Gav's Tamiya Challenger 2 - Op Telic

[Gav0909]

Okey dokey!

So with my Type 99 being completed, I decided to have a bit of a fresh start with models and basically put all the WIPs away in boxes and got the Chally 2 out. Now I really want to get on with some of the 1/48 modern jets I have in the stash, but I am severely lacking space now for displaying finished models, and they ain't small! So I am going to leave them for now until I can sort either more display space, or we move somewhere with more room.

I am doing the Tamiya Challenger 2, as I got one with the Eduard PE for a good price. And having built this kit before I know how well it all goes together. None of your turret basket, rear plate issues here!

Some pics of the sprues first. I have started work on it, and so before I go to work later today I will update with the progress to date.

I will be painting mine in this kind of scheme (basically whats in the box).





I think I may add the wire cutter (in real life this is just some welded angle iron) and see if I can add the rolled up cam netting they seemed to carry around the tank.











Cheers!

[T3hGuppy]

Cool another one to keep me entertained till I get one myself

[chief5437]

Sweet! Hoping to get one of these kits, so it'll be good to see you build one. Good luck with it all

[Paul]

Nice one gav, great to have you aboard

[Dunhill2005]

Great to see you here!!!!

[Nige201980]

Welcome aboard Gav

[Coen]

Cool! Gav jumps in!!!

Those are some excellent shots too Gav. Thanks!

[Gav0909]

Here is my progress so far. Nothing that exciting. With AFV's they tend to build very quickly as there isn't much in the way of "on the go" painting as there is with aircraft.

Once I move on to the rear plate (next steps) and the upper hull it might slow a little as I will be replacing bits with PE.

Lower hull with idler arms, and side skirt mounts in place.


And with the return rollers on


All nice and straight


Wheels all made up


Front towing points installed


All the wheels in place and straight. The Tamiya kit has poly caps so the wheels all come off still.


As I said, next will be the rear plate and all the parts which go on there, including quite a bit of PE.

Cheers

[Coen]

I think that PE set will dress her up pretty well bud. I was looking at that one before I started my build. The only thing that kept me from using it was that I wanted to keep the build simple. But sometimes that like asking The Who to be quiet haha.
I can't wait to see what you do with it.

[chief5437]

Off to a good start Gav. Keep it coming!

[moi196872]

Nice start Gav.

[Gav0909]

So yesterday marked the start of using the PE. Now I have a love hate relationship with PE. I manage it, but its often not easy, and I often end up thinking "does that look any better really than if I had used the plastic part".

But I got stuck in and detailed up some of the bits for the rear hull plate.

Crew phone box thing


Jerry can rack and cable reel. I used the plastic reel as if I was to use the PE part I needed some plastic rod as the spindle, and I don't have any.


That was interesting to do, as the top cross spar needed curled round the plastic part!

Lower hull with the wheels and tracks sat in place.


That's it for now.

Cheers

[schweinhund227]

Great choice !!! and Awesome P.E. Details....

Makes it POP !


You take care and keep up the good work !

[Gav0909]

Cheers Norm. I think most of the PE on this is going to be quite simple. Although there are a lot of replacing of moulded plastic handles with tiny PE ones. Will have to see how that goes!

[chief5437]

Nice work on the PE Gav. I know what you mean about 'is it worth it?'! It does add a scale thickness to those small parts tho.

[Gav0909]

Today was a bit of a slow day progress wise. I did get quite a bit done, but was hampered by having to combine PE into the build through quite a bit of todays steps. I decided against some bits of PE as there were tiny handles the instructions wanted me to replace, but once the side skirts are on they aren't seen anway so saved myself some time and ballache and left them as they are. The handles on top the side skirts were left as the plastic parts, partly for robustness (I would break most of the PE ones off anyway) and the plastic parts look ok anyway.

Phone was installed on the rear of the hull


Gaps above the sprockets were filled with plasticard (they are visible due to the gap at the back of the skirts)


PE detail was added to the drivers hatch and around the drivers vision port. Using Norms tip I added some pink/purple party favour foil behind the vision port glass. I think the PE detail and coloured foil give a good look to the area.



Boxes had PE latches etc installed.


As did the thermal exhaust covers


PE detail for the fuel filler caps


And a whole load of plastic handles were replaced with PE on the rear deck.


Side skirts made up, and PE tool box added to one.



Mantlet made up, with PE detail and again coloured foil behind the clear part. The white blob is glue, it will dry clear though.)



Next job is to add the grilles to the engine deck and a few other plastic detail parts to the upper hull. Then its on to the turret construction. The PE set includes PE CIP panels as well. They will be interesting to fold!!

Cheers guys.

[garywintin]

I love how you used the foil Gav ....better then painting ... what kind of foil are they ? can you take a picture or something for me?

[alextheblue]

That's looking great Gav and all that PE is pimping this beast up a treat!

[Gav0909]

On with the PE detailing.

Engine deck grilles.


Fire extinguishers


Side skirts, TECs and nose armour all primed.


Rear mud flaps needed some EPMs filled


Side skirts, nose armour etc painted with Tamiya XF-60 Dark Yellow with the pre-shading showing through.



Dust skirts painted Vallejo Stone Grey


And that's it for now. Pleased with how the skirts etc have turned out.

[alextheblue]

Nice progress Gav, those skirts turned out really nice!!

[Gav0909]

I got the PE CIP panels made up and mounted. I will add a little denting etc to one or two of them for added realism.




I also got the turret optics all done. I still need to do the commanders cupola vision blocks as they need to be cut from a sheet of clear styrene. Once done I can button up the turret.


Cheers

[alextheblue]

Great work with the PE Gav, those CIP's look fantastic!

[Coen]

I just got caught up with your thread Gav, jeez bud, that PE set was really worth the money that you didn't pay haha. It's the nutz bud. Makes all the difference. That drivers vision block is especially nice. With that Mylar treatment it's out of this world. She's going to sing when she's all done.

[Gav0909]

Cheers guys. I am really pleased with the vision blocks etc.

Well I had a day off work yesterday (finally!) and so I primed up and then painted the wheels, fuel drums and a few other wee bits. Next job will be to mask the optics etc and get the main hull and turret primed. I still need to make the GPMG, but that doesn't have to be in place for me to paint the main bits. Need to get a hold of one of those burnishing brushes I think for the weathering I have in mind for this.

Cheers

[Coen]

Any chance of a couple of close ups of those CIPs on the turret front Gav? I wouldn't mind a closer look at those before you paint them up. They look the nuts!

[Gav0909]

Just for you Mike






Cheers

[alextheblue]

Don't tell Mike, but I've sneaked a peek as well!

They look fantastic Gav - love the damage you've added as well as it's really in scale, nice and subtle! Those flat CIP's are pretty sweet as well and they are the brackets in the corners as well. Man-alive this is going to look great with some paint on it!

[schweinhund227]

Nice work... Love the optics and all the Etch metal !!!

Looks awesome !

[Coen]

DAMN!!!
I love that PE Gav!
That really is the nutz bud, well done. I wish now that I'd gotten my arse up and sourced a set now.
That's awesome!

[Gav0909]

Got some Tamiya Dark Green put down on the Chally today. I am slightly tempted to put black camo on this and just have the desert coloured side and nose armour on it. Would look a bit unsual, but a nice subject I think.

What do you lot think?




Cheers

[rsrdevon]

Looks really nice! I think you should do whatever you want to do with it. Its your build. Whatever you think looks good is what counts in the end. But yes it would be different to see so I say go for it!

I mean for me for now anyway my kits probably wont have much in the way of weathering and battle damage. I just kind of like the fresh off the assembly line look. Yes the weathered and beaten look is a good look also. Just something I prefer not to do for now. And thats my choice. Its what will make me happy.

[schweinhund227]

Nice work! Sand yellow up Armour would look nice! Keep up the good work!

[Coen]

Oh ya!! I'm with Norm!! That would look really cool Gav

[Gav0909]

So I have been busy and gotten the nose armour and TECs installed on the hull.




Then I Kleared the model and put the decals on.





And then used AKs NATO wash as a pin wash.


And the result (not that obvious on camera)


Cheers! Will tidy up the hull pin wash later, and then wash the nose armour and TECs. Then I guess I should work on the tracks, get them installed, side skirts installed and get on with the overall weathering.

Cheers

[Coen]

Holy crap Gav! That thing looks damn near perfect.
You've really nailed those effects dude. Completely.
WOW!
Freaking excellent work so far bud.

[Gav0909]

Aaaannnnddd she is done! (more or less). I still have some aerials to add once I can get some stretched sprue ones made, and I will need to paint the figures. But the tank is done.

Let me know what you think.














Comments and criticism is welcome.

Cheers!

[Coen]

That is a fabulous piece of work Gav, I love the optics and the weathering on her.
But that paint job is was sets her apart. Well done bud.

[T3hGuppy]

Very cool dude.

Love the shading on the add on armour skirts.

[UKguyInUSA]

Awesome job, Gav...love it!