I think you made a wise decision with those handles. They will lend more realism to the finish later. Not like you need any help with that lol.
Oh yeah - I’d use wire here, too - not only does it look better and stands up to more abuse, but it’s also a nice economical (don’t want to write cheap!) solution - doesn’t cost much money or too much time compared to PE. Good luck with your build and have a nice day
Paweł
Mike, Pawel: Thanks. Wire’s the only way to go here for sure.
Working…on…PE…takes…so…much,TI I I I I I I ME!!
Nice work with those wire grabs…I can honestly say that that’s more than I would have done. 
Yeah, there’s definitely a good and bad side to PE.
I finished the engine deck last night, and the PE took about two hours. Yuck. And I skipped a lot of it. I thought the tool clamps looked just fine in the kit, and all this stuff is covered up by the turret overhang anyway. I used the parts for the saw and the shovel brackets at the scoop-end, but that was all I had the mojo for.
The wire handles are a definite improvement and love those PE engine fan screens.
Looking very good! Those grills are exactly what PE is good for.
Thanks guys.
Yep, nothing beats real wire for a wire (rod) part.
I’ve been out of town and busy at work, but hope to get back on this cat soon.
Some more bits stuck on:
About all that’s left now are the caps on the smoke dischargers and the antennae, then I do believe it’s time for paint.
Good on ya, Russ. (Picked up that phrase from an Aussie friend, lol!)
Thanks, mate!
Looks good mate. I have a takom Leo 1 A5/C2 (can be built as either) that I need to work on. Similar styling so I will be watching this build closely for ideas and inspiration.
Thanks!
I’ve been watching the Tacom and Meng Leo builds, all look like really nice kits. I’ve been pondering the Meng Leo2A4 myself.
Karl-Heinz almost has a tank ready…
Hmmm… new look?
I got a little bored last night, so I folded the rear mud flaps like all the pics I have or have seen… and I also have a fair pic of the smoke launchers with the caps and chains. Assembly is done, just need to head to the store for paint.
Wow, talk about a “dropped project”… I had a little time the other morining, and thought about working on the T-62, and then thought again. So instead, I grabbed this thing and shot some green, Tamiya IJA green. It sure is green, but I’m fairly confident a good wash will fix that.
Its very nice to see some color on this beauty, Russ. Can’t wait to see how this one turns out!
So, two months since I touched this one. Wow.
In a fit of something or other, I cleaned up my cave, and once I had some bench space, I had room to take a pic of the Leo, with its new coat of green, not the tree frog color I first applied. I’m quite a bit happier with this as a base coat, so maybe now I can get moving again.
And just for kicks, I now have my entire stash of “virgin” kits out of my work area, in a separate cabinet the office next to me no longer wanted:
I feel much better now.
She looks good! Love to see you finish her and the T-62.
Me too. [:D]