AUF1 - WiP

Dan M
Started on my first Meng kit.
First impression is not exactly positive. I don't like the plastic quality at all, it reminds me of the ugly green plastic that Revell uses (and not because of the color). Maybe it's just this kit but I think Trumpeter has better plastic than this one, not to mention the likes of Dragon or Takom.

Mathias Griesbeck
I can't complain about the plastic quality, but wait until you start building the tracks...

Dan M
Ouch, that bad ? I was kinda looking forward to those workable tracks 🙂

Mathias Griesbeck
the pins are very small and fragile, it's really hard to get the links together without them falling apart. I think i'll go and glue them together in the end.

Dan M
Managed to put a little bit more work on this one (too many projects at once). The workable suspension is really a nice gimmick. While I don't like the plastic I have to admit the fit is really good and the details are sharp.

Dan M
While waiting for the paint to cure on my other projects I continued the build on the AUF1. It's starting to grow on me. While I still think the plastic is too soft the model now starts to show a lot of details. The fit is quite good, but there is some filling required as it's quite easily damaged by my clumsy attempts to remove pieces from the sprue.

Kevin Taylor
I had similar issues with the plastic from one of their pickup truck kits. I have been looking at this kit you're building for a while, so can't wait to see more.

Dan M
Welcome on board Kevin 🙂

Well, the kit has a few issues, though easily correctable. For example the instructions tell you to drill two holes on the upper hull that would serve to correctly install one of the front hatches. The holes are clearly marked on the underside so there's no mistake and the hatch has two guiding pins that need to fit those holes. The issue is that if you install the hatch this way then it's not going to be aligned to the other hatch and several other pieces will no longer fit. In the end I decided to ignore the position of the holes so I cut the guiding pins from underneath and glued the hatch in it's correct position.

Dan M
Finally managed to finish the tracks. They kept falling apart at the smallest shock. The problem is that the connecting pins are very small and the end of the track link (which is composed out of two halfs) have gaps to big through which the pins can escape.
What worked for me in the end was to assemble them in very small lengths (no more than 10 track links each) and use clamps to press on the edges of the track links so that the two halves would be hard pressed against the pins holding them in place. After they were left like this for many many hours they finally started to hold them together a little bit better. Still not perfect, still have to be very careful when I move them around and I will probably end up gluing them after I put them around the wheels.

I also started on the interior. I will try to glue as much pieces as possible on the floor and the walls before starting to paint them. What I really like about Meng's soft plastic (actually the only think I like) is that I can cut very small and fragile pieces from the sprue without fear that I would snap them in half.

Dan M
Thank you James 🙂

Ingo F
Looks good Dan. 👍 Finishing the tracks is always like completing an long distance run. 😄

Dan M
Thank you Ingo! As I've spent a loooot of time trying to convince the links to stay together I sure hope other Meng kits have easier to build tracks 🙂. Or at least sturdier.

Ingo F
I have build only one MENG kit so far but the tracks of the T-10 were very good. One of the best and easy to assemble tracks i have ever build. .

Dan M
After a long break decided i've managed to paint the interior of the turret. Used different colors than what Meng suggested as looking at photos of real AUF1 interior showed a different thing. Weathered the interior a little bit with some AK products. The roof is only dry fitted and will probably remain mobile so the interior can be seen if needed.

Scott Dutton
Beautiful job, yes leave roof removable, you've done such a great job, almost see the text on that computer screen

Dan M
Thank you Scott!

Dan M
Thank you James 🙂