sponges challenger 2 build

[mcevoyi]

Hi spongehoobtank82,

Looking very nice now, the pics in the woods are particularly good. great job mate.

Cheers dude, you started your paint yet? Bet you can't wait!

Yeah I can't wait to get started, but still awaiting parts at the moment. Headlight parts from AFV, and I think DKLM will soon have metal swing arms, wheels, sprockets and Idlers available. Probably 2-3 weeks To get all those here and fitted before I start painting. Contenting myself with bits and bobs on my Bradley and its figures, and bits and bobs on the new 1/72 RC tanks I just got.

If yountwlkmtomcarson ...he will explain that the parts he showed on Facebook are in fact hen long
and they should be available later next week ....cost is an issue for alof us this time of year ..

[spongehoobtank82]

Happy days! Will if I skip food this month hopefully I can get some bits ha ha ha but seriously I can't wait!

[mcevoyi]

Me too ...just want a price and I think Andrew have then soon

[HERMAN BIX]

You guys pioneering these early builds must be hanging for hot up parts !
That challenger is a nice clean tank, great work

[spongehoobtank82]

I'm hanging on for the metal bits too now. that is one of the things that is keeping me away from putting olive green in the airbrush

Ha ha I thought that when I painted the tracks and running gear, but I could not wait! And Christmas has wiped me out so guess it will be a few months until I can get the metal bits but am happy as she is, just need to up the spring tension and she will be running fine until I break it!

[spongehoobtank82]

Well been a while since I posted! Saved some money to upgrade the challenger, so first job was to mount the IR bulb in the tog and hinge the door here are the results-

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As you can see full servo control of turret and added warning beacon too turret so wiring jungle in there!

Next was time to fit metal road wheels, sprockets, idlers and return rollers I had ordered from forgebear, these are actually DKLM ones and proved to be more time consuming to fit than I anticipated! But they are quality items. First off strip off the old wheels, suspension etc

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You have to snap off the old plastic hydrogas assemblies and grind off the little stump of plastic left, also shaping them off leaves the mounting pins left in some and some bits still glued on so you have to bring the area flat and re drill the holes-

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The time for a base coat of grey primer and then Tamiya olive drab

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[spongehoobtank82]

So here's the results, sorry no photos of assembly of the suspension as was busy building! One thing to note is the drive sprockets will need drilling out for taigen gearboxes, the tank now runs alot smoother, just waiting for my mato metal tracks now!

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Just got to filter and weather now, then metal tracks and whatever else comes to mind!

[Ad Lav]

Impressive work!

[spongehoobtank82]

Impressive work!

Cheers dude, always stuff to do though! What i would really like it's some. Dklm adjustable idlers but at 200 odd notes that could Be a while!

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Things of beauty !

[Tankbear]

The Mato Leo 2 tracks fit