Cory,

I think you nailed it. The challenger 2 has a totally new turret which is completely different from the challenger 1 and indeed the coax MG protrudes from the front of the mantlet. It's still a 7.62mm machine gun and very similar to the version used in the warrior APC , if memory serves me made by General Dynamics? Chain gun I think is the name?


Dan

Quite simply, a stunning build Dan!
Looking forward to some paint!

Joe.

Thank you Joe,

Main assemblies are primed, they have been left to dry for 24 hours, lower hull around the running gear has had some mud effects added under the primer. Painting starts today.











Cheers

Dan

Preshade time.








Dan

Preshading now done, onto the green.





Dan

Basic top coat colours are on.











More later..

Dan

Detail work starting.









cheers for looking

Dan

Very nice Dan.

Looks great under a coat of paint.

Paul

Thanks Paul,


So a bit more work and painting done.

Drivers scope unmasked, just need the PE wipers adding now



Camnet








Enjoy

Dan

Commanders sight unit wiper assembly added along with
drivers scope wipers.








Cheers for looking

Dan

Decal time, still have the callsign boards to add to the turret yet but the rest are now on, they are from the Echelon set for the Challenger 1.















More later

Dan

Fantastic build so far. Got a challenger 1 in the stash, but I've lost the screws & nuts for the barrel etc. Any idea what size they are?

Thanks Paul,

As for the screw the only pointer I can give you is the instructions say 3mm ? I think any around that size would do TBH fella.


Dan

Fantastic stuff Dan and some real nice details.

Which paint have you used.

Paul

Thanks Paul,

It's a custom mix of Tamiya paints, XF-58 olive green, XF-67 NATO Green , XF-81 RAF Green 2 and XF-73 D Green JGSDF.
A drop of buff if you need t further lighten it up.

The black is standard Tamiya Nato Black XF-69.

Cheers

Dan

The paint job looks as good as build!

Cheers!

Marco

Thanks Dan.

No Problem mate, happy to help.

Some better photo's of todays work, C/S markings now done on the turret and I've weathered up the recovery gear on the back of the hull.















More later folks, have a great weekend all.

Dan

The weathering is beautiful. Did you put the decals down on the matt surface?

That is one Nice Challenger! Very inspiring build!

loving this.

Thank you guys,

I use a localised coat of future/ klear just where the decals are going to be placed, I apply them using the Daco setting solution which is a version of Micro Set /soft and allow them to dry for 24 hours. After that I apply one more layer of future/klear and once dry just spray a localised coat of flat varnish.

I have found that glossing the whole tank and going on to flat varnish the whole thing can change the tone or hue of the final colours so my method restricts this and saves on time and products.

If you have any areas with decals added that still look like they have tone/texture or hue difference I spray the base colour heavily thinned over the area at quite low pressure including the decal and you can match it back up to the main base coat with out covering the decal, in fact it knocks off some of the starkness of the decal.

You can only really use this method with very thin decals I have found, as thick decals like Tamiya stand proud of the surface and are noticeable.

Regards

Dan

Quick update, rear turret callsign decals are now done,

Recovery ropes have has the first paint, Vallejo Oily Steel.
And the recovery butterfly has been repainted Alclad Pale burnt metal, this bit of kit so I have been told was never painted. It figures as we never painted recovery ropes or any kit that gets a lot of stress and force applied. Its also not a pure steel colour but it had a yellow tint.














Enjoy folks

Dan

Another early morning update, state of play as at 09:22 Zulu


















Cheers

Dan

I've corrected the turret side call sign markings,
these are much better.
















Cheers

Dan