Morning everyone,

Thought I would post a few pictures of my latest build, Meng's Husky TSV. I must admit I am very impressed by this kit, even in it's early stages as it almost falls together with zero issues so far. I have built Meng's kits before but this surpasses even those. It is all very modular, just like the real vehicle which makes building easier and will make painting a doddle also.
I have added the Accurate Armour heavy conversion parts to the load bed so far without any major problems apart from having fingers like bratwursts and bending some detail. as you can see I have moved the satcom antenna to the front right wing as I have seen in every picture I have seen of a "heavy". It looks high in the pictures but is only on a level with the top of the air intake.

Nice work! I, too, found this kit to be a box shaker. The engineering is up there with Tamiya while the details are close to AFV Club. Go Meng go!

good to hear. Progress looks excellent. I have the AA recovery conversion set along with their weighted wheels set. Asking for the Meng kit as Christmas present.

Yeah it's a really good kit. I got the DEF Model wheels for mine as part of a deal with a set for my Panda M-ATV. The DEF wheels are flawless, I'm really pleased with them. wiring the antenna mounts now with copper wire and fitting the AA ECM antennas. I'll have to scratch the data antenna as the AA one isn't up to the job in my opinon.

A few samll update pics, wired the antennas and drilled the cab to accept the wiring. Started on the can interior with the equipment racks and rear seats which are dry fitted into place. Also the weapon station turntable is in although the AA one was very flimsy and tore so I replaced the centre with card. I'll attach the weapon station to that and then cut out the hatch opening. Last picture is of the ECM boxes and a pair of Bowman radios. They will need adjustng slightly to fit into the racks.

Glad to hear this! I have the kit, but it's "in line." Hope I have as easy a time as you are!

Hi Gary,

Really it's the only issue I have come across. The centre section is VERY flimsy and really needed replacing. Hopefully this will hold when I glue the turret to the turret ring as I am not a fan of CA glues in general.

Very nice job so far on the project Max.

And to continue, been concentrating on the turret which is made up of some seriously small parts. My eyes are aching and fingers sore from cutting them from the pour blocks. But it's pretty much together apart from the .50. Had to strengthen the bracket where it attaches to the gun shield as again the parts were very flimsy and not really up to it in my opinion. Anyway pics below, apologies for the lighting.

Just a one picture update as it took me a while to do this. Undercoated and then sprayed the topcoat on which looked extremely yellow to begin with but looks a lot better with the IC boxes and wiring painted. still got to do a pin wash and an overall wash just to tone it down a little more. Internal lights won't go in until everything is done and a flat coat applied. The dash decals are insanely small but really look the part once they are done.

WOW,YOUR BUILD LOOKS GREAT ,LOVE YOUR PAINT WORK .

Agreed re Meng. Im building the M911 C-HET and the detail and fit/orientation of the parts is brilliant. I bought the Voyager p e set for it but its v fiddly and the frets are badly numbered. The p e radiator grille is a nightmare of complex variables IMHO.

Given the Meng kits level of detail, Ive put most of the Voyager stuff to one side.

As I said before there are no issues at all with the Meng kit. This is my first foray into a kit/conversion with a significant amount of resin and although the results look good I am not enjoying the experience. I find everything is so brittle and have broken so many parts it's unreal. Luckily they have glued together well with CA glue, I'm using Gorilla CA glue for that and it's amazing.
A few updates on the weapon station, things look a little off as it is just dry fitted together at the moment to make it easier to paint. I lost the cocking handle of the .50 to the carpet monster and will have to find something to replace it. I have replaced the shoulder bar with brass tube as it just wasn't surviving any type of handling.

Incredible attention to details!

And the next update is below. It's taken me quite some time to get this far. My sausage fingers don't lend themselves well to detail work and painting. I didn't like the orginal desert colour I was using so I have went with MMP-039 British Sand Yellow Modern AFV and to my eyes looks spot on. There are issues I have noticed on the pictures that I didn't see when just looking at the model which I will have to address. Seats are just dry fitted at the moment due to the need to add wear and tear to the interior. As usual tips and ideas always wlecome.

A very nicely detailed kit to begin with but you have taken it to a whole new level.I thought I did OK with mine but now I feel humble.Be careful with the seat belt straps that go to the roof.It may be better to attach them to the roof first because after it is attached it is very hard to get in and adjust where they should go.Exellent work.
Tom

Thanks for the tip about the roof straps Tom. There are etch straps in the AA set but I'm not sure whether to use them or the kit straps.

Holy cow! If that's what you can expect with "sausage fingers," let me have them! That looks totally awesome. Mine won't look that nice. I can guarantee it. You are too modest.

And again with a small update. Things progress slowly. Added the wire cutters specific to the Husky heavy version. Bought some Maquett styrene to use and boy is it hard to glue. Tamiya wouldn't even produce a tacky surface! In the end I used Revell contacta with acetone added to beef it up a little. Now thats a solid joint.
Anyway on the dash in front of the commander is some sort of electronics unit, I have no idea what it does but scratched it as I didn't want to leave a gap. The rest are of the incomplete wire cutters. I had to simplify the mounts on the roof as they were just beyond me in this scale, also filled the holes for the simfire units and added the roof mounted LED lights. I have removed the grab bar above the commanders door as I have seen photos of Husky's with it removed when they have this type of wire cutter fitted.

Another update, this time of the bonnet section and the weapons mount/turret. I tried using a molotow pen to paint the headlight reflectors and it turned out really nicely. I did use it on the indicators also, however you can't tell once the orange covers are on. I'll use it for the mirrors also.

The weapon turret is about done apart from weathering and a few areas that need touching up. I was wondering what colours to paint the small stowage bags inside as for the life of me I can't find any reference pictures. I'm thinking all green or perhaps use an MTP decal to cover them. Thoughts anyone?

All sub assemblies test fitted onto the chassis. They are by no means finished just wondered how they fit together and what they look like.
I went with the kit parts for the suspension straps fitted to the AA rear seats. For the life of me I couldn't see a way to use the etch straps supplied by AA. Without a doubt someone will be able to use them, however thats not me. I had to go in through the windows in the rear of the cab to fit the inside straps which was fun....not. I fitted a scratched data antenna and will do the birdcage ECM antenna as one of the last items to be fitted.

Coming along nicely! Looks like a very detailed and intricate kit. Good job!

Hi Peter, thanks for your input. The kit is really good with very ;little wrong with it. The AA kit is also good with only a few niggles that I have come across which I have listed as i have built it. The main glaring errors in it are the lack of alternative satcom antenna placement and the different wire cutter parts.

Work on the Husky continues but at a slower rate due to work. I have done the windows front and rear on the cab. I ended up painting them as individual pieces and fitting them one at a time as each windown comes as two pieces. Tried putting them together and painting them before fitment but it went wrong, paint seeped between the panes. Anyway they look good in my estimation. Started on the doors now, just paint and decals so far.

An update on the Husky as the build stalled for a time as I moved to home working. This is where it is at the moment.
I've done some weathering and fitted the wheels which are DEF resin ones which are the dogs danglies. There are still some straps and such to do in the load area but I find I get bored if I follow a set sequence when building, so tend to jump around doing things. The weapon station is fitted, but the gun and shield still loose.
Got the doors to fit after I drill them for the gas struts which hold them open, I think it might add some strength to them. Then the various antenna and load. Anyway, have a look and if there are areas you feel for improvement let me know.