Howdy, folks! [:D]
Well, if any of you have been wondering why I haven’t been posting as much as usual lately, here’s why. I’ve actually been building a model!
Yes, I know that’s hard to believe, but I have pictures to prove it.
This is the old Aurora 1/48 MBT-70 kit that I picked up at a “modeller’s flea market” last February. I had a hard time deciding whether to build it OOB as a tribute to the old classic kit that it is, or to try to kick it up a notch with the full detail-up “accurization” treatment.
After much thought, I decided to try my hand at accurizing the old kit. Ref pix of the original prototype vehicle as it existed in 1967 (the vehicle I’m modelling) are scarce (I only found four), so had to use a lot of artistic license in areas like the engine deck. I also had to use a bit of artistic license when my limited scratchbuilding skills would’t allow exact reproductions, like the complicated hydro-pneumatic suspension system.
Of course, there’s no AM for this kit, so everything is scratchbuilt (I’ve invested heavily in Evergreen!), or is modified junk from the spares box (see if you can spot your favorite parts!). My buddies at Panzer Works here in Osaka helped me out by casting some parts in resin for me, such as the periscopes (kit only supplies two; real vehicle has six). Or are those called "episcopes? I can never remember.
All told, I added about 650 individual parts to the ol’ Aurora kit, including the 300 pads for the tracks. (UPDATE: I just counted all the parts: 300 added to the tracks, and 477 added to the rest of the vehicle. A total of 777 extra parts added!!)
Here are the pix:
One great thing about digital pix is that you can see plenty of stuff that you missed! After looking at these pix, I went back and cleaned up some of the tools and periscopes that still had visable parting lines and seams that I hadn’t noticed before. A digicam is a great tool to help you perfect your builds!
I have since primed the whole thing with Tamiya’s Fine Surface Primer, and found a few more rough spots that need a bit of sanding. The never-ending story! It’s going to sit like that for the next three weeks as I’ll be home in the States for a little vacation, but I’ll have three weeks after that to finish it up before it debuts at the Shizuoka Hobby Show on May 14. Wish me luck!
In the meantime, I would greatly appreciate any and all criticism you fine folks can offer on the build as you see it here. I’ve already fixed some of the problems I can see in the pix, but I’m sure there’re plenty more I’m not noticing. Please let me know before I slap on the first coat of olive drab!
Special thanks to Rob Gronovius for providing me with the motivation to purchase and build this kit. During the last couple of years here at FSM, Rob has talked about this great old kit many times (he has a few of 'em), and it was from those discussions that my interest in this vehicle grew.
Thanks for the all motivation, pix, and information, Rob! [:D]
Also, thanks to Bryan (falcon039) for sharing his great pix of the MBT70 at Aberdeen.
And of course, thanks to all the great folks here at FSM for sharing your knowledge with me! I doubt I would have had the ability or ambition to attempt a project like this prior to becoming a member here.
Now…please criticize! [;)]