here are some pics of my current project. This is a AMX 13 light tank as deployed during the Suez crisis. I started from the Heller kit and backdate it with a lot of scratchbuilt parts and some PE parts I got from a Spanish producer.
The Heller chassis depicts the latest version so I had to remove the suspension details and create a new suspension.
I also altered the return roller positions as the early running gear had only two instead of four on the latest version. The front shock absorbers are scratchbuilt.
The front end was also a piece of pleasure ! Here is the new gun travel lock. The legs are longer than the later versions.
The lights guards were made from styrene strips. They are not perfect but look the part.
The rear needed some improvement too. I still have to make a new towing pintle.
I improved the sprockets a bit and tried to make the early idler wheels. The result is not satisfactory but I know how to improve the idlers now.
I had to add 12 bolt heads to each roadwheels to depict the early type.
The angled side bins are PE parts but I may change the RHS ones for styrene as there is a problem with the exhaust shield.
The turret got its part of the job too. Mine is not as good as Gary's on his Egyptian Sherman but it will do the trick.
Here is how it currently looks.
I still have to make the new idlers and add some details here and there. The tracks will be the Friul steel set. The decoration will be one in the Bison decals set.
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