I like esoteric subjects and this is about as esoteric as they come. The Dal is a chemical recon vehicle.

SP's kit is a good starting point, but the turret castings were a bit rough.


Filling and sanding would have lost all the detail, so I decided to do that anyway and then cover the surfaces with .010 styrene.


Once that was done, I added surface details using styrene sheet and strips. I've seen a grand total of two pictures of the Dal, so I decided to take some artistic license and busy up the turret.

Thanks for sharing this build!
Looking good so far!
Also it´s always interesting to see, how to improve / refining the model-kits.

greetings...
Soeren

Looking forward to this build. I am interested to see what you do with this kit.

So am I.

I'm already thinking about camo. I know that all green is probably standard, but I'm probably going to go out on a limb and paint her up in one of the tri-color schemes (I've already found a wonderful, if not slightly garish scheme for my Zoopark when I start that build).

I decided to scratchbuild all the laser sensors in part because I wanted to display them open. In progress shots below.

Finally an update.

It took repeated filling, sanding, and priming sessions, but I finally beat the kit into relative submission and was able to put some color on her. I decided to take some additional artistic license and apply a two tone scheme using Tamiya acrylics. It's all glossed up and ready for weathering, although I'll probably hold off until I get the tracks installed.

Apologies for the quality of the pics. Once it's finished I'll be more professional about it.

HI,
you've done an excellent job with the scratchbuilt parts. This is a very rarely seen vehicle on the forum.
Thanks for sharing.
Good luck for the final painting stage.
Do you intend to use the kit tracks or some AM ones?
Olivier

Hi David.
The model is good for me.
But...do You think about change wrong kit wheels on Masterclub ones?

Thanks.

The only parts not from SP's kit will be the tracks. I've been fighting with Masterclub's resin links. I'm sure they will turn out ok in the end, but they are a bit of a challenge.

I know about Masterclub's resin links "quality". But their wheels for MT-LBU are really good.
About tracks you can use miniarm resin set or ...if you want and can find it... this ones
http://www.panzer35.ru/forum/45-4274-171113-16-1291551549
it may be sell from Sevmodel or Genaral brands.
You may try contact with this e-shop owner
www.sevmodel.com

Thought I'd post one more update before the holiday. Paint is on and she's been given a wash with oil paints. I'll eventually mount it on a base with some more dramatic weathering (light mud, etc).