Having built a fitters vehicle some time ago, I had at the time obtained another kit of a different variant. This has sat in the store for all this time alongside the Zelda.
After getting the Chieftain ARV underway I needed something to fill in during the periods when that build grew a bit stagnant.
So out came several kits from AFV's to aircraft, and back they went, and out they came again, and again untill I finally settled on the old Academy I.D.F. M113 fitters vehicle.
First order of the day was to get out the research and this is well covered in the Desert Eagle Publishing book by Michael Mass & Adam O'Brien #9 Part 1 - Fitters.
And also Eduard came into the job with a couple of etch sets plus there is going to be some scratchbuilding.
After looking at the kit I decided to replace the floor with etch, first the moulded tread was removed, the sides sanded the interior sanded along with locating points being removed and yes - sanded.
To make the job easier I decided that the interior was going to be built/scratch and this means the hull top will be left off, and that I would work from rear to front, this also means I can work on the hull top without damage.
Number one on the build was the fuel tank. I rubbed down all the moulded detail, had a look at a couple of walk around web sites and gathered the information I needed for the tank/pipes and fittings. These were all made from rod, pewter sheet, copper wire and odds and sods.
As you can see there is still some pipe work still to be completed (the floor is removeable) before moving onto the tool box and ammunition box storage on the right side.
More later,
Mike.
After getting the Chieftain ARV underway I needed something to fill in during the periods when that build grew a bit stagnant.
So out came several kits from AFV's to aircraft, and back they went, and out they came again, and again untill I finally settled on the old Academy I.D.F. M113 fitters vehicle.
First order of the day was to get out the research and this is well covered in the Desert Eagle Publishing book by Michael Mass & Adam O'Brien #9 Part 1 - Fitters.
And also Eduard came into the job with a couple of etch sets plus there is going to be some scratchbuilding.
After looking at the kit I decided to replace the floor with etch, first the moulded tread was removed, the sides sanded the interior sanded along with locating points being removed and yes - sanded.
To make the job easier I decided that the interior was going to be built/scratch and this means the hull top will be left off, and that I would work from rear to front, this also means I can work on the hull top without damage.
Number one on the build was the fuel tank. I rubbed down all the moulded detail, had a look at a couple of walk around web sites and gathered the information I needed for the tank/pipes and fittings. These were all made from rod, pewter sheet, copper wire and odds and sods.
As you can see there is still some pipe work still to be completed (the floor is removeable) before moving onto the tool box and ammunition box storage on the right side.
More later,
Mike.
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