I'm watching Steve.
Dan

Dear All,

Many Thanks to all of you for the kind comments, the build is not abandoned and I have been working hard since the last buildlog update mainly on the engine firewall and the support strut for the upper hull armour. The following images are of the firewall at the end of the last update:





and after modification:

I have removed the two plastic "antenna" designed to support the hull armour. I broke one and decided to remake them both out of metal.









A general overview of the build progress so far



I have also added the drivers handles on the steering levers



The firewall is not complete, many things left to do

S

Hi Steve

Thank you for the update - like Bob said above "WOW" (and a few more of those). I am amazed by the level of detail you put into your model(s) - and the PE work is in a class of its own.

Keep the updates coming.

Thank you once again - your work serves as an inspiration for a [novice] builder.

Regards,
Kobus

Thanks for not giving up on this project buddy! And also for not giving up on us as well.
I look forward to all of your work updates on this just as I did with the Tiger build(which I hope you will return to someday?)
Looking good!
J

Hi Steve

Trust you are keeping well. Any updates on this project?

Regards,
Kobus

I am fine and update on the way !

I have building the kit PE and its taken a while to make any significant progress. This project will be completed in 2015

Hi Steve

Thank you for the feedback - looking forward to the update(s).

Regards,
Kobus

Only just found this build - but that amount of PE is guaranteed to get my attention

Excellent work to date...

Gary

Excellent work so far, don't bother, we are following this thread... keep up...

Hello all,

Very quick update on progress, I have decided to start building the kits PE and its taking a considerable amount of time as you can imagine.

This is the Battery and another component in the engine compartment



And various bits of PE - 99% soldered 1% superglue. I am not even sure where some of this goes







Sorry about the images, the new software on the my new Windows 8 PC is not as good as the one on Windows 7 and its making all the images appear different !

Thanks for looking

S

This is an exquisite piece of work. Looking forward to watching it progress.

N

Hi Steve

Thank you for the update - your PE work is simply amazing. I watch in awe.

Keep up the excellent work - this is going to be an awesome model when you finish it.

Regards,
Kobus

All that PE looks pretty intimidating to me, I can see why you are taking your time! I will have to practice my soldering techniques before attempting this one. Keep it up!

Hello All,

Its been a long time since the last update but as I am planning on finishing this build over Christmas I have been pushing ahead.

First a few views if the SPG with the fenders complated and fitted along with the gun shield.

The fenders were very easy to make but a real devil to fit as they have almost no mounting points to the hull and I had to create some.





Next a few images of the rest of the gun shields, they are loosly fitted in place







and a shot from above



A detailed shot of the front gun shield



and both of the others



this one is largely incomplete



More to follow

Thanks for looking

S

Very impressive PE work. Wish I had the skill and patience to do it justice as you have. Really dresses up what in my opinion was an average kit. Looking forward to seeing more.

Thanks for this Christmas present buddy! Stirling work as usual,specially on the PE stuff.
J

Very impressive build Steve, please keep going, I am watching closely as I have the same kit with the Griffon set. I also have the Dragon M with the Griffon set. There sure is a lot of etch in these sets. Such a shame not all can be seen when finished. Your update on the floor mounts was very informative. I will be following closely, cant wait to see your next update.Thank you for sharing Steve and Merry Xmas. Regards...Dale

wow!! great PE skills! looking forward to the finished project

wow thats a lot of PE! lol have fun!
Good job.

Dear All,

Thanks for all the very kind and encouraging posts since my last update and Happy New Year

I have been working on the project over Christmas and New Years and its becoming obvious that I will not be able to get it completed by the time I return to work as planned. When a single PE part takes 45 minutes to build and solder I discovered that a mornings work is not always very productive.

I was planning on somehow leaving the engine bay opened or unglued but this proved impossible due to the placement of the exhaust. The result will be that all engine bay details will be forever hidden and as a result I have not installed them and sealed the bay.

On the plus side the rear of the model is largely complete











and I have started construction on the front of the hull. I will be modding the gun support so that it actually works (if I dont mess it up)Those small brass support rests took about three hours to make, solder and line up. If I left it plastic it would have taken 15 minutes



Thanks for looking

S

Wow, just wow. I continue to be amazed at your PE skills and patience!

Thanks for the comment Colin,

A quick update,I have been working on the gun mount and installed it on the front of the hull, unlike the kit part which does not move once installed this one is fully workable



One with the hull armour installed



More to follow

S

Seeing work like this makes me want to quit building! Amazing stuff man!

Just incredible workmanship Steve, a real pleasure to look at your updates. Keep the updates coming, I for one cant wait to see the next one.

Hi, Steve! DITTO for me!

I have one of these, along with the same GRIFFON PE kit and the LION ROAR Armor Plate set. It's been sitting in my "un-built" inventory, which I am in the process of liquidating, because I'll NEVER live long enough to build literally hundreds of my models- I'm a too painstaking fuss-budget of a modeller!