I will be blogging my build here. First off:

Link to thread with walk arounds

Second, there will be a kit review going up soon.

Looking forward to getting this beast up and built.

You may have picked the wrong kit Jacques, based on comparison builds between the Panda and Amusing Hobby models on a French forum...

Me I'm sitting on the fence waiting for reviews of the Takom release before I make my order.

Cheers,

Christophe

Christophe, I did it for a kit review. It is not horrible. In fact, here is my review:

Jacques,
what's happening with your BMP-1 and T-80U blogs ?

Sean

Comparsion review of Panda & Takom nuclear objects
http://tieba.baidu.com/p/2689746512

At quick glance, that Takom one looks very nice indeed. Turret texture is noticeably better.

What's interesting is the option for the short barrel version. New to me?

That's so strange the way there's a series of sprue detail shots taken through the polythene bag.

My VERY quick take on the Takom kit:

1. Better texture (from photos, I need to see it in person)

2. It has clear lens parts

3. It offers variety in barrels, figure, and MG barrels.

4. Add on "plating" detail looks very nice.

BUT...

1. It is very similar to the build design of the Panda kit

2. I am not sure about the PE engine deck screens...

3. Same issue with tracks and some periscopes....pin marks.

4. Fuel tanks actually look TOO complicated (from looking at the instructions...again, I need to look at this in person)

5. Integrated hull side panels is, actually, not as nice in my mind.

6. rivet detail on hull side panels seems overdone?

Finally, how do prices compare?

I may have come up with a way to deal with the Panda texture issue...will report on it after I try it.

Takom kit looks good, but I will reserve final judgement until after I have one in hand.

Hi;

O.K. JD; this may be a stupid question, why is the Takom Item called Object 269 ! Is it because of the Different Barrels or is it something that I missed in the Transcripts.

CHEERS; MIKE.

And is the short barrel legit? First I have seen of it or is it bogus?

Greg

Mike, where are you seeing 269? Everything I am seeing is Object 279.

The short barreled version is the Object 279M. I am not certain at this point, but IIRC it was either a proposal to put a 152mm barrel on it ala the ISU-152 series (think Object 704) or a missile shooting system like the US M551 Sheridan tank (to appease Khrushschev?)

I will (hopefully) post pics tonight of my experiment.

Hi Guys;

Hi JD; from one of the Advertisements on the Top right hand corner of our Main Page there was a Ad, for the Takom kit, and its Title was Object 269. Maybe just a type-o, but that was what they had on the Box art, Maybe I was seeing things, I am a Old Fart

CHEERS; MIKE.

I saw that too

I have now seen the Object 269 ad. Yeah, I think Pacific Coast Models muffed that one.

For the BMP-1 and T-80U Blogs, they are now active again!

And for the experiment to remove the texturing on the hull/turret, I had an idea: Future Floor Polish is self-leveling. So...I brushed on some THINNED DOWN Future onto a few select areas of the tank to see what would happen. Because my solution was thinned down, it does not have to be - mine is because I keep some handy in a container for air brushing, I had to apply 2 coats rather than 1. Decide for yourself if it makes a difference.



On the hull, can you see a difference?



On the front of the hull, I think my thinned future is TOO thin. I have not yet tried it with full strength Future...sorry.





It made a VERY good change on the turret "roof". MUCH smoother.

I did prime the parts quickly to show the effect. With just the future on it did not show well. I did not have time to give it a pin wash to show what texture is left.

The nasty seam under the front "lip". This was slowly glued together to minimize the seam, but...it should not be there so the putty will be coming out...



The pinhole on the underside of the barrel...small, but noticable without putty...



Putty work on the turret join near the searchlight...the only real seam problem on the turret...



The rear deck with the PE screens on. They fit so nicely that I only used liquid cement to glue them on. Nicely done.



and the "feet". The "foot" on the right has a couple of return roller pins broken off...that is how they came in the kit. Gonna be fun fixing that as the return rollers do not go on all the way over the pin...they are not flush with the hull"protrusion". Fun fun fun. The left "foot" shows the seam in the front, from the 2 halves join, that will have to be puttied.

more comparsion of Object 279's models
http://tieba.baidu.com/p/2700869907

Adding the future to the kit parts. It is working out better than I thought, but slow. Honestly, I dread the tracks.

I think I would get the Takom kit JUST for the figure. But... it is interesting seeing 3 different companies doing the same kit. I do think the differences only stand out when they are side-by-side though. It looks like the Takom is shaped much differently than the other 2.


Great to know and thanks for the links!





Jeff

Did this tank have a hydraulic suspension that could be lowered as shown in the tank on the bottom example in the below link?

http://tieba.baidu.com/photo/p?kw=%C4%A3%D0%CD&flux=1&tid=2689746512&pic_id=3e99b051f8198618b473269648ed2e738bd4e66b&pn=1&fp=2&see_lz=1

Yes, the 279 had a complicated hydropneumatic suspension. Not sure they would lay it on the ground for any reason other than maintenance though....

Thanks Jacques.....might build one like that. Working on the Panda now....

Update:

I added Future to the rest of the kit parts I thought needed it to reduce the cast surface texture. Of particular interest were the rear engine deck and the turret top plate. I also sprayed some future on, as a whole, to help reduce some of the texture in other spots that seemed overdone, but should still be visable.

Results:











Now for primer...

I decided to move on from my experimentations with the hull texture. I primed and then drybrushed the areas so that you could see the differences. I am satisfied with the change. If you don't really care about the texture, then this does not apply to you at all. If you do care, this is the best way to deal with it.

The turret. The top is now as smooth as I want, it definitely looks smoother than the rest of the turret and looks like rolled steel, as it should.







I really had to scrub the drybrushing on the turret top to show any texture at all.

The hull was the same. The engine panel in the middle of the rear deck is also as smooth as I wanted it, and as it should be.





In the process, I have been able to look over the front paneling and I am happier with how it looks than I originally was.

Working with the "legs" to get them ready, I attempted to putty the seams on their faces. I somewhat succeeded. They are now not as noticeable as the photos suggest.

Far better than the kit's original look, with no doubts!!!