Hi all,
here is some results of my work on this variant of the French VAB.
The base kit id the Heller one. I added some bits from Blats to the driver compartment and the Mial set from Azimut. This one is not that comprehensive and you'll have to do some extra job to get a full interior.

Missing parts to be scratchbuilt : firing posts racks, MIRA battery charger and its rack (behind the vehicle batteries rack), MIRA coolant bottles racks (under the former and one bench seat), missiles stowing rack (upper part under the roof)

Parts to detail : all the seats are lacking the horizontal tubing at the bottom, the gunner seats are missing their legs (!).

I think that there is a dimensional problem with the firing post itself, unless it is due to the kit itself. But when comparing with real vehicle pics, the Milan post looks too long. So I had to cheat a bit

Here are the rear compartment pics








Thanks for the comments
Olivier

I don't know anything about the vehicle so I can't comment on that aspect of it.

From a technical construction aspect -nice job. Things look to be evenly cut and assembled. They appear to be in scale and neatly put together.

The seat closest to the back on the vehicles right side looks to be made out of metal plating, is that correct? Also, it looks to angle down in the middle a bit (2nd picture).

In the 4th picture the two scratchbuilt structures have the larger/wider piece on the opposite side from each other. This may be by design and ok. It's just something I noticed.

Hi Scott, you're right about the metal plating. A small cushion is still missing like the one on the left side. The parts are not glued for the pictures this is why the seat angles down a bit.




I know this looks odd but the firing post rack is a unique piece which can be mounted on both sides so in real life the post is looking forward or backward depending on the side it is stored. You can see pictures of the real thing on my site.

Olivier

Oliver,
Very nice beginnings, indeed. I enjoy the way you took a resin offering and chose to embellish it. The construction points I look for - as Scott described above - are how true, or square, the details are in relation to each other and how finished each scratchbuilt detail appears. Raw, unfinished edges are a big deal to me, as are how identical parts, like seats, are duplicated throughout the build. Are they true to each other in dimension and finish ... ? You seem to have nailed all these in fine shape! It may sound cliche, but the old scratchbuilding addage, "Clean and square and you're halfway there" certainly holds true in this case. Good job and looking forward to more updates.

Mike Kirchoff

The firing post was more just a question than critique, it make sense the way a piece is made a 'part' may be manufactured on the right side so when you place them opposite each other then will naturally 'flip'.

Lookin' good.

Hi Scott,
I didn't take your remark as a critique. In fact, symetry is rather natural for most of us and this kind of "flipped" thing looks sometimes odd.

Thanks for all your comments all of us

Olivier

Great Looking Olivier
I hope to see new progress pics

Seb

Hi all,
here are some more pictures.





More pictures in My gallery

I'm not happy with the markings on the missiles but I hope AA will sell their decals separately.

Olivier

Great to see another one of your projects Olivier. Looks like it will turn out excellent as usual. Can't comment on your Milan missiles ( Being an ex-TOW squad- and plt. leader myself), but does it really show when you glue the hull together?

Erik