AMX 30; Basket Case... being put away for a while...

[paulh]

I've started .... Updates later!

[wbill76]

We demand pics!

[paulh]

And here they are....


Now 'fess up- who 's expecting the rather wonderful MENG offering on this one....?


Sorry to disappoint- You're getting the less than delightful Heller one!
And boy is this NOTHING like the meng one or even Nemo's ongoing VCBI


I'm not going to torture anyone with sprue shots- better off not seeing them.
Starting with a build up of the hull tub. Flat-pack approach here- and ouch! The plastic in this thing is a rather thin and overly flexible IMO, plastic. What I would consider normal pressure applied to help things sit in place results in distortion of the side walls so I -ve used the yellow humbrol poly for this. Even then the fit isn't great. there are locating tabs but its just very fiddly to sort. finally ended up attaching on side holding it in place while the glue cures and then added some internal braces to assist with the other side and also provide some rigidity



Left this overnight but when I came back to it i notice not insignificant gaps that needed filler. This picture really doesn't do it justice- This is going to cost a bit in filler methinks!



wheels and sproackets go together without any issues (so far) and the big shooty thing is a 2-pice split horizontally because of the extractor venting holes being on the under-surface of the barrel.


This is clamped together while the glue cures off- so should be interesting tomorrow

Bedtime for me now.
Tomorow peeps.
P

[TRM]

Well...great to see you having a go Paul!! And you are off to a nice beginning!! I give you credit for having a go brotha'! But you seem to be taming this into submission!! Keep it coming!

[Leon]

Off to a good start Paul.

[paulh]

Cheers T. I've decided to build this as a simple B vervsion and not the B2 that uses the rather iffy resins bits included.
Definitely goin' to bed now.
P
Whoops nearly missed you Leon- thank you.

[deafpanzer]

Some kits just need little TLC and I know you are good at that. Count me in... good luck!

[Deano]

Good to see you tackling this one Paul , Im quite sure you will do a stand up job on it ...... how are the tracks ? are they as bad as the 1/72 offerings?

[paulh]

Andy , Deano - thank you both.
If TLC = tough love n'cussin, then Yup plenty of that to go around

Tracks are awful!!!
Soft overly flexible vinyl that i don't think will take glue well. I have both Hellers own replacement track set for this - but that's not without its own issues ' and a set of Fruils- there is no way I'm using them on this monster. Keeping 'em for when I get the Meng one (hint to Mrs H)

[Deleted]

You brave man! I have seen grown men cry when recalling building this kit!! I'm sure you will produce a sick purse out of this particular pigs ear!

[paulh]

Brave... Foolish .... or down right stooopid!
Thanks for the vote of confidence though Pete.

[wbill76]

Good thing I didn't wait up for them! Seriously though Paul, looks like you've got this one under control. Looking forward to more!

[paulh]

Long shooty thing seems to have turned out ok- but a coat of primer should confirm that ( or not)
Next up a final fill of the gaps between the tub sides and base and then it'll be on to the thingswotgoaroundsurroundedinthatgodawfulsoftgreystuffpassingasatrackthatmakethisbleedinthingmove AKA wheels & running gear.
try sayin that sober ....

[bullardino]

You guys got a passion for french stuff, uh? popcorn and beer ready, I sit comfy and wait to see the show

[paulh]

Thanks guys- hope can live up to the expectations!
Just spent the last 20 mins trying to upload a single pic to PB - unsuccessfully so will have to try again later.
.

[pantherf]

HELLER can be a bit sketchy but they are so totally BUILDABLE!  Try their (what a pain) VAB!    I haven't gave up yet but it's still in the box waiting for a restart... someday.  Complete with resin tires/wheels too.

I have the older HELLER AMX 30 kit (as well as the AMX 13 75 and the Leopard 2) so it'll be neat to see yours with the upgrades! 


Don't give up (like I did) and don't look back either! 






Jeff

[paulh]

I'm a stubborn ole sod so I'm not going to leave it (either the bloody kit or PB) beat me!

What i meant to say earlier was;
I've started on an attempt to enhance the details on the hull stowage boxes;some hinge detail with styrene rod and clamps with some fine florists wire. More work needed here but its a start. Pics to follow.

UPDATE: Success! :
Only one pic but I'll get some more sorted later tonight.

[bullardino]

Nice job, I corrected the original post

[robbo]

Nice to see what you can turn this kit in to Paul

[paulh]

Thanks Luigi.
Robbo -hopefully something less of the sows ear it currently is
P

[Leon]

Hinge detail is looking good Paul.

[paulh]

Thank you very much Leon.
There is some info available on t'interweb, but it is limited- I found two walk-arounds of this bestie - but they turned out to be the same pictures . The pics themselves are useful but without some text explanation I'm a bit stumpped as to what things are.
Anyhoo;
Last night I spent a bit of time on detailing what appears to be a pipe of some description (? exhaust/deep wading attachment) that exits the front hull behind the left-hand stowage box.
Pics are from my phone -so not brilliant







That's all for now. Hope to get some more done with this tonight.
ACW

P

[bullardino]

Very nice detailing, Paul

[wbill76]

Nice detail work there Paul, dressing up this old kit in style!

[Deleted]

yes indeed great additions there Paul will really enhance the model methinks!

[paulh]

Thank you very much gents. The wire is overlong and will be cut back to attached to some sort of switch mechanism- purpose of which I haven't got a scooby dooo about!
As I said earleir my references are limited to the primeportal images, blog of a Heller AUF1 build ( so bound to be some detail differences there) and an AFV profiles mag from the early '70s with loads of B7W images of prototype and preproduction versions as well as some global views of production vehicles. Obviuosly due to the age and size of these images the detail is somewhat vague at the best of times.
But thats the fun in all of this isn't it...

[Deleted]

Paul,do you have access to the Meng destructions at all? If not I may be able to scan in the AUF 1 build steps for the lower hull.They Might help??

[paulh]

Thanks Chris- I'll check on EasyHobby as they often have the destructions avaialble and let you know.
I'm assuming the Meng stuff is a wee bit more detailed that this delightful offering....?
P

[paulh]

I've been putting this bit off long enough....
perhaps now you can understand why;


And here's the track sprue straight out of the box (which by the way includes not only the tow cable- but the towing eyes as well;


I must be feckin' mad or somfing

Filled the drivers 'scopes (have since tweaked the middle one back into place)


And here the start at sorting out the mantlet "cover"- only roughly cut to shape a lot more finessing to be done on this bit yet


As always ACW -even those questioning my sanity at this point.
I'm beginning to understand what Pete was getting at when he intimated that this kit can make grow men still pencils up their nostrils, pants on their heads and go "wibble" ( can we get a smilie for that one for those builds that drive us to the edge of the abyss?)
P

[dupes]

Yeah, there's a reason that Meng decided to do an AMX chassis. Heh.

Doesn't mean you can't build it!