I decided to go along with a nato colour pattern, I used an AK nato set and set about applying the pattern as I saw fit .The AK paints flow through the airbrush without any thinner or water but I did notice that the paints are supposed to be flat and yet all three had a distinctive glossy sheen to them. However it was not a problem as the whole thing was given a coat of floor cleaner polish I have long forgotten which one as its in an unmarked bottle but I know what it is. I shall leave it all alone now for 24 hours at least for the polish to go rock hard.

Well I got so far and at this stage I'm not quite happy with it so I'm going to go back a few steps and make a few changes

I just had to stop what I was doing for a moment to show this picture .It show the application of MIG crystal orange and the effect you can obtain with it .
you first of all apply silver paint to the area let it dry .And then apply the Mig crystal on top of that .I have found that you can build it up between coats as well.
Well I think its really good at he Het and trailer have a lot of reflectors all over it so it really makes it pop.

Changing and correcting a few things as I move along now.

Nibbling away at various details notice the left wheel up in t air how do I cure that one.

There is still a mountain of detail to be added but I may break off here from the main build and introduce the load.

A couple of shots to show both sides and the overall length of the thing





And a front shot to show the work still left to tidy up

Taking photos of the model helps to focus in on the detail of the model. For the while I'm trying to add all the bits I have left over to get as near the end as I can before I crack open the intended load.

That is one beast of a kit. Huge. Looking good.

Yes it is long and I have to find a place where it will live when it's all finished but there is still away to go yet

And another bit swiftly followed by another bit

There are still a couple of things yet to be added that's not including the windows. They still have to be added but I'm looking round for something that will tint them a weak shade of green.

The picture is not that great I need to sit down and read the manual on macro photography ,maybe one day ,too busy making models. Any ways it gives the gist of the thing.

And here's a shot of the interior

yes there is a seat missing which I cant fix until the driver is finished and I can close him in sitting on the seat.
I may now address the driver before I crack open the load.

here's my first pass at the driver how I want him to be

One other thing I am left to consider is the road. I think its too grey well it is grey and needs to be a bit red. So I may mask it up and spray it some form of red it doesn't actually represent a road that's out there somewhere. its just a grey road. I think I need to research block paved roads

Seasons greetings
And a happy christmas and new year
To all my readers

For a brief moment there I thought there was a disaster. One of those moments that you experience from time to time and realise that you have thrown away an important part or in this case parts. After emptying 2 recycle bins searching fruitlessly and coming to the conclusion their gone. You aimlessly open draws 5 times each to search for the missing pieces you open every box 5 times you have had dealings with in the last 4 weeks. And then a feeling of hopelessness falls upon you has you slowly come round to the fact that you have actually thrown them away.to echos of "where the diddly doo have they gone" And then you scan every box every place they could have been.
But suddenly in this case I remembered where they were put ,in a place so safe I had forgotten where I put the pre cut window pieces and there they were exactly where I had put them .In the box of the Load to be, in a plastic bag. Result!!! ........

I have now had a couple of tries at staining the glass(plastic) in various shades of green. Much to my dislike so I'm going to give up on it and looking at many pictures now on the net I'm not so sure that the Windows do have any green tint to them and that the efffect is the reflection from the interior and surrounding green body paint.so I think in hind site I will leave them natural couloured.to save my sanity if nothing else.

I started to fit the Windows which were pre cut a while ago. I feel I should have fitted them before I fitted the cab together as when assembled there is not a lot of room to manauver your fingers about. I used white glue to stick them in place which takes a while to set. I'm hoping that the white glue dries transparent and won't show where I've put on too much I'm also hoping to ćut it back with a sharp blade thick White glue doesn't dry transparent and will need addressing when it's dry.before I placed the Perspex Windows I did give them a rub with a white rubber to reduce the scratches on the peices.

Moving forward trying to fit the remaining pieces.

The pieces left over

Well apart from a few little touch ups here and there there isn't anything more to do as to complete it really is time to bring on the "load" ,which will need to be in place to put the fixing chains in place so it can be tied down securely. So from here on its a whole new model.i put a nominal amount of thought into what the load might be that was it could have been one of those new Abrams or one of those digger machines that have apeared in recent times or one of those new state of the art troop carriers instead I settled for something traditional but impressive non the less and there is not one piece of resin ,The next post will reveal all.