Placing the torsion bar suspension in the hull is also fairly simple, but the parts are handed, so keep them separate if you cut them all of at once. The left hand side bars will not fit in the right hand side hull mounts, so if you have trouble getting them in, you are on the wrong side. There are new hydraulic shocks for this kit, each marked for it's position, either LR, RR, LF or RF, for left and right rear, left and right front, respectively. There were large pour tabs to remove, and some small details that are not for this version of the Panzer III.
The rear hull went on easily. I opened up the exhausts a little more and haven't put the chains on the smoke candle rack as I didn't want to knock them off and lose them. Fit was very good. I didn't take a picture, but the hull front lower plate was also glued in, and then the mounts for the final drive were glued on.
The fenders are next. Assembly was fairly quick, although the instructions are a little busy. The only etch parts are the base for the fire extinguisher and two mounting strips that I am waiting to put on so I don't lose or damage them. I also left off the headlights and rear light as I tend to break them.
Next up is the upper hull. The hull front has two hatches and the brake covers. The rear hull has the metal etch screens and engine access covers. The hull mounted MG comes with multiple parts, including a bag for the spent shell casings. The gun is well detailed and the ball mount moves. As the inside won't be seen, I left off all the extra parts and added them to the spares bin. Only the upper receiver was used. I left the driver's vision port in the open position. Tom Cockle stated over at Missing Lynx that the etch rain visor was wrong for this kit, but I used it anyway. There is a small spot on the sprue to bend this into shape. The instructions are a little poor on that part, as the front lip should be bent up slightly. I guessed as well as I could. The side vision ports are made to be operable with careful use of glue. Old fashioned tube glue worked better here than the extra thin liquid glue, which quickly wicks into all small joints and sticks it all shut.
The turret cupola requires extra attention. There are five inner window brackets, five armored windows, one inner turret ring, five lower and upper armored louvers for the outside, ring base and the hatches, which I will add later. Care and patience will get it done. The assembly of the gun mount is done in two parts. The left hand side has two MG 34. The top halves of the mounting brackets are reversed in the instructions. Then slide the guns forward as far as they will go. The 37mm gun breech had a fairly good sized seam that I didn't fill as I expected that it would not show on the completed model. Putting the two halves together and leaving them moveable was again tricky. I used thick glue to keep it controllable and allow me to keep the mount moveable. Same thing with the vision ports on the sides of the turret. which again are workable. Everything still moves, so I did all right.
With the major sections built I did the two track runs. They are handed, and bagged separately by shade of gray. I did them in smaller sections, then put the sections together, and then wrapped them all at once on the running gear, which was set in place but not glued. Then I noticed I had put them on backwards, so I had to quickly remove them and reverse them. Instructions call for 98 links, but I removed two as the sag was so severe. After that, I did a test fit of the three upper hull sections and the turret. Everything went together with no fit issues, so as soon as I get some more time I can add the small details and get painting.
I made notes on my instructions of small issues that came up, which I will post in detail next time. For now, this has been, as I said, a very easy build. Makes me want to get another Panzer III.
