Desert Warrior

[Mylightweight]

Hi Guys,

This is my entry into the NADR GB, Academy's 1/35 Warrior MCV, I've also added the Eduard P/E set and RB Models metal Rarden Cannon.

There are no crew figures with the kit so am on the look out for some if any can point me in the right direction.

I may even push the boat out and get some Fruil tracks or similar, we'll have to see.

Box shot,



Sprues and extras,





The build started as per the sheet of words, suspension arms on the lower hull.



No problems encountered until I got to the back end, I'm not sure how this bit is supposed to fit




I've looked at some in depth walk a rounds but the vehicles have all got the idler wheels on so doesn't help me that much, any way, I left that but and progressed.

Wheels,



Back door,



Then it was on to the first bit of P/E, rear end enhancements,



Then the rear stowage locker doors,



Well that's where I am so far, feedback always great fully accepted

Thanks
Chris

[chief5437]

Nice progress, I like the PE work. I keep meaning to get one of these kits, I've seen some nice results. Accurate Armour do some British crew figures in resin if you're still looking.

[ManCupboardModels]

Nice! Keep shying away from PE, but must give it a go one day

[Coen]

Awesome subject choice bud. Loved the coin of the name of the GB too.... NADR GB very military sounding. Naydar haha!
No clue about your suspension arm, I went looking for some shots but I couldn't find anything. Norm Might be the one to ask though. He's a virtual encyclopedia of modern armour.
Aka schweinhund227

[gaz45]

very nice looking kit mate

[Mylightweight]

A bit of an update for you guys,

I managed to find photograph of the idler wheel supports and have found out that it should go behind the main idler wheel leg, alas, in Academy's genius the kit part is the wrong shape and length so some artistic licence has been used to get it to go behind where it should, It wont matter anyway as it will be covered by the idler wheel.

I have done some more P/E on the interior of the drivers hatch, again it wont be seen but never mind


This hatch doesn't fit the hole in the hull top properly, it wont close fully if you glue to hinges where they are indicated on the hull moulding, which I found out when the glue had set so I have had to do some fettling, but you can't really tell. The hatch will be glued shut as there is no interior with the kit.

I have ground some plastic off the hull top ready for more P/E


I am still putting all the little grab handles on the hatches and stuff so not really much to show you.

Laters
Chris

[schweinhund227]

Great progress thus far...

I am sure it will turn out awesome with all that brass !
Take care !

[MarkVerploeg]

Cool choise
The pe should defently help with adding some extra detail
And the Eduard pe is pretty good as i found out recently
Good instructions and easy to use
Keep up the good work

[Jan01]

I have this kit in my stash, was thinking of doing this after my challenger. But then again I also have the bradley and the German marder. Choices choices.

Let me know how it goes and if any issues.

[Mylightweight]

Hey guys,

I have been a little absent of late due to various things but here is another update on the Warrior.

This kit is not the best, there a some fit issues with all the hatches that I have fitted so far, again it all comes down to where you put the hinges, I have made the best of the situation for now and hopefully it wont show on the final build.



This is the first hatch that doesn't fit well, as detailed further up the threat,



some more P/E on the engine hatch, these grilles (Eduard kit) are a bit of a nightmare as if you fit them like the instructions tell you to do then the next piece that fits over the bottom edges of the grilles will not sit flat to the hatch itself. To get around this I trimmed the bottom edge of the grilles off, its not detrimental as you wont see them any way,

as per this photo


and this is how much I trimmed them by


Another issue from the instructions is part C24


which the instructions will have you fit on upside down, I checked with a few shots from a walk around and got it the right way round (fit it before you fit the storage box or you're in for a world of pain)




A few more progress shots










Rear storage boxes ready for fitting



Thats where I am so far, lots more building to do before I get on to the painful part of painting.

See you later
Chris

[Coen]

Looks cool Chris. That PE really dresses it up too.
Too bad about the fit issues. Can't tell though so

[gaz45]

Very nice detail with the PE mate

[Aliktren]

Great work mate, I nearly did this instead of the challenger, lovely detail work

[Mylightweight]

Lots more fiddley photo-etch having been added, I love how much more detail is offered to the subject but having to spend hours bending it all out is a real PITA!









The Camo net supports were also a nightmare, I must have lost more to the Carpet Monster than actually went on the model!















The kit supplied thread for tow cables had an unfortunate demise when I ripped my bottle of TET all over my cutting mat so I had to make some out if small gauge wire



That's the building part finished, I usually really like the build phase but this one has been awful, instructions were vague with placement of certain parts, other parts are in the wrong places entirely (eg the forward lifting eyes on the turret are wrong, they should be further back)









I love how easily the Badger primer goes down, it is really effortless and very forgiving, the best primer ever imho

I am thinking maybe a little base for this, but here won't be any figures i'm affraid, Im just not good enough to do camo on figures yet.

Thanks for looking and critique is more than welcome.

Chris

[Coen]

The PE may have been a PITA but those periscopes look awesome dude. The PE did wonders for the detail.
Looked fantastic.
Totally agree with you about the Stynlrez. Wonderful stuff.
Nice work Chris.

[Nach70]

Looks brilliant. Welldone¡¡¡¡

[MarkVerploeg]

That nice and shiny pe looks very good
Great work buddy

[chief5437]

This looks like a great build, nice work buddy!

[Mylightweight]

Just a quick update, not much really to show, I've had some issues with my airbrush, the seals decided to fall to pieces and air was leaking back into the colour cup, which meant that when I was spraying more paint was going on the worktops in the kitchen than on the Warrior a quick email to the guys at http://www.Air-craft.net sorted that out.

I've managed to get the base colour on, Tamiya XF-59. I'm happy with the colour, just need to assembly it all now and do the detail painting before I start the weathering.



Thanks for looking
Chris

[Mylightweight]

Hi Guys,

Sorry there has been no update recently, I've hit somewhat of a wall with enthusiasm for this build.

I'm not a massive fan of modern armor anyway and can't seem to find the ooomph to get over the detail painting stage (lots of fiddley bits = boring )

Never mind, it will come back in time, maybe soon enough to finish in time for the reveal

Laters
Chris

[Gav0909]

You'd be surprised at how little requires detail painted on modern armour mate. If you look at real vehicles, very often everything is just painted in the main colour. Quite often even the pioneering tools etc. are just sprayed along with the rest of the vehicle.

If your adding stowage, then of course that will be different. But other than that, you may be surprised. Take a look at reference pics and have a look. Warriors in the Gulf got quite worn if I recall, so what you could do would be take a green tone similar to the standard temperate UK army green and sponge chip this along the side armour, underside of the front hull, around the rear hatch, on high traffic areas to suggest wear on the desert paint.

[Mylightweight]

So, I've managed to get a bit more painted on the warrior









a bit more detail to pick out, like the fire extinguishers and wing mirrors then it'll be on with the tracks and on to a base (if my modern "mojo" holds out)

Thanks for looking, as always ideas and criticism welcome

Chris

[Mylightweight]

So after watching this months news show, Lee's plea to get the builds done has given me a little shove

I've put a gloss coat down and put the decals on, there aren't many to be fair.

Done some chipping of the top colour, some needs to be done, I'll probably use a NATO green to add some interest









I have primed and painted the tracks in Tamiya Gun Metal, I've then sanded the rubber pads back to their natural rubber (no photo though)

I'm hoping to finish it over the next couple of days, thanks for your comments and suggestions

Chris

[Mylightweight]

A quick update on progress

Pin wash complete on the vehicle









I've fixed the White ID panels to the outside now but the decals for the black arrows on the rear stowage bins point blank refused to lay flat so will need masking and spraying.

Next up is a base for it





Mock up of how it should look





All clayed up





I might just scrape it through before the closing date

Thanks for looking, criticism and pointers welcomed

[Coen]

Looks great! The base looks like it will be interesting too.

[Mylightweight]

It should be entertaining, although it's starting to crack as its drying out

[Coen]

It's the thickness of the clay layers that's causing that.
It has to be applied over a layer of carpenter's glue or white glue and in thin (1-1.5cm thick) layers or cracks will appear as it dries.
It's usually not a big deal as you just fill the cracks with more clay later... its just annoying and more work for you.
I've done it a hundred times.
If you want to build hilly terrain with the clay then you have to build up the hills with wood, cardboard, foam, etc. Then add the clay over it.
It will keep the layers thin.

[Mylightweight]

I tried to keep the thickness of the clay to a minimum but it was quite hard to work, I think next time I'll roll it out with a rolling pin.

I hoped it would grip the polystyrene form work and be more secure, hope it worked, anyway,

I finished priming the base after repairing the cracks

[Mylightweight]

So, the base is painted with various deserty type colours, I'm just waiting for some grass to come from the t'internet.





I need to do a bit of dry brushing to highlight the rocks, then paint the oil drum and wire fence.

I'm thinking of making some kind of sign with an Iraq city on but we'll see.

The lighting is not the best to show the different colours, I'll try it again tomorrow in daylight

Ideas and critique welcomed

[Mylightweight]

All finished, check out the reveal thread