SPA Modeler

So here we go, construction has begun! I had some folks over on Armorama point out to me some corrections needing to be made so here we go.

As usual with most armor kits, this one started with the suspension and running gear. I have not yet closed up the motorization holes, but that is easy to do at this point. All the road wheels, the sprockets, and idler wheels are all removable due to their poly caps. I just put ‘em all on for this photo.



Using Vodnik’s site as reference, I started dealing with the biggest goof on this kit in my eyes, the shape of the rear hull plate and cut off the box like side portions of that part.



A bit of sanding and other trim work on the upper hull and I had the area looking much more accurate. And again following Vodnik’s guidance, I scratched up the rear spaced armor plates that go on that area.



More to come in a few days….

Nice start Stik! Can't wait to see more.

I'm sure the research on armor can be just as painstaking as on aircraft.

Good start Stik

Medicman71 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 23, 2023 3:32 pm Nice start Stik! Can't wait to see more.

I’ll get back on it this week. More progress photos after that.

tempestjohnny wrote: ↑Sun Mar 26, 2023 3:52 am I'm sure the research on armor can be just as painstaking as on aircraft.

Good start Stik

Thanks. The research is plain out in the open. I’m just a bit surprised that Tamiya and Academy both jacked up the rear plate accuracy so badly.

Making a great start Carlos!

Thanks Stuart. I’m aiming for more progress by the end of the weekend… just haven’t been feeling much urge for benchtime lately.

After being repeatedly sidelined for the past year, I have gotten this one going again. I followed Vodnik’s mods on the rear plate area, adding the spaced armor plates behind the stowage bins, and the angled spacers behind those onto the hull



Next I added some pipes (bilge pump drains?) onto each side of the ramp using some brass tubing



Lastly I glued the troop ramp into place



I’ve also been adding some of the small bits onto the upper hull



More to come in a few days…

Great looking mods Carlos!

Thanks Stuart. I’m really enjoying the kit so far, but am a bit disappointed in its shortcomings as well.

So here are a few more shots of what I had accomplished last week with the upper hull and ramp area





I also started filling in the motorization holes in the lower hull



And then yesterday, we had an IPMS Build & BS session where I started working on the turret. I cut up the mantlet to the proper fixed sides configuration that the A2 has



More progress to come in a few days…