From day to day, it becomes more and more interesting. Congratulations! I'm expecting a sequel.
Наздраве братле!

I can’t speak for everyone else; but I know I’ve got a few kits I can use for this one!

Welcome!

Here's where I am on the Takom M9 ACE:







I've left off the drive sprockets until I get ready to mount the tracks. The rear panel was painted tonight. I'll put it on later, before doing the tracks.

Nice progress, Richard!

Not much modelling from my side lately-SWMBO said she needs some vacation
So I spent one week away from my modelling room and upon return I found my mojo was still on vacation...

Well, discipline is discipline, even in modelling...

I started construction of the lower part of the bridge laying arm(quite difficult subject, many curved lines, plenty of crossmembers for rigidness).Then moved to the hydraulic cylinders mid support and built the laying cylinder.

Some pictures:
AVLB in transport position


AVLB in deployed position


All laying arm parts are test-fitted.
Some are still not finished, because additional alignment (including with parts to be built) is needed.

While building this subassembly, I realized the set of pictures and drawings I have at hand is not sufficient enough.

Made a search for some manuals.
The original NVA BLG-60M-2 ones cost around 100EUR/111 USD...Mission impossible!

But...
I was lucky to find 2 Bulgarian Manuals-

one for the BLG-60M-2 and one for its Polish version-the BLG-67 for less than 8 EUR/9 USD

Will receive them tomorrow and will continue with my build,

Thanks Angel! Yours is coming along nicely too. I too just got back from vacation. I got home yesterday afternoon and picked up where I left off on the tracks.





Getting the drive sprocket teeth to fit in the tracks after painting was a bit of a pain; but fortunately everything lined up and there are no floating tracks or roadwheels!

Got to be happy with the find Angel. As long as they give you what you need, that is a bargain.

Looking Great Richard. Seems like a lot of parts for a small vehicle.

Yup. 59 tracks per side and the track pad is a separate part so it's really 118 per side. At least the guide horn is molded on!

I've got to do some masking on the inside of the hull plates tonight so hopefully I'll be able to sling some paint this weekend and move on to the dozer blade assembly.

Thanks Richard,Peter!

BLG-67 Manual is very usefull-thorough description of operation and some usefull plumbing diagrams.
BLG-60M-2 Manual (unfortunately) is of no use...It contains mainly description of those tank systems, that differ from the standard T-55A.Anyway-money for books is never spent in vain.

I'm stil working on the upper part of the laying arm.
Managed to construct all hydraulic cylinders, that swing the arm, plus the smaller(spread) cylinder, that opens the scissor bridge through a system of pulleys.

Some pictures:
BLG-60M-2 with laying arm retracted:


BLG-60M-2: laying arm is in position when scissor bridge raise is finished(bridge is vertical):


BLG-60M-2 with laying arm in position when bridge is deployed(although spread cylinder rod with hook should be retracted):


Total length as per last picture is 52 cm.
Deployed scissor bridge will add another 41 cm.(actualy-56 cm, but there is a 15 cm. overlapp with the upper part of the laying arm, incl. extended spread cylinder rod), to give a total deployed length of 93 cm.

Real monster

Awesome...

Wow Where did all such crazy ideas come from?
Congratulations.
Kalin

Thanks Peter!

And thanks, Kalin!
To your question- what else to expect from an empty can?

Good morning/afternoon/evening everybody! How are your build projects for the campaign coming? It's been kinda quiet 'round here lately!

My Takom M9 ACE is almost finished. I've got a few small detail pieces to put on then I'm going to seal it and put on the custom decals I printed.

Hope everyone is making great progress! Don't forget to post at least a couple pics along the way!

My BLG-60M-2 build is idling for the last 4 weeks...

I received a very comprehensive walkaround of an ex-NVA vehicle from Mr.Andreas Kirchhoff(my sincere thanks to him) and had to rework some areas of the laying arm components to make them look the part.




I'm now stuck with hydraulic lines construction approach.Tested some solutions, but am not quite happy sofar.

My plan is to return to this build next month.I'll start with the construction of the scissor bridge, because
I need to calculate how much styrene I'll use on it and- if necessary- replenish my stocks before October 31st
(I'm buying the styrene I use from UK)...

Looks awesome, Angel!

Stunning work Angel. A treat to the eyes.

I have been looking after my wife who broke several bones in a cycling collision, so bench time has been low. I'm concentrating on my MBT and Stalingrad builds (due for completion this weekend) then back to the flail...

Thanks Richard!

And thanks Peter!
Hope your wife feels better now,

Finishing up the last of the little, fiddly bits.








I've already seen a couple spots that I need to touch up before I put the driver's hatch back on and seal everything.

I made some custom decals for the 1st Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Infantry Division (HOOAH!!) and made myself the driver!

Left Side


Front


Right Side


Rear



Now I'm gonna throw some mud on the lower parts and maybe a light dusting over the top then I'm calling this one done! If you want to see it in person come to SuperCon in Arlington, Texas next weekend, September 14th.

Excellent job, Richard!
Love the custom made decals,

Thanks Angel!

Love the name too.

If I only I could get to Texas next weekend.

I couldn't even get to Armorfest in Cairns Queensland last week although a few of my club guys went and rode various tanks:
Sherman Firefly
Panzer IV Ausf G
M113 FSV
T55

Lucky them.....

https://www.ausarmour.com/ausarmourfest/

OK. I think I'm going to stop with this one before I F*** it up worse than I already have. This was my first time using pigments and I'm not all that pleased with it.

Left


Right


Front


Rear



I'll shoot a couple pics tomorrow for the campaign gallery. I might do the Stryker Engineer Squad Vehicle next when I finish the SA-4.

I look forward to seeing what the rest of you can do.

OK, guys. I've uploaded my two pics to the campaign gallery. I'll be monitoring this thread and watching the gallery.

Let's see whatcha got!

Congratulations on crossing the finish line here, Richard!
"Dust Bunny" looks terrific!

I've added some details to my BLG-60M-2 like fenders, headlights with protection cages, parking lights with wiring, convoy light, some other tiny details and one of the towing ropes:





Intend to start building the scissor bridge in the last week of this month.

I am preparing the vehicle for a modelling contest participation (WIP section) next weekend, so stay tuned for more updates,

That looks terrific, Angel. Truly excellent work. I can't wait to see the bridge section!

I'm hoping there's a vendor at my club's contest this weekend that has the new M60A2 AVLB! THAT will be going home with ME!!