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I know my skills suck and yes the overall finish is a total disappointment, but hey, I'm still trying to acquire skills.
????? Did anybody say your buidling suck?
I don't think it sucks!
Actually I find it a rather good build!
And I don't say that as a "attaboy" comment, but I really mean it!
Personally I envy you for the cammo painting; that's a weak spot in my techniques and I find the cammouflage on your model very good!
About the (missing) asseciores: if you look on
this page on the Missing Linx website you find several pictures of the vehicle, and I don't see many asseciores on the "real thing" either. So, I don't think you model is missing anything at all. But if you think it's missing something you can always try to find some spares from other kits or try a bit of scratchbuilding. But, as I said, I don't miss anything on your model!
Don't forget; in real it was a very simplified vehicle itself!
This model is definatly NOT a dissapointment!
It's neatly build, has great cammouflage and is well weathered and well done decals (no gloss on them for instance!).
My ONLY critic (as was allready stated by the other Paul (AKA tankmodeler) are the vinyl tracks. On the mentioned pictures you can see the tracks are "hanging" a bit between the upper wheels. It's a detail that is hard to model with the vinyl tracks.
There are some tricks to change it. When you want to use the vinyl tracks and they are not glued on the wheels and tyhe suspension is still workable / movable, you can use the following technique:
Add some bits of sprue as "spacers" between the body/hull of the vehicle and the upper tracks in a way you push the tracks down. Do this while you put some weight on the model (in a way that the lower tracks stay flat on the undergound and the wheels are lined up horizontal).
If you find the right position of the tracks let some superglue drips flueing between all wheels and track and let dry. Than remove the spacers and the tracks are done. But be carefull with this method! Sometimes the tracks are a bit too short and too stiff. The suspension will brake off due to the track pushing the parts together. A way to avoid it is to soften the vynil tracks a bit with a hairdryer. But, look out again with the hairdryer! Soften the tracks, but not melt them (or other parts of the model).
An other method would be replacing the tracks with separate linked tracks (such as those from Friul).
These tracks are also called Individually Linked Tracks or "Indy tracks" (my first months on Armorama I thought they refered to racing tires with this!!!)
Just cut the vinyl tracks an place the new ones. When the suspension is glued solid on the model you carefully have to remove and replace the suspension and wheels in the right position. If the suspension is movable, you only have to add the new tracks.
If the tracks are "done"; this is to become a great model!
As said, Friul offers tracks for this model. Their (metal) tracks have weight of their own and therefor are "hanging through" between the wheels by itself. If you can find plastic separate tracks for it (aftermarket product or perhaps spares from some other model) you probably have to glue them in a way the tracks hang a bit.
A good article about using Indy tracks can be found on Armorama.
See
Bob Lester's article "Make Tracks!" Indy tracks come in dfferent brands and different prices. For instance for a Tiger tank 1:35 prices vary from 30 euro's to 3,95 euro. And not always are the best results achieved with the most expensive ones!!!
Take care!
Paul