Tamiya 1/48 challenger 2

[Andy T]

With the diorama slowed down to a snails pace due to drying & thinking time I needed something to occupy my hands while I wait for my Jap aircraft GB subject to land.



A lovely little kit with enough detail to keep me happy and it's going together a breeze so far. In not much time at all I had the running gear and (partial) link & length tracks fitted. Note also the included weight. Maybe a bit of a gimmick but it does give the little guy a bit of substance.





Then not much longer after that we were looking like a tank already! The upper hull and side skirts are only dry fitted for now but they just slot together on locating pins making assembly a breeze

[scottie3158]

That's a cool looking build.

[Jim R]

I really like these Tamiya 1/48 kits. They build up well and the fit is good.
Are you intending to glue the track to the wheels and have the whole wheels/track unit removable for painting or is the whole thing glued in place? I ask because I find that a decision to make with these link and length tracks.

[The Smythe Meister]

Indeed,it sure is looking excellent already Andy :thumb2:,
Not done any 1/48 armour myself yet, but that does make me ponder!!

[Andy T]

Thanks chaps, but all credit so far should go to the tamiya designers. I'm just freeing it from the sprue so it can fall together lol

Jim, I scratched my head for a bit on that one. In the end the wheels are dry fitted to the body & tracks so that I can paint them separately. The tracks are glued lightly to the sprockets though as I couldn't get them to sit right dry. I'm hoping once it's set up overnight I can remove the sprockets (poly caps) and peel the track off them. If not it shouldnt be too much of a problem to paint them together. Ironic that most of the running gear is hidden except that part!

I'm not certain if I'll then have to fit the tracks and mask them up before final assembly & painting of the body, but that's tomorrow's boggle.

[Guest]

Looking good, especially with all the extra crap on it but before they began adding too much

Odd addition, that weight, but I guess they wanted to maintain a similar weight to the early kits in the series that have a die-cast metal lower hull. I never understood either myself, though

[papa 695]

Nice kit, and a nice start.

[Andy T]

Thanks Jakko and Ian, this certainly won't be a drawn out build! :smiling5:

Most of the time on this kit is spent adding the stuff to the back end



I managed to remove the tracks from the sprockets so can paint everything separately.



Then the turret was thrown together. The gun mount is a multi part affair with poly caps to make it posable but it has a small cement contact area so it got clamped for a while to ensure it was solid




And here it is all built up, then deconstructed ready for paint. Quick as a flash!

[scottie3158]

Nice bring on the wet stuff.

[Guest]

That is quick!

[Lee W]

Well I say chaps it's getting a bit crowded in here, any chance of some space?!
Andy, love the Chally and yours is looking great so far mate, like Scottie said, bring on the wet stuff... no put the beer down for a mo! :rolling::smiling5:

[papa 695]

Quick but very good work. Looking forward to the painting.

[Andy T]

Thank you all for your comments and it's always good to have you along Lee.

I'd highly recommended this kit for anyone that fancies a quick, fuss free build. I've made a few others in this 1/48 military miniatures line and I've enjoyed them all.

Tempted to go with a dark brown primer on this rather than my usual black as I think it'll suit the final colour more, but will see what falls to hand later.

[Jim R]

Neat, quick progress Andy. I'm glad the tracks came off the sprockets ok. I find tracks are so often the frustrating part of a build.

[Richard48]

Cool looking diddy Chally.Must do one myself sometime.Never got round to doing a Chally 1 and 2.Be good if a company did a new moulding of the Chally 1.
" If modelling be the food of love please spray on".
Top drawer fella.
Richard.