieces? Or was it the regular cut-glue-attach 'nightmare' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 24, 2021 Author Share Posted December 24, 2021 @Flyingdutchman I should have said - they are vinyl single piece tracks. Not too tricky. Finished the main painting today. I drilled out the barrel of the turret MG, painted it black and then a light dry brush with metallic grey. A brushed on coat of floor polish and then on with the decals. That’s it for a few days. Have a great Christmas! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted December 24, 2021 Share Posted December 24, 2021 It's looking pretty good Simon, now that it's got it's paint and decals on. I built this same kit, several year ago, when it was first released by Academy. It's basically accurate, with just few missing bolt heads. And seeing as you'll get there before most of us, Merry Christmas. John. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 26, 2021 Author Share Posted December 26, 2021 Thanks John! It was great. Hope you had a good one too. No progress today - little on the warm side (gone 4 pm and currently hovering around 42 Celsius). However I think I know what my next project is - a gift from my lad: 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted December 30, 2021 Author Share Posted December 30, 2021 Well the heatwave has finally broken (sort of), so I was able to get back to work on this. Sorted out the pioneer tools, and faked up a cable using some string. Brushed on coat of my fast diminishing stock of Italeri clear flat. The next step will be some light weathering. Possibly will get that done by tomorrow, but I suspect this will be my first completion of 2022. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milan Mynar Posted December 30, 2021 Share Posted December 30, 2021 It looks nice built. The kit looks easy to buil, it is an alternative for them, who want have this model in collection and don´t want to build MiniArt´s one. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted January 3, 2022 Author Share Posted January 3, 2022 Thanks Milan. Yes, it is fairly straightforward (but of course I didn’t do the interior). Over the last few days I have been adding some washes (Army Painter Dark and Soft Tone and mixtures thereof) and finishing today with washes of heavily diluted Italeri Acryl Dark Earth which I hope gives the appropriate dusty patina. I made the washes heavier (and less dilute) on the tracks and running gear. Just a final flat coat and the headlights and this one will be done! 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vytautas Posted January 3, 2022 Share Posted January 3, 2022 Looks good, a dusty and dirty surface for a tank is just as important as makeup for a lady. Vytautas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted January 4, 2022 Author Share Posted January 4, 2022 Thanks - it’s looking pretty dusty now! All finished, more pics in RFI shortly. A nice, straightforward build. Thanks for following. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted January 4, 2022 Share Posted January 4, 2022 Hi Simon. Happy New Year. Looks like time well spent over the festive period! Very well done. Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimonL Posted January 4, 2022 Author Share Posted January 4, 2022 Thanks Stix, it was a nice easy build. I am sure an expert could really go to town on it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flyingdutchman Posted January 6, 2022 Share Posted January 6, 2022 Turned out really nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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