Hi,

Been working on this one for about 1 1/2 months and just about got assembly done. Working on cleaning up the track links now. Just finished priming it and will be getting to paint soon.

Congratulations! Nice and clean built! Did you face any fitting problems?? Which colors do you intend to use?

It fit pretty well overall. Not much filler. The little I used was at the front of the turret, but that might have been me... Other than that, there are a bunch of TINY parts and I had some trouble holding on to them to glue. But overall fun kit. Cleaning up track links now...

I am going to use Valleo *873 for the brown and 895 for the green. Still thinking of doing a white over one color for a winter look. Have to see which color the JGSDF covers.

Looks great John, can't wait to see your paint scheme. Don M.

Good evening John,

Nice build ! ANd I confirm that you are not the only one who had to do some filling and sanding; I am almost at the same stage as you are with my Type 87, slightly behind. But I had the same portion to fill, which is very nice. I also find the kit to be fun and easy to build, despite the tiny parts (of which I lost quite a few photoetched micro parts...

Here is a link to inspire your painting.

http://tankguy.gooside.com/Paint/Paint.html

Cheers,

Marc

Thanks for the comments Marc and Don.

Yea, those tiny PE tie downs were a real challenge.

Got this one as a X-mas gift and was really impressed when I opened the lid of the box ! To be honest, I'll follow how you manage the tracks assembly wit hthe tool provided by Trumpeter.

Olivier

hi , i am watching this build great build so far. started my build but don't like the tracks. may buy a tamiya kit just for them , the tracks end connectors and centre connector do not sit level in the sprocket teeth like the real tracks do .
i only checked a real set today on a vehicle not these . to check on how they they lay.
Ossie

Quick update. Got the tracks cleaned up and here is the first upper run using the 'tool' that Trumpy supplied. They go together real easy using it.

One quick update comment (would have edited the last post, but it wasn't available right now...). Be careful with your liquid cement. On the 2nd upper run some glue got through to the tool and started to cement the track run to the tool. Luckily, I was taking off the pieces to rest on the model and caught it before it was completely set.

Well got the tracks done, and they were not too bad. Lot of cleanup. But what I don't like about them compared to the Bronco type tracks is the end-connectors look 'wrong' because they don't turn with the track. Makes it hard to get them to look 'right'



And here is the first coat of camo. Ended up using Tamiya JGSDF D Green (XF-73).




Hopefully will get the brown on later this week. Then I think I will 'lightly' cover the brown with white to look sort-of like a whitewash.

Later.

Getting the brown on...

Masking...


Painted...


Mask off...

Got her gloss-coated and decal'd this weekend. Drybrush and mount the tracks later this week. Hope to have it done for a local this weekend...





Don't know if I have a valid hull code, because the directions don't tell. I found one vehicle with this 'bat' logo on Google images, and found the closest code that I could from the decals.

very nice build.are those 40mms? great work.

Very nice looks good, Are the tracks clip together or do the need glue?

Neat job on the camo !
Concerning the track end connectors, you could twist them a bit with a tweezer to get a better look around the sprockets and idlers.
Can't wait to see it weathered.

Olivier

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Roy, the guns are 35mm. Here is a short youtube clip of them firing (less 1 min). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o5gx6HzPio

In this 2nd video at 3:10 they start loading the ammo and firing the guns... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR7eGRmOtlY

Paul, definitely need glue!

Olivier, I never thought about twisting them! I'll have to give that a shot!

Finally an update. All assembled, got her painted and wash on. Still need some detail painting, trying to determine if the JGSDF actually camos their tools on vehicles. Hard to find pics showing, and the paint guide in this kit is not the most helpful. Then will need to flat coat and at least a dusting of pastels for 'dust'.

Nice paint job John. Can't wait for seeing some dust on it

Well, here she is. Dirtied up a bit. Will put it on a plain wood base. So will show 4 pics, each side...

Front

Side 1

Side 2

Back


Edit: don't know why 2 photos are sideways. They look right in photobucket???