Just started another SP Artillery piece.



I haven't seen many Japanese models here, so I thought I'd try something different.



Just test fitted the upper and lower hull with the rear armor plate.



I removed the sponson bottoms from the lower hull and glued them to the upper hull. This will make installing the track easier.



Test fit perfect.


Now to add all the little parts.
Donald

Have some more work finished.





The Gun travel lock is verry tricky to assemble.
Donald

Have the main assembly finished, and painted.



I have been working on the wheels.



The wheels have a vinyl tire for them. You have to put the tire on the correct way, or it won't fit right.





Now for the track.
Donald

I finished one quite some time ago... made so many boo-boos with this ... You might want to be very careful with the tracks or you will end up like me http://www.armorama.co.uk/forums/220757&page=1

I don't see anything wrong with your build, I just hope mine comes out half as good.
There are a lot of nitpicker that like to knock a build.
I build just for my one enjoyment,
Donald

The Track is finally assembled.









I had to give the connector links that go around the idler , & sprocket a slight twist to get them to look right.

Now to paint them.
Donald

It's coming along very nicely. I'm watching this with interest, as I may build one of these at some point. Thanks for the construction tips.

I have the tracks painted & installed.



You get a choice of rubber pads or bare metal.

It's a really tight fit if you didn't remove the sponson floor.





That's all for now.
Donald

Very nice! How easy were the tracks to assemble? What colors are you using for the JGSDF camo?

The hardest part on the tracks was the clean up. You have 91 Track shoes & 91 Rubber pads if you are using them, for each track run.
They went together rather loosely (no snap fit) I bent the end connectors slightly on the shoes that went around the curved sections . If you don't they just won't look right.
I assembled the track runs in top & bottom sections, as seen in the pictures.
As you can see from the pictures the clearance between the return rollers isn't very much.
As for the paint for the Hull I used Tamiya XF26 Dark Green & Tamiya XF52 Dark Earth . These colors were called for on the Painting sheet. There is some JGSDF Paint out now numbers XF72 JGSDF Brown & XF73 JGSDF Dark Green , if you can find them .
Donald

Here is a close up of how the track fits around the sprocket after bending the connectors slightly.

Thanks, Donald! That's very helpful.

All finished, I have 15 Pics. to post.

This is a really nice kit. The only mistakes I found are The numbers D4 & D5 the sides if the rear turret basket are reversed .

This kit is now officially FINISHED
Donald

Looks pretty nice--will you be putting a machine gun in the hatch mount?

I'm not planning to ad a Mg. to the mount. The Japanese had a special mount for the 50 Cal.
The one that comes with the kit is worse than the old Monogram Mgs.
Donald