1) The HVSS bogie mounting plate (part S13) and the return roller mount (S9) squash against one another. Place the bogie plate on first, shave about 0.8mm off of the circular mount of S9 in order to get it to fit on its placement stub. If you place S9 on first, the bogie won't be able to sit flush with the bottom of the hull -- a very bad problem.
2) Aluminum barrel: a nice touch but its weight definitely makes it a bit awkward to work with once you get other elements of the 155mm gun. Especially in dry fitting the gun mount to the chassis
3) Don't forget part C20 on the left side of the gun. To properly place this, you need to secure the elevation of the gun. Remove the placement stub on C15's rod in order to allow more options of final elevation placement.
4) Take your time placing the major body panels (B33 and F1) because misalignment or will show up on the upper fighting compartment wall's top edge.
5) Duh! Watch the misalignment of the major parts. I was too quick to glue together the gun barrel halves and also the gun cradle. I spent time going back to smooth out the step that I left behind!
6) Use sprue cutters -- some of AFV Club's attachment points are large or in tight spots. I've already snapped or bent parts when removing off of the sprue by not being diligent.
The wires to the rear lights are obvious in TM drawings and pictures. I need to take some time to see what extent I want to wire up my kit.
Other research notes and a "first look" review was prepared by me and placed on the AMPS homepage:
http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/reviews/showReview.aspx?ID=21&Type=FL
Overall, it's a fun build. It's a hefty box -- wider than your normal Sherman. That 155mm gun is a beast too! I'm leaning on depicting either "Cyd Charisse" (Not CYO Charisse) or "Big Bruiser", both of the 937th FABn in Korea.
Will keep everyone up to date on my progress.
