¹⁄72

SpPz 2 Luchs

The Build

The instructions are divided into 43 construction steps. The number of parts per step can vary from 1 to almost a dozen. Some steps also include the further build up and attachment of subassemblies. The instruction illustrations can at times be extremely busy and I found it a must to re-reference steps before putting glue to plastic.

Step 1 in the instructions was the assembly of the hull upper and lower pieces. This is followed by attaching the hull rear to the previously mated halves. Alignment of all the parts was fairly good but a bit of pre-assembly sanding was necessary to get a good fit. (pic 1-2)

With Step 2 the start of the suspension assembly begins. I should note here that the overall suspension was to prove to be a trying and rather lengthy process. I cannot over emphasize the amount of care that will need to be taken during this process. A fair number of parts are not only side specific but also axle specific. This step only involves four parts (numbers 4-7) but it is crucial that you get all these aligned and oriented properly. Being slightly off at this early stage will only lead to greater problems later as each successive addition to the suspension magnifies any earlier error. The major thing to watch for with this stages parts is to have them sit as true and tight as possible in their respective locating holes and recesses. When complete, each of the bottom most pins on the eight spring ends should all touch equally on a flat level surface. (pic. 3)

Steps 3, 4, 5, and 6 are the commencement of the assembly of the front most axle and its suspension elements. It may not be the best to follow the manufacturer’s assembly order for these steps. I had to review the instructions numerous times to determine what would be the most practical assembly order. It became quite obvious that following the suggested assembly order could lead to considerable difficulties when trying to place parts when others were placed prior to them. As a case in point, I left the attachment of the actual wheels to the axles until much later in the build process. These being glued on would have caused considerable interference when fitting other suspension components.

The next item to tackle was the second forward axle and its pieces. Steps 7 through 12 are involved in this process. As with the first axle, care will need to be taken as parts orientation will be critical.

With Steps 13 through 17 the third axle from the front of the vehicle is constructed. Again it was extremely necessary to double check that each component was correctly oriented.

Steps 18 to 21 were the construction of the rear most axle and its components. By this point I felt that the worst might be over.

With step 22 the final linkages for the suspension control arms are to be fitted. Also it is at this step that the instructions call for two shock absorbers to be fitted to each axle end. Having reviewed the instructions thoroughly prior to and during the build, I felt that waiting until this late stage in the build to place the shocks would have caused great locating difficulties. That is therefore why I chose to attach them much earlier.

Various external details, including tools and external stowage, are the focus of Steps 26 through 37. Various lights, tow hooks grab rails and the like are attached to the external vehicle hull. Some of these items, in particular the grab rails, had rather thick and prominent sprue attachment points. It was while removing some of these pieces that I experienced that the Revell plastic was on the brittle side as a couple of pieces broke during their removal. Due to the miniscule size of some parts placement at times proved to be problematic.

The turret construction was the subject of Steps 38 to 43. While seemingly simple enough it was not without difficulties. Several of the main turret pieces required careful filing of parts to achieve an equitable fit. The placement of the eight smoke dischargers was a study in frustration as their only locating feature was an extremely shallow dimple on the turret sides. There was also an issue with the brush guard over the right hand turret sight. It came as a two part affair (parts 83, 84) that almost defied being handled even by my smallest tweezers.