Stage 1, bag 1&2
Here we have the hull and suspension/track parts. I'll detail the hull first. Following the instructions you take two flat sections to make a ridged plate then add the illustrated bricks and add to the plate where shown. It goes on, and on etc but having watched again the Lego movie over Xmas we all know Master Builders don't follow instructions so here's the result of the first two bags, actually around 10 bags as Cobi follow the Tamiya bag principles, giving you the highly detailed hull.

Bag three takes you, brick by brick, through the construction of the turret and gun. This is the 85 model and has a big gun, so big it is fabricated from over 10 sections/parts. This is very useful if you need to do a three point turn in a narrow country lane as you can easily break the barrel down. Or rotate the turret.

We now cone to the mist complex part of the build - fitting the turret onto the hull. You need to ensure that the hull is in the upright position and that the turret is in the upright position so that the hulls male knob is able to enter the hulls open hole. No lubrication is necessary or, indeed, recommended as plastics can be ruined and permanently damaged by such thoughtless acts.
If all goes well things should appear as in photo 3.

Spectacular isn't it but... as 3D printer enthusiasts will know, any modular brick based constructions will leave you with tiled radiused surfaces rather than smooth ones so, if like me you are constantly seeking perfection (I'm on my twelth wife) you will want to take your new addition back to the workshop for its final finishing, painting, detailing, weathering and stuff.

After nearly half as long as it took me to build the complete machine l emerged with a model l could live with and feel proud of. It took 15kg of filler and six packs of various grades of wet n dry followed by 2 cans of primer, 3 or 4 top coats, several sets of decals and a few detail packs. It was then left out in the overnight frost and rain to weather. And viola! (Is that French or a musical instrument?) Any way, here it is!


I'm so please with it l've asked the kids to get me a Cobi Panther IV for my birthday where l hope to fill and sand it into a detailed replica of a Sunderland flying boat but that's a couple of months away so both l and you will have to patiently wait.
Now, back to my long suffering SU-100




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