Tamiya Challenger 2 Desertised

[KungFuDrew]

Hi folks! This is my newest build, Tamiya's Chally. I picked up this kit at the Bovington Tank Museum a couple of months ago at Tiger Day, I paid slightly more for it than I would have if I'd bought it online, but I was happy to pay it because it supported The Tank Museum. I built the same kit a few years ago, before I had an airbrush and the setup I have just now, so I want to see how my my modelling skills have improved over time. On with the kit!



The box is typical Tamiya, sturdy and everything is well packed in individual bags. The build is also typical Tamiya, a breeze. In the space of a night I had the entire lower hull assembled:


As of posting I have the upper hull on and the turret mostly assembled, will take some pics when I have a moment.

[schweinhund227]

looking forward to your future updates....

[Donkeywalloper]

Just arrived back from a week in Weymouth which incorporated Tankfest 18,
I have hundreds of photos and fair few are of the Challenger. Will upload soonest.
By the way, nice job so far,
DW

[schweinhund227]

Just arrived back from a week in Weymouth which incorporated Tankfest 18,
I have hundreds of photos and fair few are of the Challenger. Will upload soonest.
By the way, nice job so far,
DW

ooh most excelllent !

[KungFuDrew]

Cheers guys!

The hull is almost done, just a few bits and bobs to put on the back of the tank:


I have the side skirts done as well, but I'm leaving them off for now to make painting easier as these cover most of the tracks and road wheels:


I believe the exhaust covers were added to the desert version of the chally to reduce the thermal signature of the tank, Tamiya has included them, but there is a big gap where they meet the tank. I blanked the gap off with some plasticard and trimmed it to size, a fairly simple fix:


This is where I am with the turret, it's almost finished with just a few parts to add. The white identification panels on the front of the tank are plasticard supplied with the kit.


So that's where I am now, comments and critique welcome!

[schweinhund227]

Thanks for telling us about the exhaust gap! Will toss in a note in my instructions! keep up the good work!

[KungFuDrew]

OK, so progress has been made! Between other projects and work being absolutely brutal I've not had much time to work on the chally. As it stands the build is complete:


I've left off parts like the fuel tanks and side skirts to make painting easier, thanks for checking in!