I'm building this one for a campaign. I'm hoping to finish it, by the end of next week. Currently, I'm removing the pin marks from the tracks with a mini chisel I made. Tonight, I should be applying my mud mixture to the lower hull.







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Looks good so far, for sure. I like how you've done the jack block and antenna trough.

Thank you for the kind words. I used MM enamels for the jack block. I weathered the wood using Vallejo German Yellow. It paints beautifully over Tamiya and enamel.
Here, you can see I've started on the pigments:

Nice work! I feel your pain on those tracks... I almost called it quits on them on my build not to long ago. Makes you wonder if dragon has stock in the aftermarket track companies. Looking forward to more.

Hey Matt - two things that might help you save time in the future.

First, I've found that small diameter fuel line used for flying aircraft makes a great quick mask for the stub axles on a tank. It's inexpensive, comes in different sizes, and can be reused. Here's an example:


The other hint is to use a dremel tool with a rounded, tapered bit to clean up the pin marks on links before you remove them from the sprues. Use light pressure and you can knock out a couple hundred links pretty quickly.

Thank you for the kind words. I will have to invest in some hose. As for the tracks, they are Magic Tracks. Most Dragon tracks have very fine ejector pin marks on them.

Guess I am just different, I paint the axle stubs. With a drop of glue and the close fit of the wheels I have never had one come off. Always different ways I reckon.

I've run into too many problems in the past getting wheels on after painting the stubs. Now, using the fuel line, the problem is solved in less than a minute.

I really don't mind using Tamiya tape. It only takes a few minutes.

That's okay, if you like doing it. To me it's a dull, drudgey job that I'd just as soon get over with as quickly and easily as possible.

I use silly putty sometimes. Its quick & reusable. But I free hand mostly because I'm lazy.

I enjoy the tedious parts.