Academy 1/35 K9 Thunder

[Guest]

As you all know, I have finished the Type 99, DANA and Pzh 2000 and I have been infected with the Arty fever. It doesn't help that a friend of mine is also doing a smilar theme like me so we become some what of a bit of rivals, racing with each other will be able to build as much ( or all ) of the SPG kits out there. So this time, to compliment my fleet of SPG, I will be adding the K9 thunder of the R.O.K army to the rooster.

The kit is a few years ( I think it came out in 2010 ) one but a pretty decent one-

Here's the box -

Sprue shots -

While walking around the Southen Expo show at Hornchurh a month back, I managed to accquired this little box -

The resin parts are well casted and it also inlude a smell fret for the engine grilles. A lucky find indeed. I wanted to buy a more dedicated set from Orange Hobby but it was expensive so I backed out of that.

As per standard, everything starts from the lower hull -

The instructions calls for the gluing of the return rollers arms -

following with the show absorbers ( I think they are shock absorbers )

and the suspension arms -

Followed up with two hooks and circles -

The transmission and sprocket hub -

Followed by what I believed to be a shock absorber for the idler wheels -

Then, I had to build the rear hull, following the instructions as you can see in the picture -

and the door of the rear hull -

which goes on quite nice and tight on the rear hull -

I then had to put on the sides of the rear hull and the mud flaps -

Academy has made this kit into R/C convertable so they included some pieces that is used to closed up the holes on the belly -

Checking everything, I glued the lower hull and the upper hull together. There was no problem with the front, it went on very smoothly with no seams but the rear hull was a bit of a problem. I still have to fill the gap but also put in some welding seams as I have seen from some reference photos. -

So that's it for now ... stay tuned for more

[Guest]

This looks an interesting one Gary! Although I'm starting to worry about all

these builds with very long guns!

Cheers

Patrick

[Guest]

Excellent, looking very interesting

[papa 695]

Nice one Gary will watch this one unfold

[Guest]

I like the look of this, will be watching this build.

scott

[Guest]

This looks an interesting one Gary! Although I'm starting to worry about allthese builds with very long guns!

Cheers

Patrick

LOOL ... dang.. I knew something like that is coming .. haha ... Don't worry.. I'm just compensating.. haha

Excellent, looking very interesting

It is an interesting vehicle as this is a Korean domestic vehicle with exports to Turkey ...

Nice one Gary will watch this one unfold

Thank you .. I will try not to disappoint

I like the look of this, will be watching this build.scott

It's a lovely looking gal, isn't it ?

[Guest]

Alright Time for an update for this gal ....

On to the turret -

I glued the turret floor, roof and the back wall together -

I put up the Mantlet after that; it's pretty well done and gun elevation is very stabe and controlled. Love it.

coming up next is the gun barrel. I glued two halves of the lower half of the barrel, cut off the bag thingy ( for the life of me, I can't remember what is is called ) from the kit and glued on the resin piece. It looks alot better and more defined-

after that, finished up the barrel -

The great size of the barrel can be appreciated here.. love those big guns

After that, I have to put on the floor of the gun mantlet on top of the big gaping hole on the turret floor -

I followed that by putting on all the various doors on the sides of the turret -

Started with two on the rear of the turret -

And the remaining doors on the front left side of the turret -

The small details are a little bit soft but looks pretty presentable.

After that, I moved back to the front glacis plate. I put on all the hatches doors and some handles and lock -

Put on the vision blocks for the driver. The blocks are provided with their covers closed. I could modify it into showing the covers opened but I couldn't be bothered.

After that, I put on the photo etch for the engine grilles -

and a exhaust cover -

and put on the head lights -

Doing pretty fine so far, haven't met with that much problem yet and enjoying ever bit of this.

Wel, that's it for now... until the next update....

Thank you for looking...

[Guest]

Its a really nicely detailed kit Gary - plenty of opportunities for weathering & chipping on all those sharp edges.

Cheers

Patrick

[Guest]

Nice smooth build. Looks great.. Makes me want to start on my M-190

May i ask what glue you use for this build? i can't see any residue of it anywhere.

[Guest]

Agreed with Caretaker109 here.

If it were me, there would be glue bombs and embarrassing smear stains all over that I have to hide...

[Guest]

Agreed with Caretaker109 here.If it were me, there would be glue bombs and embarrassing smear stains all over that I have to hide...

Nice smooth build. Looks great.. Makes me want to start on my M-190May i ask what glue you use for this build? i can't see any residue of it anywhere.

I'm using Tamiya Extra Thin Cement .. ( the little bottle with the green cap that has a brush in it ) .. being too thin, it doesn't leave that much big stain and evaporate VERY quickly. I used to use Revell before .. it's ok but like Willi said, I always had to deal with the smears and stains ...

[Guest]

Ah. Extra Thin.. I use it myself and love it.. But i do leave a smear once in awhile..

Looking forward to your next update.

[papa 695]

A nice and methodical build so far Gary, looks like a good kit

[Guest]

Looks great so far!

[Guest]

Thanks guys ... update will be up soon