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I have just read the whole of this build, over the weekend. Truly amazing work.

Meter rat wrote:I have just read the whole of this build, over the weekend. Truly amazing work.

Thank you sir! Your words are too kind.

It has been a long journey but things are beginning to move toward completion of the build phase. I say beginning because it seems like every time I think I've about got it done I find another detail that just has to be included.

I still have the paint work ahead and it will be another long winded process. All the brass work has to be cleaned up using the Air Eraser then primed.

Barry

May I impose on your generosity,and ask for a link to where you got the machine guns from?

Meter rat wrote:May I impose on your generosity,and ask for a link to where you got the machine guns from?

PM sent with links.

Barry

Brilliant work as usual Barry. I will continue to follow your progress and awe inspiring work!

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

PM sent with links.

Barry[/quote]
Thank you.
Regards Iain

Finally, an Update!!
It is not like I have not been at it but bits and pieces not worthy of an update but now something to show.

First up I completed the Belly Armor with the addition of the Mounting Rails and all the Bolt & Washer castings. I really like the Meng castings as they are styrene and can be glued securely using liquid cement for styrene. I just do not like using CA unless there is no other option. I also had to narrow the overall width of then armor slightly to fit the Tamiya lower hull.



Next came the lower hull Crew Compartment Armor Plate. It is fabricated from .080 and .010” sheet and epoxied in place with JB Weld.




It was time to add the details including 3 Snubbers each side on the 1st 2nd and 7th road wheel arms. They are fabricated for strip and sheet styrene.




There are also 2 each side of a mount for “something”. I have been unable to determine what. I suppose they are some type of fixture used for a maintenance activity. Inquiring minds want to know! There is a mounting block located just forward of each drive sprocket that mount a large blade type arm the keep mud from building up between the inner and outer sprocket. I am unsure if they are not used in the desert environment or have been eliminated with the new sprocket wheel assembly with the “mud” holes. Either way the mounting blocks are retained. There is also a large 1/3 circular block to prevent mud buildup between the inner surface of the sprocket and the hull.



Now for some real fun! There are 3 support rods/arms that support the side skirts. They will not be seen and so far, have been a real PIA! Not the mounting fixtures attached to the lower hull or the rods/arms themselves. There is the issue of how to install them before the upper hull is placed onto the lower hull but the real issue is how to remove the upper hull with them in place as they fit into the mounts on the lower hull as well as the hole in the skirt. I have a magnet embedded into the skirt and the corresponding matching end of the brass rod for each location.




That's all for now, thanks for looking in!
Barry

Details look great. Has it bothered you that the hull ground clearance is pretty low due to the hull belly armor being added? I've been adapting the Tamiya suspension to my Trumpeter hull and I noticed last night that the Tamiya suspension sits lower than the HL one. Being so low the suspension travel is a lot shorter.

tankme wrote:Details look great. Has it bothered you that the hull ground clearance is pretty low due to the hull belly armor being added? I've been adapting the Tamiya suspension to my Trumpeter hull and I noticed last night that the Tamiya suspension sits lower than the HL one. Being so low the suspension travel is a lot shorter.

True it does decrease the ground clearance. However as the it is part of the Urban Survival Kit meant for use in urban areas then for the most part I will be operating it on more or less smooth surfaces.

Once I get the lower hull and suspension assembled and weighted I'll be able to better tell how much clearance I will have. I have been trying to devise a way to increase the tension of the suspension but no reasonable path has presented itself. I have another complete set of suspension bars to work with.

TTFN,
Barry

BarryC wrote: There are also 2 each side of a mount for “something”. I have been unable to determine what. I suppose they are some type of fixture used for a maintenance activity. Inquiring minds want to know!

I'm pretty sure that those ?? brackets are used to secure tracks when they are disconnected (akin to a hook for the clamp/rod) to prevent tracks from freewheeling/hanging loose off the return rollers. Preventing tracks from sagging onto the side skirt support brackets.
You can see the track is "floating in mid air" above the side skirt support bracket. (Image stolen from an Abrams Mechanic Promo video)
Plus when a track is complete, it seems that the ?? brackets would be below the track and the end connectors (from the track links) would clear those ?? brackets.