Hi Lars !

This is just VERY early, I'm dry fitting the Dozer blade ATM. I think that will need to be modified quite substantionally to look realistic and reasonable.

At the moment the wheels are on without (glue) although the Tamiya system of push fit is great

I'll add the additional armor to the front, as well as some evergreen styrene 'covers' to fill the 'troughs' above the two front fenders (no snow cleats required in Australia )

Once I've done that I'll paint the wheels and tracks, lower hull, weather them all, then fit the side skirts (they'll be legends 2A4 skirts from the NL Conversion set).

So the skirts will go on later - this is going to be a lot of fun

I've decided to only use some of the Lionroar PE on this machine - there are so many other parts to add, and this Tamiya kit is really VERY crisp - a top quality product !!!

The Kosovo 2A5 is just about finished and I don't think the PE has added that much to it over the kit parts replaced.

Hope that answers you question Lars.

Edit: BTW the Blade and bucket look better and more realistic (ie: closer to the PSO) with the legs of the bucket removed and the fitment point under the 'nose'.





Cheers

Paul

I knew this was going to end up being a "Super kit Bash" when I watched this YouTube Video.......

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=WEtj6fmfljk


Gotta Love that Dozer Brings back memories of the sand pit and Tonka Toys

Anyway a bit more Kit Bashing today:

1. Extra Armor on the front and 2A6EX Fenders / Armor.

2. Added an APU to the rear RHS. Lots of cutting, filing, etc. And guess what ? No putty ! It came up nice and clean

The Dozer Blade looks much better now with some mods. I still need to do Hydraulics, so any tips / help would be much appreciated. Tomorrow = Hull optics and some 2A6M bits, then it'll be time for the tracks and painting the lower hull and adding the skirts.

Here's where I am:






Cheers

Paul

So you've used the Hobby Boss kit? It looks way more modern now.

Lars

Hi Lars !

Yes I'm going to use the Armor, APU and the front part of the side skirts from the HB kit. The Turret will remain the Tamiya 2A6 version with a few mods and AM bits.

This is also the best way to get a accurate STRV 122 (no APU), and the 2A6EX (with the APU). I will be doing something similair when I build the two machines above for two more Campaigns I've enrolled in.

You're right that it will look a lot better now that it will have the 2A6EX front armor , fenders, and square headlights.

Thanks for looking.

Paul

Oh, ok.

I also forgot to say I've mailed you today,

Lars

Yes I got the e-mail thanks very much.

I forgot to post a pic of the Belly Armor on the machine above, the bits are from the 'Storm miniatures" 2A6M conversion which is really nice !



Cheers

Paul

Nice work there paul.

Thanks Scotty !

I'm looking forward to more updates on your two Leopards too............

Cheers

Paul

Attachment points for the Dozer Scratched.

I used the lugs from the Trumpeter Challenger kit and cut slots in the lower hull to fit them.

The main weight baring point is on the lower nose in between the nose and the belly armor - you can probably just make it out below. The bucket has been shortened and I've scratched new fitment points that 'bolt' onto the hull.

It seems to line up Ok. I'll also need add the ability to lock the blade in either a raised or lowered position. I'll probably do this with a small switch made from spring steel wire.

I'll post clearer picks when it is painted.



Cheers

Paul

A few more mods, a bit of primer and the Dozer attachment is finished (apart from wiring and hydraulics)

I'll need to find some references for piping, hoses etc.

I can't do the lower hull until the green paint I need for my Aussie Camo Green mixture arrives (my local HS is out and I needed to order via the phone from interstate).

Come on Mr Postman



Cheers

Paul

The Model Point L55 Barrel is Sweeeeet !



Cheers

Paul

That's looking pretty damn cool Paul!

Thanks Dave.

The hard stuff starts now.

I think in the end the Camo will set it off !!

Cheers

Paul

Looking good paul.

Thanks Scotty.

I've done the optics slightly differently this time. I decided to prepaint the area around them and mask a wider area during painting. This will give me a crisper result around the 'glass' when it's finished.

It so happens the areas on the turret where the optics are, are going to be black so I prepainted them Nato Black, and them glued the optics in with 'Gator glue'.

Looking at the Legends 'Armor wings' with the internal stowage, and comparing them to the Tamiya ones, I decided to use the Tamiya wings instead. They are a bit crisper and the detail is better IMO.

I cut the stowage out of the Legends parts, sanded them and glued them in the kit parts.

Here are some pics:









The next steps will be the AM bits from Storm Miniatures and Legend for the Turret as well as the PE I will be using. Hopefully the paint I need to do the lower hull arrives in the next couple of days.

Cheers

Paul

A couple more shots, sorry about the quality (playing with the camera settings).

A few of the 2A6M conversion bits fitted,

More shots of the turret top in the next few days after I do the Antennas and back end of the turret.







Cheers

Paul

Can't wait to see some paint on this baby.

Got some more ideas sparking for the brit leo now.

Not far away now.

The Green XF58 arrived in the mail today. I'll paint the wheels, tracks, and lower hull in the next few days.

The 2A6M Antenna bases are built - I just need to add the spring steel aerials to each.

Now the only thing I'm puzzled with is where to put spare tracks, They won't be going on the nose, so perhaps they should go where the chocks are normally mounted on the rear of the turret ?

Any suggestions on spare track locations anyone ?


Cheers

Paul

Hi Guys !

A bit of an update.

I've added the Comm's to the turret and finished the smoke grenade launchers. I will add the commanders Peri toward the end, as well as a couple more small turret bits, and the MAG58 when I decide where to attach the Platt mount. Any suggestions on that one would be appreciated (cupola ring or Turret surface ?).

The next stage will be to do the tracks, weather them, the wheels, and lower hull before attaching the 2A4 type skirts. I'm not adding much PE at this stage the front light guards, basket netting, and the grenade launcher chains is all ATM.

Here are some pics (not far to go on assembly before doing the Camo ):









Edit: The spare tracks have been added to the rear face of the turret


Cheers

Paul

Now I've just had an interesting discussion with someone about this project, and I was urged to give the Commander a 50 cal ring mount for his cupola (NB: The loader will still have a Platt Mount MAG 58 or M240 if you like ).

Here is what I've been thinking regarding the 50 cal :

1. The 50 cal will get in the way of the Commanders rear Peri - not fitted yet (pic - below)

2. The 50 cal will need to clear the front vision block for the comander (not fitted yet) - but that can be done with some rework.

3. I can get a ring mount from the spare parts box and scratch up some brackets etc and use a Tasca 50 cal plus some mounts from an old Abrams to make something up - so it's do-able.


The other option was an M151 RWS - if I do that, I would prefer to front mount that, but that creates the same problems for the Peri too I think.

At this stage with the Comm's and stowage at the back, a M151 on the back is not appropriate I believe. I will do that for a PSO clone for the 'What if ?' Campaign plus a lot of other goodies.

One more possibility would be to change the height of the Peri below and elevate it 10 or 15 mm on the model with a new base (see the picture) ..................



A 50 cal for the commander would be way cool I think


Any advise please ??

I need help

Cheers

Paul

Those antennas look very cool!

Lars

They're on temporarily Lars. They are actually facing the wrong way and will be at 90 deg to where they are now (longway down the hull).

Paul

Tracks painted.

50 % Buff & 50 % Flat Earth - They'll be dusty not muddy.

I painted the rubber blocks Nato Black (not on pic), and weathered the wheel 'runs' and guides ,as well as the bit of wear on the outside of the tracks from the drive sprockets, with a B8 Graphite Pencil.

I did a little bit of dry brushing on the tips of the guides also afterwards.

Here's a pic:



Next wheels and lower hull so I can fit the skirts.

Cheers

Paul

Those tracks look very realistic! What did you use for the antennas?

Lars

great leopard bud the antena and the looks look superb


intereasting build bud !