Tortoise A39 British Heavy Assault Tank Meng Model 1/35

After moving, I have not yet tidied all the baggage at the new apartment. I don’t know where the plastic models are made on the way. I found this A39 TORTOISE in my stock which I had wanted to build long before. The JGSDF 90 Type tank was only needed to paint figures for completion…

Among the tank models, the number of parts around the suspension, such as the wheel, and launch wheel, there are many parts.

While struggling quite a bit, I managed to build rollers. Unfortunately, it seems almost impossible to see the structure after attaching the side covers. The suspension is similar to the UK Matilda tank, which was also not seen in the rollers.
(15-November-2016)

I was able to glue these rollers to the chassis neatly.

I think it is the enormous caterpillar I have built in AFVs. When it is 62 pieces on one side, it is slightly too long, and it is slightly short when it is 61 pieces.

When the side covering is attached, it isn’t seen anymore at all, so in some ways, the photos of this process are valuable.
(16-November-2016)

I covered a battle room on the chassis. There seems to be no problem with the fitting of large parts.

I was attaching some parts. I also added this main gun and the coaxial machine gun.
(18-November-2016)

The assembly of the Tortoise tank was completed. The battle room is pretty large. It is a little similar to German Jagdtiger.

Two hatches can be opened and closed, manufactured commonly. I used metal wire, and I made all the hatches movable.

The front and rear hooks and the traveling rod are also movable.

A caterpillar is thick, and it seems harsh.
(21-November-2016)

After painting the surfacer, I sprayed dark and light.

It is a single-color painting of the olive drab.

I mixed the tan and did gradation with a bright color.

I used powder material to give some 3D effect to stuck mud. I mixed the pigments, Tamiya Diorama Texture Paint snow white, and Mat Medium. Because I paint mud, I think that even a strange color does not have any problem.
(25-November-2016)

I blew the dirt and mud with an airbrush.

I do the washing with oil painting and enamel. It is a little still shiny, and is it unnatural?
(27-November-2016)

The Tortoise heavy assault tank was completed. There was no opportunity to have a role that it was the end of the war before bringing it to the front line. Because it is only six produced, it’s the positioning called the prototype tank.

It is interesting what happens to fighting with Panther or Tiger. As for the thickness of the front armor, 228mm, and side armor, 152mm, the defense power seems enough against the German 88mm gun.

80t weight and a maximum speed of 19 km, it’s restricted to slow mobility. It’s such a huge body, so a caterpillar is dramatically wider.

This long gun barrel seems to be strong, and it is reliable. The body color is khaki drab rather than olive drab.

A small gun turret on the roof circles. Two machine guns are equipped. One coaxial machine gun and one ball mount machine gun beside the main gun.

Maybe mud painting in the middle of a process is better. I put too much color, went back, and painted with the bright color for a dried-up feeling and made it in various ways. It’s difficult to express the feelings of a mud material.

Painting of a spare caterpillar worked. Is this rust slightly unbalanced in the prototype vehicle?

I did moderate tipping to the prototype AFV. But I think it was incomplete tipping. It doesn’t have actual fighting experience.

It discolors badly, but I like this muffler painting personally. When varying painting on the vehicle surface more, I think it balances with this muffler.

The periscope is painted clear green. I painted part of the smoked dischargers in black.

There are seven crews for this tank. The crews are necessary for the main gun operation and many machine guns.

Originally it was only two movable hatches, and I added work opening and shutting all four movable hatches. The front square hatch has not closed neatly.

It is nothing new to say I built the kit of MENG-MODEL for the first time. The parts fitting is very good and easy to build. I want to make other kits in the future if it’s of equal quality.

The mold of the body side is elaborate, and there is a feel of a material. When saying so, there are no decals in this kit.

The muzzle changes color to dark brown and gray. I did a drybrushing lightly. It is a muzzle of a strange form.

Hexagonal big screw? Bolt? I think they are wonderful accents. It’s suitable for the monster weight tank.

When it is a glance to look up at from the bottom, it is powerful and very good-looking. Because my moving was over, I had to look for the type 90 tank and zero fighters making it on the way. The end of the year comes suddenly.
(28-November-2016)