Steves shilka

[Guest]

Those tracks look very nice.

[Steve Brodie]

These tracks are so easy to put together, now I have found the correct process. Through trial and error I discovered that the nibs are not the same size, the right hand one been ever so slightly larger than the left one, so insert the link into the right side first then the left link just pops into place. All that's needed first is a quick file and then snap into place. Made 7 runs if 10 in less than 40 minutes last night.

[ATTACH]273924[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]273925[/ATTACH]

[james pithouse]

looking good so far it will look great when on the tank still watching

[papa 695]

Just caught up again Steve, nice work so far, and the tracks look great.

[Steve Brodie]

About an hours work and both track runs completed, links, put into runs of 10 then all joined together

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[Steve Brodie]

All linked up, suppose I will need to build some more of the shilka next to the point where these can be test fitted;

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[Guest]

Tracks and wheels done - for me this is the hardest part of AFV kits so well done there Steve, Good luck with the rest of the build.

[Steve Brodie]

Started putting bits and bobs onto the chassis last night, couple of parts, dont have any locating points just an arrow on the instruction booklet pointing to where the parts should go;

Also seems that certain area's have been over engineered, for example - the shock 'units' are made from 3 pieces, yet the finished unit is buried in the sides of the chassis - so you only see the front face, also had a few fit issues as well, not helped by some of the sprue attachment points.

[Snowman]

Really like the tracks!!

[col68]

Nice work on the tracks steve can't wait to see the rest of your build

[james pithouse]

just caught up been to london got back last night nice work keep going

[Steve Brodie]

The ambiguous fitting location(s) of the two rear tow points

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Fitted the other two shock absorbers onto the chassis;

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drilled out a couple of holes to attach the front strakes and cracked on with the suspension arms, now these are interesting, sad I know but; the instructions show them been added and I assume glued into their locating slots, as their isn’t any ‘do not glue’ logos, so they have been glued in.

[ATTACH]275086[/ATTACH]
A couple of trailing arms for two suspension arms are built (not glued ) and added to the suspension side, but why ?, if the full arms don’t move why leave the trailing arms free to move ? and there is no play in the suspension, I was expecting them to ‘hang free’ if the model was lifted in the air but they don’t.

[ATTACH]275088[/ATTACH]

Yet the box art states they are movable, all very strange.

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Onwards we go, other side next.

[Guest]

Keep the good work coming Steve! Those workable tracks are very nice.

On the subject of kit instructions, I really do wonder if the manufacturers actually ask real model makers if they make sense. It seems to me that this is an area where great kits are let down.

[Steve Brodie]

spookily, these arrived today;

[ATTACH]275132[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]275133[/ATTACH]

I only emailed BNAthis morning as the decals hadnt arrived, ordered back end of November, but as they explained a lot of orders were only just reaching their destinations due to the Christmas mail.

[Guest]

Good attention to detail there Steve.