Stef N. Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 I was rummaging through the stash and found this old charabanc lurking at the bottom. It was a kit that I was desperate to get, wasn't that cheap, but one that I got fed up with, made a bit of a mess of and re-boxed and dumped about 5 or so years ago. I thought I'd now have the patience and better skills to finish off properly and clear out of the stash. (It is such a big box that clearing it will automatically make my stash look smaller too.😉) The interior has been done but I am going to seal it all up so you can't see it. I remembered that Meng gave rubber seatbelts which were awful to use and they are mostly sitting in the bottom of the box. There's still a bit to do, including lots of double glazed windows, which is going to need a bit of masking (another thing that put me off at the time.) Obligatory sprue shot.😀 This back plate finally pushed me over the edge. The fit was awful, leading to overuse of glue, breaking bits off and eventually spilling a load of CA glue over it. Poor modelling on my behalf. Although there are some very nice sagged wheel sets available I will stick with Meng's very nice offerings. That'll save £20 or so. I also have the following paint available but if anyone knows of a better alternative for modern US Sand do let me know. Cheers all.👍 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsman Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 For anyone interested, Meng have just released a UK Mastiff version of this kit. I had a look inside the box of one yesterday. Very nice. Much of it will be the same as this kit as the base vehicle is the same. The injection moulded bar armour is not as fine as etch but seems acceptable - and a whole lot less stressful....... 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef N. Posted January 31, 2023 Author Share Posted January 31, 2023 1 hour ago, Kingsman said: For anyone interested, Meng have just released a UK Mastiff version of this kit. I had a look inside the box of one yesterday. Very nice. Much of it will be the same as this kit as the base vehicle is the same. The injection moulded bar armour is not as fine as etch but seems acceptable - and a whole lot less stressful....... That looks nice.👍 Some people may baulk at the price but you do get a lot of stuff in the box, even more so with the Mastiff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsman Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 30 minutes ago, Stef N. said: Some people may baulk at the price I think the Tank Museum shop had theirs priced at £75, a fiver or so off the RRP. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted January 31, 2023 Share Posted January 31, 2023 Hi Stef, I'm surprised that a brand like MENG, and at the price it's sold for, allows failures like the ones you mention, but it seems that all brands have kits with problems... Those wheels look really good... Cheers and TC Francis.👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef N. Posted January 31, 2023 Author Share Posted January 31, 2023 12 minutes ago, FrancisGL said: Hi Stef, I'm surprised that a brand like MENG, and at the price it's sold for, allows failures like the ones you mention, but it seems that all brands have kits with problems... Those wheels look really good... Cheers and TC Francis.👍 Thanks Francis, everything else fits perfectly and I have no complaints. It could have been mostly due to my skill level at the time but the back plate was a pain, so just in case anybody else is attempting it, just be wary when you get to it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef N. Posted February 1, 2023 Author Share Posted February 1, 2023 So many windows. I wasn't sure what to do with these, paint the covers separately and mask up the clear glass or attach them and mask up the coloured glass. I went for the latter in the end making sure the coloured glass is firmly attached with plenty of Kristal. The covers have been glued in place using Kristal rather than heavy duty glue, just in case one of the glass panes needs some work. I will firmly glue all these right at the end. Cheers.👍 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddoxx77 Posted February 3, 2023 Share Posted February 3, 2023 That's a big beast Stef. Not my cup of tea but nonetheless interesting to see what you can do with it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef N. Posted February 3, 2023 Author Share Posted February 3, 2023 6 hours ago, Maddoxx77 said: That's a big beast Stef. Not my cup of tea but nonetheless interesting to see what you can do with it. It is a massive thing, the body is longer than a King Tiger's. You certainly get your money's worth. Definitely not a quick build though and a lot of patience needed.😬😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 Hi Stef, It is also something out of my comfort zone, but all the models, well worked, have interest and charm. Cheers and TC Francis.👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 Fancy doing the school run in one of these?? Oh what fun!! Nice work so far Stef. John. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef N. Posted February 5, 2023 Author Share Posted February 5, 2023 2 hours ago, Bullbasket said: Fancy doing the school run in one of these?? Oh what fun!! Nice work so far Stef. John. Some days, a fully working and armed Sherman or Tiger would be very handy.🤬😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keeff Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 I quite like this type of vehicle .... something unusual and different. It's coming along nicely Stef ..... watching your progress with interest! Keith 😁 By the way ..... I was thinking more of the Tesco run than the school run with one! 🤣 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef N. Posted February 5, 2023 Author Share Posted February 5, 2023 Cheers Keith. Parking would be no problem and you could fill it up with a couple of months worth of supplies.👍😀 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keeff Posted February 5, 2023 Share Posted February 5, 2023 8 minutes ago, Stef N. said: Cheers Keith. Parking would be no problem and you could fill it up with a couple of months worth of supplies.👍😀 Shopping supplies ... yes. Not sure I'd fancy taking it to the diesel pump though ...... 😬 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 7, 2023 Share Posted February 7, 2023 Wow! That's a beast of a kit there, Stef. Be interesting to se what you do with it. Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef N. Posted February 7, 2023 Author Share Posted February 7, 2023 39 minutes ago, PlaStix said: Wow! That's a beast of a kit there, Stef. Be interesting to se what you do with it. Kind regards, Stix Buy shares in modelling pigments. I'll be using it by the bucket load. 😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef N. Posted February 9, 2023 Author Share Posted February 9, 2023 A small update. First a gripe. The back doors, not including glass and handles, comes in 6 parts. Like the majority of the kit the sprue attachments are in good spots except the most visible part which has 6 heavy duty attachments. Not sure why and a nuisance to clean. Anyway, other than that whinge the rest has been going together well. The locating tabs to hold the mudguards on need thinning as they were very tight. No biggie. With all the windows and masking I now know how the plane guys feel. Need to get some masking fluid on some of the edges just to make sure. Minimal etched, which is nice. Cheers all.👍 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 Very annoying about those attachment points! They are huge for quite a smallish part. I find it annoying when Tamiya (or any manufacturer) seem to chose areas that will be very visible on the final model. Good to see more progress though. Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FrancisGL Posted February 10, 2023 Share Posted February 10, 2023 Hi Stef, Very well resolved, with more modest marks... but with MENG...🙄 Cheers and TC Francis.👍 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef N. Posted February 10, 2023 Author Share Posted February 10, 2023 1 hour ago, FrancisGL said: Hi Stef, Very well resolved, with more modest marks... but with MENG...🙄 Cheers and TC Francis.👍 I can't be too harsh on Meng as they do make some great kits. They sometimes have the "odd" manufacturing ideas in them though. 😯 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geo1966 Posted February 11, 2023 Share Posted February 11, 2023 Your doing a great job on this Stef. Keep up the good work. I am not really into modern armour, but there is a certain appeal about this beast of a "bus". George 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef N. Posted February 11, 2023 Author Share Posted February 11, 2023 56 minutes ago, Geo1966 said: Your doing a great job on this Stef. Keep up the good work. I am not really into modern armour, but there is a certain appeal about this beast of a "bus". George Cheers. Definitely prefer older machines and this one hasn't persuaded me into modern stuff. (Although I do have a 4X4 version that needs to get out of the stash. Poor kit by Panda by all accounts though, so that may just get buried deeper😀.) This one with its multiple aerials and massive wing mirrors is going to be fun to store on the shelf. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stef N. Posted February 12, 2023 Author Share Posted February 12, 2023 A few years in the stash and I have finally finish building this monster. Time for some paint. The military in the digital age. Happy Sunday evening everyone.👍 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maddoxx77 Posted February 12, 2023 Share Posted February 12, 2023 Looking great Stef. Can't wait to see this thing with some digi camo on it. 😀 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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