T72B1

[Isitme]

Update.
It has been a few days since I last posted, and what an eventfull few days it has been - But I am not going to bore you to death with the fact that I have now had my second jab and have the badge of honour to prove it, there have been no side effects, side effects, side effects. And now you may call me "Two-Jabs..." much better than I have been called in the past.
So the last post dealt with the headlight guards, and pretty they look - but it was during the test fitting of the first headlight that one of them just vanished, so undeterred I used the second one and that decided to take flight as well. So! it was nose to the carpet, all around the room, all the kits under the bench came out, spiders wintering in the dark recesses were evicted in the search, then it came down to drastic measures, the hoover, first it was cleaned out and then the room was hoovered - nothing.... Replaced all the furniture and then I saw it, laying in the middle of the floor all twisted and bent out of shape :crying:......
Anyway two more were produced this time under strict regulations and of thinner wire, the lights were fixed in position, as was the horn and the other little bit???



I also decided to not use the rubber type gun mantlet cover, so used one as a master and made one from resin, which I destroyed trying to drill the hole for the barrel to a larger diameter, but the second one worked after some sanding and filing of the barrel, just where it fits into the hole on the mantlet cover..

And this is where I am today plus wheels and some track built, next is the engine decking...

Cheers
Mike

[Tim Marlow]

Nice work Mike. That’s loaded with detail, and I think you need to increase your meds LOL.....

[Isitme]

Nice work Mike. That’s loaded with detail, and I think you need to increase your meds LOL.....

That's why I am on the meds.....:upside:

[Mini Me]

Hi Mike, mind if I join the "rabble".......just had a read through and couldn't help thinking about Mr. T's struggles with his Tamiya T62 about this time last year......and how he faffed about with the turret as it was a few mm's low in the front etc. Now I'm not one to start anything, but have you checked the turret dimensions of this T72 against the actual builders dimensions?.........wouldn't want you to go though all this effort with an OOB build and have an out of spec. turret Sir. :tongue-out3: :tongue-out2::tongue-out:.....just "gaffing" you Mike......Great progress on this and I actually like the second iteration of the light guards, as I think they are more to scale. I'll follow along with the innocents........ I know I don't belong in this group, but they make good camouflage! Rick H.

[GerryW]

Looking good, didn't think that the 'OOTB' would last long :thumb2: :smiling5::smiling5:

[adt70hk]

Coming on nicely Mike.

ATB.

Andrew

[Isitme]

Hi Mike, mind if I join the "rabble".......just had a read through and couldn't help thinking about Mr. T's struggles with his Tamiya T62 about this time last year......and how he faffed about with the turret as it was a few mm's low in the front etc. Now I'm not one to start anything, but have you checked the turret dimensions of this T72 against the actual builders dimensions?.........wouldn't want you to go though all this effort with an OOB build and have an out of spec. turret Sir. :tongue-out3: :tongue-out2::tongue-out:.....just "gaffing" you Mike......Great progress on this and I actually like the second iteration of the light guards, as I think they are more to scale. I'll follow along with the innocents........ I know I don't belong in this group, but they make good camouflage! Rick H.

Hello Rick,
You just stay over in your half of the forum, coming over here all leery about specs and dimensions, we have enough trouble staying out of trouble and not upsetting the serious ones :tongue-out3::smiling3:....
You are very welcome, and welcome at any time, and comments are always welcome good or bad. I will be honest with you, I have not checked one dimension with this kit, it could be a mile out or spot on, I bought the kit ages ago because I liked the look of it, and it got good reviews. And having started on it (the box is not getting any less) I have tried to keep any alterations to the minimum and OOB if possible. Pleased you like the light guard changes, and they do look more in scale.
Mike.

[Isitme]

Looking good, didn't think that the 'OOTB' would last long :thumb2: :smiling5::smiling5:

I am trying, I really am trying..... :rolling:

[minitnkr]

Excellent solutions. PaulE

[scottie3158]

Mike,
Loving the light guards very nice indeed.

[Isitme]

Update,
Had a look through the instructions last night to see what needed to be done in the near future - turned a couple of pages and came across this...

.... you have got to be kidding me, I have just done 10+umpteen and thought to myself how kind they have given me loads of spares....:tongue-out3:

As you can see the location points are all there....

Progress made - half way.....:unamused:
Also on the menu were the blocks for the track guards.... first the attachment points...

... I tried to do this by numbers, but in the end went from left to right on the instructions...

.... as you can see there are location indentations for the blocks, but I went along with a drill and made these deeper before adding the blocks themselves...

I have also done more work on the hull itself, adding the engine mesh covers over the grills from after market, but the ones with the kit will do just as well, the fuel tank drum brackets and the snorkel. Again I was not happy with the 'rubber' snorkel part so made a new one from tube, wrapped with tissue....

... and used a couple of the kit track links with the ends drilled out...

The brackets/straps holding the snorkel come with the kit.
Had a test run of the top track guard to check the fit and all is well, unfortunately the drive sprocket and idler wheel will have to be added before paint but not a problem.

And that is where I am at today, still plenty more to do.
Mike.

[Si Benson]

Rolling along steadily there Mike or Is it ‘two jabs’:thinking:.

[scottie3158]

Mike,
All looking very nice and neat as one would expect.

[minitnkr]

Excellent build. PaulE

[stillp]

98 of the little beggars? :rolling:
Pete