Tamiya Challenger 1 MBT - COMPLETED!

[doogsatx]

For some reason, I've had a hankering recently to tackle some modern armor. I've also had a hankering for a relatively quick and painless build where I can devote more of my energies to painting and weathering that fighting fiddly bits.

Enter Tamiya.



I've always been a fan of the Challenger 1 and definitely prefer its lines to the Challenger 2. Not that I'm very knowledgeable about either. Basically, I go Wikipedia-deep on modern armor, and intentionally so, so I can build and enjoy in ignorance.

Anyway. I was waffling between the green kit or the Desertized Mk.3 when I came across this picture.



I really dig the muddy, rutted track through the snow - so in addition to this being my first modern armor build in twenty years, it's also going to be my first with groundwork.

The building is off to a splendid start. I'm going to try tackling the running gear first, the fixing the upper hull, but the thing is a press-fit with poly caps anyway.



Should be wrapping up the pre-paint portions over the weekend and ready to start shooting harsh, pigmented chemical solutions early next week.

[Deleted]

Nice one Doogs   Challenger I's should always be green to me, being the last GB Cold War fist fighter as it was 

[deafpanzer]

Looking real good!!! I think I want to build that kit one day... count me in!

[Deleted]

nice choice! haven't built one for years, looks like you are off to a great start

[robbo]

Remember when this baby first came into service, great vehicle. Nice to see one being built

[Deleted]

These came out after I left,but my Brother in Law was posted to one of the first units to have them.Even these early ones were good kit,and the latest Chally 2's can't be touched,IMHumbleO!! 8-)Good to see a 'basic' one built,and not the more common Desertised Mk3

[jackh]

Count me in, thats a brilliant kit and it was a great tank. They did brilliantly in the Gulf War and I believe that one Chally 1 took out a T72 at a 5000m distance .

[paulh]

I'm in.

[heico]

Aah nice! I am going to build it's younger and bigger brother in about a week or 2. But what's wrong with a nice sandy Chally?
It's got dust too

[doogsatx]

Making more progress on the Challenger. The turret construction's 95% complete - just like two more things to pop on and then it'll be ready for paint.

I still have a lot of small details to add to the upper hull.

I also did a full test-fit with the tracks tonight. The side skirts hide a ton, which will give me a ton of freedom is fixing the tracks so they are appropriately taut down below.

[Deleted]

lovely stuff! gotta love tamiya, so easy to build!

[heico]

That went fast

[doogsatx]

Been having some fun with the Challenger. On Christmas Eve, I got everything primed with Mr. Surfacer 1500...



Then last night I got to throw paint. Tamiya called out Dark Olive Green, but XF-58 looks way too dark to my eyes, so I used reference photos and swagged my own green using XF-65(?) Field Gray and XF-81 NATO Green. Still need to add black, and obviously weathering...not sure if I should do more modulation with the green before I spray the black came, or after.



I'll have a night to think about it, since tonight is all tracks and wheels.

[rbaer]

That looks like a very enjoyable build, nice work too.

[heico]

Looks nice, preshade will tone down as you progress with weathering etc. I would probably do the black first, that way you can decide better were to spray the modulation.

[Leon]

Looking good Doogs.

[Deleted]

good looking chally there XF65 is my choice for all modern brit armour it's a perfect match for the colour used. The black was applied with a spray gun or hand painted so you have a choice of hard or soft edges.

[robbo]

Very nice, clean looking build mate, love it

[doogsatx]

Work has shifted to the wheels and tracks over the past two nights. Tedious work that will ultimately be hidden by mud!

[martyncrowther]

Excellent progress on the finest MBT, following your progress makes me want to build one!

Martyn

[doogsatx]

Tracks are done and ready for weathering.



Now I have to figure out how to get my base going...

[doogsatx]

Got a start on the base last night. I had some scrap styrofoam lying around from one of the wife's projects and decided to put it to use.



I've been told an electric knife is amazing for this kind of work. Well, I don't have one (and am having a hell of a time sourcing one from a physical store...). Instead I turned to my friend Mr. Dremel, and his friend Mr. Rotary Cutting Blade (the one that looks like a drill bit). It worked pretty well until the battery ran out, but it made stupid mess.



Still have to contour the terrain outside the mud tracks, and the center "median", but so far, not too bad I guess.



Since the dead battery gave me some extra time, I went ahead and masked off some clasps and shot a lighter mongrel green-gray on the barrel's thermal wrap. Also noticed some sink marks up at the muzzle and dabbed them with putty.

[doogsatx]

Finished cutting the base tonight...





And laid down the celluclay. Not sure how I like this stuff. But it does the job.

[Leon]

The Chally looks awesome Doog .The base is progressing nicely.

[rbaer]

Schweet!

[Deleted]

great progress and nice base idea too

[doogsatx]

The base is still drying (it's gone about 50% light gray as of this morning), and I've spent the last two nights on other projects in the meantime. But last night I got some additional detail work in on the barrel (thermal wrap straps, muzzle etc). It's a bit flat right now, but I intend various weathering activities to make things pop.

[doogsatx]

Update time!

Sunday night, the base was finally dry enough to work with, so I gave it a quick paint with some cheap acrylic craft stuff I snagged at Michaels. Pretty much none of this will be visible in the end, but I want to seal the few bits of foam peaking through so they don't get melted by later effects.



Last night, I decided to test Andy's recommendation of mixing Woodland Scenics snow with diluted glue, and ended up just going ahead and doing the whole base. This is intended as a base layer. The Precision Ice and Snow stuff will be going down on top, but this way I'll have to use way less of it.

[rbaer]

I like.

[deafpanzer]

Great idea since Woodland Scenics snow is much cheaper! I will try that next time I make a winter diorama. Looking real good...