Hi all, this is Trumpeter kit that I am going to build following video review from Jim http://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/10311
Please check that link if you are interested in sprue images and box content.

Here I will post images from build process and paint it as well.
Overall, I am impressed with the quality of parts and detail. But I have to admit I haven't checked it dimensionally yet.


As with many kits the build starts with suspension and here we have 2 sprockets, 14 large road wheels and 6 return rollers. Each element is made of 3 parts - 2 halves and a hub cap. Some sanding was required to make the surface of road wheels and rollers smooth, but that is not a big deal. I like the detail on these elements including cast texture on the road wheels.




What is also pleasing is that there is no flash around small openings.

Sprockets look good as well - note the fine bolt detail on the inner side of these elements.


More to be posted later today Join the party

walkaround that might be useful for others

https://picasaweb.google.com/116579531675940889219/704152II?authuser=0&feat=directlink#

I am building one too. So far the suspension alignment is the only hurdle I had to cross.

had no issues here, but agree that the fit was a bit loose.

Glued sprocket housing and torsion bars. The very first should be another part. I corrected that already.


Here it is. Note that it is absolutely different from other torsion bars. Idler tension mechanism is installed as well.

Running gear view. I thinned mud scraper with sanding stick.



And here is rear deck installed. Nice detail all around.

Great start! Looking forward to seeing more!

Here comes the mantlet. Needs some putty and cast texturing at the seam line afterwards.

Looks massive!

Upper hull, mantlet, barrel - everything dryfitted.

The forum is downsizing the pictures. If you want big size - please right click and open in new window.

Roman looking great can't wait to see what you do with the paint job you can go nuts with it
dave

Thanks, David!

I joined the upper hull with lower hull - note the absolute absence of weld seams imitation in these areas and they are present on the original vehicle. Some will say it doesnt matter as these areas will be covered with mud, etc, but it is just not right


The 3 bars on the each side are for extra sheets that will be glued later on.

And here are first adjustments I noticed and corrected - the lockers for the tow hooks in the rear will be too close to the hooks if you glue them as per instruction. Location marks sanded off, lockers relocated.

That upper hull looks cool! Nice work so far!

thanks!

Here are the 2 barrels included. Actually, the plastic barrel is not that bad - at least it has thinner side walls, while metal looks like very thick one...

RB Models just announced a correct barrel for this kit. It's on todays news section of this very website.

Greg

i so wish someone would manufacture a BL10 barrell for this.

Great news, I will wait for RB model barrel!

Here is another disappointment - the tracks in the kit (and that means that the tracks in the KV-1s/Su-152 kits as well) are 2mm wider then they should be meaning that they are useless if you care about accuracy. Luckily there are several sets that can be used to replace these and I took the Masterclubs that have correct dimensions.

The image speaks for itself Kits tracks also have heavier detail overall.

and another thing - I assume there is something with the wheel base in that kit as original data says 86 links per side and Trumpeter has 84 in the manual. Well, Trumpeter's tracks are out of proper size but look here. When using metal tracks with correct size I got a lot of sag with 86 links and 84 would not be sufficient here.
There is no way to adjust idler position without modifications, so I will keep it as it is, or maybe skip one lightweight split track to avoid that sag.

Hi,

Thanks for the blog! I feel your pain about the tracks, it's the same for T-34 tracks, difficult to adjust for sag, even when the idler mount is kept moveable…

Would it be possible to have a front view so we could have a better idea of how the model looks with the proper width tracks?

Thanks in advance!

Cheers,

Christophe

Christophe, I just finished building second chain yesterday and will take frontal image tonight. I think I will take out 1 lightweight track for OK sag

Btw, there is a very good video on WoT youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMJf-2RtRcg

there is a second part of the video there as well.
What I noticed after watching it is that commanders and drivers hatches are more complex then Trumpeter did them. They had a fixed part with the periscope and sliding cover. Meaning that if you do that model you can't open these hatches to put a figure unless you do surgery and correct the hatch.... too bad.

Such a beautiful machine. Cant wait to get my hand on one, but im waiting untill more people sell it on ebay because you only can get it from one or two sellers atm and its kinda overpriced imo.