We're at the Half-way point.

Hello everyone.

Welcome back, did you miss me! I know, with every bullet. LOL.

Made some good progress yesterday in the build, but also run into some fit issues that put the build into a hold until this morning when I could get a better grip on what needed to be done to fix them. More on that later.

Anyways, right now I'm at the half-way point in the build. Here's some progress photo's.

Torsion bars and shocks install.

Assembly

Dry fit.

Glued in place.

Next item on the list was getting on the fenders, tool boxes. Now if you've been watching closely I've been doing just the larger items and doing the smaller items later. If the smaller item is needed to complete a larger piece, then I'll go ahead and put it on. 

Case in point......................................

Note Part A7, step 3 in manual, front left, next to part A5, towing hold. This part should be put on when installing fenders. Current placement is not were fenders fall into place.

Parts A7/A8 of step 3 in manual removed for refitting of the fenders.

Part A7/A8 now in correct placement with the fenders. Note small gap following the hull and fender side wall. 

That was challenge number 1 with the fenders.

Challenge number 2.
The final drive sprockets. They have these micro tabs, which are very hard to see, on parts C16 that are to mate with parts C19/C20. Luckily you'll have a spare if you mess one up by not getting the tabs to connect correctly.

Tabs are hard to see right.........

Marked with red marker, there they are!

Challenge number 3.

The rear deck exhaust and rear of turret clearance.

Now, I should of checked this earlier in the build, but I didn't so I had to do some modifications to make the rear of the turret clear to exhaust shield.

I believe we have a small challenge.

Angle is not letting turret clear. What to do?

When you look at it from the photo's one will see the amount of removal needed. 

Cleared the rear now.

Notice the height difference now.

Cleared and level. 

Oh, almost forgot! Did a fitting of the tracks. By the way, the rear exhaust issue wasn't addressed until after I took these photos.

Not a bad fit overall. Easy to install, no major issues like other tracks where you almost always break something putting them on.

Well, that does it for this week folks.

My apologizes for the photos if they have not been too clear. I've been using a Canon Power Shot A540 digital camera on a tripod. Also these are the tools I've been using for these build.

Nothing fancy here. LOL

Next weeks blog: Turret, gun assembly. Final detail work and maybe some paint. We'll see about the paint.
Hope you've enjoyed this so far.

See ya in the funnies....................