ACE FV-4005 stage 2

[chrisonord]

No pictures of this as yet, but I shall explain what this thing is like to build, and its back story for being built. Firstly, if you are not familiar with ACE 1/72nd scale model kits, they are without exageration, very challenging. My firs kit of theirs, a soviet BTR  got stuck in the grave yard for several years befor coming back out to be finished as best as possible. Lots of flash and badly fitting parts and instructions that get considerably lost, and have too much happening in them, that and sprues/parts being wrongly numbered. The FV-4005 is no different, and has caught me out big time by ommiting a vital internal part, but hey ho. The turret went together reasonably well, and didn't need a.lot of putty and only the edges smoothing off where parts didn't fit too well. The hull, well that's another story, the front angled plate doesn't fit properly at the top, and leaves quite a step, which can't be easily sanded down due to the detail around it, also the detail is quite soft on this kit, much like others. The front mudguards will not fit one bit in the shape that they are, so they need to be cut down and the angle that goes against the hull cut the other direction, mine isn't a perfect fit, but l don't care  As said before the instructions are awful and too cluttered, so don't expect to glide through building this thing, one thought is to cross off each part as you put it on, then you aren't chasing your own tail. The tracks on this, of ehich there are 2 sets are rubber, and are nasty, I have yet to install them, but it looks like they are of the type that need melting together with heat(marvelous). I will tty to get some pictures of what I have done so fat, but I didn't want to jinx it as this think could have been put away never to be seen again.
Now for it back story. Quite simply the FV-4005 in my world was a good idea, and put into production, not many were made, and all were sent to Germany, and put into uniits of Centurions, but were kept away from the front of the battle field. Their massive anti tank guns in theory, would be able to hit enemy tanks and destroy them from well beyond the reach of the Soviet tanks, which because of its very thin turret armour was a good thing. The FV-4005 didn't stay in service for very long as it was rapidly becoming vulnerable, and difficult to maintain, so they all got sent back to Blighty and put into storage away from prying eyes, due to the weapon system still being secret. A few years down the line and the vehicle became completely obsolete due to the invention of anti tank rockets, and the soviets having much better tanks. The cheiftan tank took the place of both the Centurion and FV-4005   as well as the Conqueror in Germany. The FV-4005's either got given to museums, or scrapped, but some ended up in Africa, being used as mobile heavy artillery, and thus some became defenders of the Uranium mines, and did so well into the late 1970's. Amunition became a problem for these, as their 183 mm guns were quiet unique, so an indigenous company was set up to not only make amunitions for the guns but also make spare parts to keep them working. Centurion parts were also purchased from the U.K to keep the tank parts running too.
I will hopefully get some progress pictures of this "thing" up later.

[chrisonord]

Here's some pictures of what I have done so far. Still lots of work to do, especially as the PE on the turret has ben off and in more times than my sanity can cope with, and they don't fit properly either, surprise surprise. The barrel needed to be drilled out tok as it waa just a solid lump, with not even an inclination of a muzzle on it.As you can see on the hull, I ommited quite a major part on the engine covers, oops. Next job is the small roller wheels, then the tracks....hmm

[Old Wombat]

Nice work on such a small kit!

[chrisonord]

Nice work on such a small kit!

The pictures hide much shoddyness on my part 
Theres lots of spare parts left over on this kit, some of which shouldn't be spare. I am dreading putting the tracks on.

[NARSES2]

Nice work on such a small kit!

Indeed

[chrisonord]

Tonights job was tk rip.off the front mudguards, break off the rollers and several other parts and sew together the 2 piece tracks, so 4 pieces all together. Only broke one needle, and didn't stab myself once. How good is that 
Next and pronably final pieces I can be bothered sticking on are the side skirts which will hopefully cover up the mess behind them.

[NARSES2]

Tonights job was tk rip.off the front mudguards, break off the rollers and several other parts and sew together the 2 piece tracks, so 4 pieces all together. Only broke one needle, and didn't stab myself once. How good is that 

Back when the Airfix Sherman etc first came out I got my mum to sew the tracks together 

[Jakko]

So glad nobody sold Airfix kits around here ... at least the Matchbox ones hooked together (though the Revell re-issues tend to have track that's too hard to do that with, or so soft it twists up in the box already ).

[chrisonord]

I have finished building the thing, and have noticed that the road wheels on one side are set lower/higher than the others so it has quite a noticable slouch to one side now     sod it, I have had enough of it. Just airbrushed a base coat on of dark yellow, as it will be dark yellow earth and green camouflage.

[Gondor]

Put it on a small diorama where it is going across slope so that will not be noticed.

Gondor

[chrisonord]

Put it on a small diorama where it is going across slope so that will not be noticed.

Gondor

I was thinking that myself, or have it going over an obstacle.

[scooter]

It's the World of Tanks Death Star...at least before the Waffenträger E100 (and I assume since the WTF Auf E100 was removed)

[Wardukw]

Just have the turret turned sideways Chris ..the massive bloody guns weight causes the suspension to compress   

[chrisonord]

Just have the turret turned sideways Chris ..the massive bloody guns weight causes the suspension to compress   

 
Yep, that'll do it.

[PR19_Kit]

Just have the turret turned sideways Chris ..the massive bloody guns weight causes the suspension to compress   

 

Yep, that'll do it.

Kit's 2nd Rule applies.................