JGSDF Type 89 IFV

1
March 30, 2014
2
March 30, 2014
Construction starts with the wheels. The polycaps are kind of retro.
3
March 30, 2014
Pin marks on the inner (but outward facing) road wheels may be visible after assembly. They're too deep to sand or file off, so I will fill them. How come there are no pin marks on the inside of the outer road wheels?!
4
March 31, 2014
Removed molded tie-downs from the front, drilled holes, and used fine wire to replace them.
5
April 1, 2014
The idler arms have ejector pin marks on the front that need filling. They're visible even after the wheels are on. Why didn't they put them on the back?
6
April 1, 2014
The return rollers are funky. They fit on their axles on a semi-circle peg, but aren't centered on the axles. I used the large semi-circle hole, but I think they're suppose to go on the smaller hole.
7
April 1, 2014
Up to step 8. Put the back on, thinned the door handle, and added wire grab irons. Only 15 more steps to go!
8
April 1, 2014
Oops! Had to tear out half the tie-downs and both front tow shackles to add a prominent weld seam where armor plates overlap.
9
April 4, 2014
The anti-skid pads have no texture.
10
April 4, 2014
I added texture by painting each pad with plastic cement, and stippling them with a stiff brush while the were still wet.
11
April 6, 2014
To ensure I can fill unsightly seam lines easily, it is better to not follow the instructions, but assemble the entire hull first.
12
April 6, 2014
I wish I hadn't completed the rear (as per instructions) prior to assembling the hull. The seam lines were hard to fill with all the details in the way.
13
April 6, 2014
Seam filling on sides. Pistol ports and wire handles were installed before closing the hull because interior access was needed. Consider the driver's periscopes too (but I'm not using them).
14
April 10, 2014
The holes for some parts, like periscopes, are too big, so some filling is needed.,
15
April 10, 2014
Worse problem yet, the rear fender does not line up with the side apron (sticks out too far). This will require major surgery!
16
April 10, 2014
Beside the driver's periscopes, there are 10 other scopes on the body. ALL 10 have a deep pin mark on the lens face that must be filled! Grrrrrrrr!
17
April 10, 2014
Working on the fender fix
18
April 10, 2014
The kit part filed down and built back up to look like prototype
19
April 10, 2014
New fender installed!
20
April 15, 2014
Shave down around access holes on the inside of the skirts, or they will look too thick. The kit bevels the outer edges of the skirt for you, but not the access holes.
21
April 18, 2014
Used the kit tow cable shackles but replaced the cable with nylon thread. Added wire cable hooks, as seen on the real machine.
22
April 18, 2014
On to the turret. First thing is to replace the molded-on stowage loops with wire.
23
April 18, 2014
Tie-down loops attached.
24
April 23, 2014
Added photo-etch smoke dispenser chains from Aber.
25
April 23, 2014
The kit comes with a rubber gun-mantle flap and wire for the missile boxes. I added the end plugs on the wire with plastic rod.
26
April 25, 2014
27
April 25, 2014
28
April 25, 2014

Comments

30 March 2014, 18:28

George Bacon
This ought to be fun! 😉

30 March 2014, 18:29

babak chalangi
Have the same kit love to see it done

30 March 2014, 18:34

George Bacon
OK babak, I'll see what I can do 🙂

30 March 2014, 19:10

Barry Lloyd
I hadn't heard of this IFV before, have now added it to my wishlist and look forward to seeing your progress.

30 March 2014, 20:19

George Bacon
Welcome aboard Barry!

30 March 2014, 20:34

George Bacon
Ugh, wheels! 🙁 Why can I handle 200 individual four-part track links with no emotional problems, but hate doing a dozen wheels?

30 March 2014, 23:37

Hunter Cummins
Mind if I join ??
Same here, I hate wheels but like doing tracks........ mysterious

1 April 2014, 00:45

George Bacon
Welcome Hunter! All I can figure is that wheels are done early (when you want to get into the nitty-gritty) and tracks are done when the end is in sight!

1 April 2014, 01:24

Hunter Cummins
You have solved the mystery lol
I just skipped everything else and did the tracks right away😳 (after the horrid wheels haah)

1 April 2014, 01:42

George Bacon
More photos up. You can tell this is one of Trumpeter's older kits. Great detail and accuracy, lots of minor clean-up, and a few "rookie mistakes" on design (placement of pin marks and a few sink holes). But, so far, I like it! 🙂

1 April 2014, 02:51

George Bacon
From reference pictures, I noticed a smooth, but large weld seam and plate overlap on the front of the vehicle. Had to tear parts off to create this feature 🙁

1 April 2014, 13:40

Hunter Cummins
I like it so far 🙂

5 April 2014, 17:49

Barry Lloyd
Anti-slip looks really good, I wonder why they missed it off in the first place.

6 April 2014, 09:33

Gerald
interesting project 🙂

6 April 2014, 09:50

George Bacon
Thanks Barry and Gerald. Barry, this model is an interesting mix: they miss the skid plate detail, but have exquisite molded grill screens (who needs phto-etch!); the upper hull "snaps" on to the lower hull with poly caps, like you're going to be opening and closing it a lot, but there's no interior detail, and no motorization (like the old Tamiya kits). All very odd... 🙁

6 April 2014, 14:57

George Bacon
I posted some more photos showing why you don't always want to follow the instructions (exactly). Since I wanted to fill the seams where the upper and lower hulls attach, it is better not to have all the little details installed first (which is what the instructions would have you do 😮).

6 April 2014, 15:02

Barry Lloyd
Centauro instructions must have been written by the same person - it suggest joining hull parts after fitting all the details whereas its better to join them early to save damage to small parts. I'll certainly follow your method on this one!

6 April 2014, 19:57

George Bacon
Weather is good. 🙂 Progress is slow. 🙁. New pin-hole and fit problems posted. 😮

10 April 2014, 14:35

Hunter Cummins
Your makeing her look great 🙂

10 April 2014, 19:11

Arne Greve
It was my first Trumpeter Model kit and I liked it.

10 April 2014, 19:55

George Bacon
Thanks Hunter! Added some more pictures on how to fix the fender 🙂

10 April 2014, 22:05

George Bacon
Arne, I like this kit too! It's an awesome looking machine 🙂 Trumpeter doesn't seem to make these little infuriating design flaws anymore, either.

10 April 2014, 22:11

Arne Greve
Hi George, I have some more Trumpeter Kits of the JGSDF Vehicles in my Stash. They all waiting for building.
You´ve done good work on this kit. I built it straigth ooB.

15 April 2014, 08:19

George Bacon
The hull is done (except for wheels and tracks) 🙂 On to the turret!

18 April 2014, 16:33

George Bacon
Turret's done. On to painting!

23 April 2014, 21:12

Przemek Przybulewski
Great work. I really like it.

24 April 2014, 01:06

Arne Greve
Hi George, I see, what you doing with this kit, and now I´am thinking about to build it new. Your kit looks really great!

25 April 2014, 08:23

George Bacon
Thanks Arne! 🙂. Being one of Trumpeter's older kits, it needs a lot of fiddling to make sure parts are cleaned-up and fit correctly. I just added some more pictures with the first base coat applied. I really like this kit. It's such a cool looking machine! 😉

25 April 2014, 13:53

Arne Greve
You are right. I like this kit too. It is a hybrid between a german Marder and an american Bradley.

25 April 2014, 14:00

George Bacon
It's big too! Longer than a Tiger I and about as wide. But it's half the weight, twice as fast, and can go four or five time farther on a tank of diesel. 👍

25 April 2014, 14:04

Arne Greve
LOL. The Tiger was a snail. Over weight. His only stronge was the big gun. Thats all.

25 April 2014, 14:57

Hunter Cummins
Update??

16 June 2014, 13:05

George Bacon
On hold for a while.... 🙁

17 June 2014, 13:14

Hunter Cummins
Awwwwww 🙁

17 June 2014, 13:31

George Bacon
Have to finish the lightship 🙂

17 June 2014, 13:36

Hunter Cummins
Ahhh
Cant wait to see it done !!!!!