Hi all
I was gonna post this on Sunday, but with the best intentions, I fell asleep after a truly knackering weekend which left me craving a return to work for some rest

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As those of you who will have read previous posts will know, I have been consumed by the DIY / Decorating project from Hell

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Those innocent words, uttered some 3 months ago at the start of the Covid-19 Lockdown, have repeatedly come back to kick me over and over again. I truly wish I had said No at the time, and Financially, Physically and Mentally I would be a stronger and richer Guy

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Well I didn’t and this is what you get…………..3 moths on and still not finished.
You are sitting there reading this thinking, is he mad? Well maybe a little.
Is he C£@p at decorating? Maybe? (actually, I’m told by friends and family that my decorating is really very good, but its my “Attention to detail”, that lets me down, I’d never make a Professional Decorator as I take to long on projects).
Is he Hen-Pecked? Definitely Not!
I’m just an average Joe, who is trying to make his Wife happy and his domain nice.
Again, those who have read my previous posts on Primrose Yellow paint, and the chemical reactions it’s been causing in this house, will know it’s been a trial (I don’t think Mass Murderers have had sentences passed down as bad as this

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The Scaffolding is still in place (the Scaffolder is being very patient for his £85 originally paid for the erecting of the platform). The walls are for most parts still relatively bare of paint.
As a person who has for most of his life suffered with Bi-Polar and ongoing OCD, the ongoing saga with the Hall, Landing and Stairs, and the fact that these three areas connect every part of the other living areas, is really being tested to the eighth degree of his Mental and Physical faculties.
Despite sealing up rooms, the Yellow Dust has crept into every part of the house. It sits on every surface, and grins and torments very part of my OCD and requirement to have a spick and span house.
Despite numerous sweeps with wet Micro-Fibre cloths, the dust penetrates everywhere.
But, enough of DIY and Disasters, lets talk about Plastic construction.
Sunday, I crept off to the M/C, and turned on the electric (yup, I have a Master Control switch that switches the M/C on and off). Flicked the Kettle, made a strong cup of coffee and straightened the tools of the trade, ready for some real Man on Plastic action

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The T62A is, believe it or not, covered by a fine layer of dust, having seen no activity in the M/C for weeks.
All of the Sub-Assemblies are complete, except for some small detail pieces, such as Clear Plastic Periscope Lenses that I will install at the end, after painting and most of the Weathering.
My first thing to do was to attach the KTD-2 Laser Range Finder to the Barrel.
This isn’t very precise on the Instructions, on how far up the Mantlet it needs to sit, but some well chosen images from the www, gave some clear definitive location.
So here is an image of said Laser Range Finder both close-up and down the Barrel and me pointing it out with my trusty “Pointy Stick” HB.

The final part to be added to the Turret, is this little piece of thin tubing, that I suspect moves the IR Searchlights in conjunction with the elevating and depressing Barrel? Certainly looks that way

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A good tight cut with sharp cutters and a swish of a Ultimate sander and the part was placed in its two locating points with some TET.

With that in place and a quick squizz through instructions for a check on any parts missing off Turret, Nope!, so that’s all good.
Its time to get some major Sub-Assemblies on to the Lower Hull.
The first part to go on, is the Front Glacis and Turret Ring Assembly.

This is not complete and I have left off the rather fragile basket (Headlamp Protector) that sits on the Headlamps, mainly because the Clear Plastic parts will need to be added after painting, and it would be a very, very tight squeeze to get the Clear parts in with the baskets around them. The fit was superb. No warp, or twisting of plastic. Four location points and a bead of Revell Contacta Adhesive around the inside edges and a squeeze with fingers and its as solid as a rock.
Then, we moved on to the Rear Engine Deck.

This was also made up of two Sub-Assemblies that I had already completed previously, quick blow with A/B and dust removed. Fit was again sublime. Bit of Revell Contacta Adhesive again along edges and the whole plate fits perfectly. Really a joy to build.

Well, I thought, if this is going so easy, why not have another cup of coffee and do a bit more?
Not touched these yet, but the outer Wheel Rubbers come separately in this kit. They are a quite hard black plastic composite. Need some work on them. Cut from Sprues and then given a hard Sandpapering around edges to remove shiny surface and moulded lines. Whilst distressing the edges I also took an Exacto Blade and a Zuron cutter to take nicks and cuts into edges to depict wear and tear. This is the result.

I intend to completely obliterate one of the tyres with the Dremel to give a real sense of punishment during these times.
All in all, quite happy with the progress on this, slow but steady and measured (unlike the Decorating). That I’m afraid is the lot. Thank you for reading this and if you do leave any comments, be kind. This old bugger is a bit fragile now, and the Modelling is the only thing that keeps the head above the proverbial briney stuff.
By the way, these came in the post today.

Not normally a 1/48 scale chap, but these were on sale on
www.emodels.co.uk and looked very interesting kits.
Take good care of your families and friends, and most of all yourselves. Look after your Mental Health. Take care of that, cuz without that, its difficult to even survive.
Love and Peace chaps,
DW
PS: A Pest Control chap removed a Wasps Nest this morning from my works, and we looked inside at the marvellous natural Geometry of these builders. He is going to acquire a larger complete unit for me, so I can display it at home. Amazing.
