Dear All,

Since the campaign start I had no any significant progress on the Type-89 IFV other than the wheels but in the very last days I could find lots of time for modeling so here I have what I could achieve.

The kit shows its age so I had to sand way more than any of my recent models. It was specially true almost any detail. Flashes, poor joints etc... everywhere. The plastic is also a bit crappy by touch but easy to sand and glue with the Tamiya liquid cement.

The most critical parts are the hinges all around the engine covers (the holes in the hull top part are bigger than the hinges diamater) and the firing ports which are a bit tricky to insert and glue properly. It could be also that I did not follow the manual and glued them externally after the hull top and bottom were assembled and not inserting the ports before this assembly. That could have been easier probably.

Type_89_WIP_01

Also found some misalignment on the very back and the very front of the hull where I used filler and sanded a lot to ensure no open slots or nasty-looking gluing happens to be.


Type_89_WIP_03

After many plastic parts assembled I could add lots of photo-etch parts from the Lion Roar set. It was very enjoyable work to the back of the vehicle and also to the periscopes. The biggest challenge was the exhaust part which consists of 1 big (internally) slotted frame and 33 vertical grilles (which go into the slots). I tried to leave it out as long as I could and started the assembly process when I felt to be brave enough to do at all. Actually it was not that bad and for my surprise I could finish it within two hours (having 3-4 relaxing job-breaks during the process). 31 of them was nicely inserted, 2 are a bit displaced. As it would be almost impossible the remove these two w/o destroying the neighbourgh grilles, I decided to leave it as it is and hide them during the weathering process. I have no reference photo about this vehicle in a rusty-worn condition, therefor this hiding will be done with black pigments imitating soot.

Type_89_WIP_04

Type_89_WIP_02

So far so good, I am pleased what I could do so far. Next steps will be the filling of the engine hinges' holes, than cleaning the firing ports gluing errors and than I will turn to the turret details afterwards.

Cheers,

Tamás

Greetings everyone, I am just getting started with something of a niche vehicle. The instructions want me to paint what I think is a desert camo pattern on it (sand, brown, and green) but from what I've read and watched about these guns they only served in the eastern European front. I have the paints on hand to do desert, woodland, and even winter camo schemes; what do you all recommend?

Hi Robert,

This cage suprised me a lot but the refernce photo was much more a surprise!
First I thought you model an African home-made version bit it looks like an intentional upgrade by the referenc photo.

Keep on the good work, I am sure the final result will be great!

Tamás

Kunjuro,
What an awesome build on the KV1. I really like the KV series of tanks. Your painting and weathering, imho, are spot on. Great job.