Ian M, Challenger 2

[Ian M]

Well the thread is started so you can post your box and sprue shots to start your own thread off.

Me, I am still waiting for the postman to come with mine!

So that will come later.

Ian M

[Guest]

I will wait for a day or two before i post mine as i will do an in box review as well as promised. If it's ok with everyone i will do the review in this section before the build as it is relevant to the build.:cowboy:

scott

[Ian M]

Great Idea and I would say its a good way to start your thread Scott.

The postman finally got off his butt and came with my parcel:

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I had read that the tracks in the Trumpeter kit where not the best and needed a lot of clean up. Not fun on Vinyl tracks, so I opted for the Bronco tracks. So I got the Tank. Just need some thing to put with it..... Maybe.

Ian M

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[Ian M]

Well its the first of May tomorrow and my desk is still covered in tank transporter bits and pieces for the ordinary group build. I might be a bit late starting this one but fear not I will be joining in as soon as I can see my desk again.

Also will give me the chance to figure out what I am going to do with it.

Ian M

[Guest]

Ian thats a nice kit mate you going to do a box review to see how the trumpeter and tamiya compare?

scott

[Ian M]

I will do that as soon as I get the time. One of the others said that they would as well so they might just beat me to it.

Ian M

[Ian M]

In Box Reveiw

Well It seams that I have the time today so:

In Box Review: Trumpeter 1/35 scale Challenger 2: Enhanced Armour. kit# 01522

Whats in the Box?

Eight sprues in the familiar light grey plastic we all know and love, to parts for the turret and two for the hull. Both a top and a bottom.

Two black soft vinyl rubber bands that are supposed to be the tracks.

A small decal sheet and an ark with MRE boxes and a bit of string.

The instuction booklet in 39 stages and a colour painting guide.

So lets have a look at it shall we?

First the hull and turret parts.

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First up the turret. Nicely moulded and good detail. The noon slip texture very nicely done as are the panels. There is even detail on the bottom where the over hang could be seen if the turret is posed turned.

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The Anti slip texture is also present on the hull and the other details nice and clear. As to the possibility that some of the details are a mm to far back or forwards I will pass no judgement on. The Shape of the hull, as for the turret also, looks right.

Sprues:

Two X A, with the inner road wheels, suspension and return wheels.

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Sprue B has the outer road wheels, which are the perforated type and actually are perforated and not just marked. The rear of the hull and some of the bar armour and some small detail parts.

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Sprue C: fiddly bits, Drive sprockets and the pipe!

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Sprue D you will find holding the Enhanced armour parts as well as some more detail parts.

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Sprue E has the fittings for the turret. And the other small sprue has the rest of the Armour. This version is a male tank as it does not have the skirts!

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Finally we have sprue G that has the 'dozer blade.

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All the sprues are nice and clean. Crisp clear detail with no flash and at first glance not a lot of ejector or sink marks. A lot better Trumpeter, Well done.

Now about those tracks.

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I had heard they can be quite scarry. Mine fit that description too. One of them is actually broken! They will require a lot of clean up and de-flashing. Not an easy task on rubber band type tracks. Apparently I was wise to order the tracks from Bronco. On a tank with sand skirts, you could get away with them, but on this version the tracks are quite exposed.

The Paper work:

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The instruction booklet is typical Trumpeter. Well laid out, clear and logical. The usual problem though. No paint calls during the build process. Find your references and have them handy. Talking of painting. The colour ark with the paint guide is nice and clear. Also I was glad to see that Trumpeter woken up to the fact that there are paint makes that are not from the far east. Vallejo paint codes are starting to show on Trumpeter kits. This is one of them.

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The decal sheet is tiny too and has the marks for Four tanks. A very thin ark printed with Meal:ready to eat cases is also included and are well printed even if the paper is silly thin. Should be fun sticking them together!

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Ah I missed a picture! there is also a tiny fret of PE mud flaps front and rear and rivet strips to hold them on with!

So my verdict? A nice kit that should build up into an impressive weapon.

I might see if I can find a better barrel for the main gun though. I hate having to try hide a join seam in a barrel at the best of times, When said barrel has lagging on it.....

Ian M

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[Guest]

A nice box review ian sounds like a kit worth having nice one mate.

scott

[Ian M]

I might even have room on the bench to start mine soon.

Just got a bit of finishing off on the April GB and then make room on the bench!

Ian M

[Ian M]

The Bench is now empty(ish) and the challenger will be coming down from the stash any time soon.

Ian M

[Ian M]

As it happens the weather was just nasty yesterday, Hail, thunder, wind.

On the plus side it meant that I could hide myself away at the desk and get started.

As per the instructions I started with the wheels:

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A good bashing with a micro saw, diamond file and what ever nasty scraper things I had to hand, they are looking well and truly knackered. As they should do on these tanks.

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After that I got the bottom hull sorted and built the suspension units. I think I will wait until the hull and units are painted before I put them together.

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The rear bulkhead was next and that is now ready for paint. The jerry cans will go in after they are painted.

Does any one know if they where painted metal or the white plastic jerry cans they use?

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The next step starts on the upper hull. Before I get to far in to that, I cut off the moulded on wires for the lights and such and replaced them with some lead wire, just to pift them up a bit.

The top of the hull is now sitting with clamps on holding the PE mud flaps until the Gator glue is 100% cured.

Was hoping to do more today but a family members Birthday got in the way of that.

Ian M

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[Guest]

Nice start Ian like what you've done with the tyres, keep it coming.

scott

[Centurion3RTR]

I'm going to enjoy watching this come together Ian, i have the same one in me stash (now i can see it).

Have fun, John

[Guest]

I like it, you're just a few hours ahead of me. I can nick all your ideas :smile1:

[Ian M]

Well I now have all the sub assemblies done and really should start thinking paint!

I do have a dilemma though. Should I do the dozer blade version, or the front active armour. Or neither. I have found pictures of one with and without the front armour but both with the side armour. I cant seem to find one with the dozer blade though!

The RPG gates. now I have hear they where fitted in the field and where quite often green even though the tank was in desert sand cammo, any feed back on that point would be nice.

Still trying to decide about using the rubber bands of the seperate links for the tracks. Yes the bronco tracks would look great, but for the amount of tracks that will be seen...... Although my tank does not have the canvas skirting so they will be clearly seen.... oh bugger, I think I will do them.

Commander tanks with the bulldozer blade also had an extra antenna, any one know where that was mounted?!?!

Ian M