01. Another winner from HobbyBoss is this derivative of the Centurion Tank

I'm not going to regale you again with the in's & out's of the basic chassis construction, that has already been covered in my previous Nagmachon builds (use buttons below).

Here, I shall cover the differences with regard to the Doghouse II - my build process is a bit random but I think you'll be able to follow it fairly easily.

Nagmachon

Doghouse I

02. There's a lot in this box and not bad for £35.99 RRP

03. This is Sprue L with all the Bar Armour, Mountings and new Doghouse front panel

I first started out by assembling the Main Hull, Track Guards and Superstructure. Once that was fixed and true to the build I was able to align the Superstructure Roof and Doghouse base.

At this point, I was able to start on the really interesting part which is detailed in the following frames.​

​This build is my 4th in a series involving the chassis of the Iconic Centurion Tank in IDF Service across more than 30 years.

04. I removed all the Doghouse panels marking each one from 1-4 and Front & Rear

05. Placing each panel in turn onto the Doghouse Frame I used a red marker to trace each opening, in total there will be 11 openings to remove.

06. Initially I used a 1mm drillbit into each corner then I scribed joining the holes with my Trumeter Panel Line Tool

07. Each of the Doghouse Panels also needed notches and slots removing for the Bar Armour brackets

08. About an hour later and with some cramp in my fingers I have 11 window opening that all fit. Some trimming needed to align the holes

09. All the Doghouse panels have now been fitted and Vallejo Plastic Filler applied to all the gaps - just a little here & there

10. In Section 14, bottom image, parts L1 & L2 are transposed. Fitting all these brackets and grills will need patience and care

11. The moveable Armour now fitted I added the external rear brackets and Armour

12. Some fiddling is needed for the rear external Armour as the sections just hang down

I have found that when building several similar vehicle types it can get very repetitive and quite boring, leaving kits unfinished and consigned to the Shelf of Doom.

​My recipe for 'keeping things interesting' is to bounce around the instructions doing sub-assemblies or, as with this case, do the hardest part first. All the Bar Armour sections need some clean-up from the moulding process (join lines) but this only takes a few minutes for each one.

​Whilst the Armour sections are drying I shall add the spaced armour on the Hull, Bogie Units, Wheels etc and Hull attachments (Air Filters, Stowage Bins and so-on)

13. This is tomorrows work on the Doghouse body, a bit daunting as it will also be very fragile but Hey! Nothing ventured!

14. The Hull Armour is added, and for this I used CA/Superglue for speed of build.

15. I also added all the Bar Armour Mounts using Superglue, over 20 of them

My ultimate reference for all these constructs are the Desert Eagle Publications from Michael Mass and in particular No.15 Nagmachon Heavy APC, co-produced with Adam O'Brien. The images within the book are stunning and cover all aspects of this vehicle series.

​No two vehicles are identical and this give amazing scope for the modeller as anything you do with these builds is hard to say that it hasn't happened before in reality.

16. I didn't realise until I fitted it that the Bar Armour rises when the hatches are opened

17. All the Doghouse Bar Armour is now added and the Doghouse can still be detached from the Hull. I need to keep the top hatches off until after painting is completed

18. No 2 Armour panels are the same as each specifically caters for the strange structures surrounding the Doghouse. I just have to be careful removing and replacing it

19. More Bar Armour and a stowage cage/bins and handles. More superglue on parts for a quick fix - I think it's going to be interesting painting this one!

20. Just so you can see the detail, and I haven't added the Armoured Glass yet

21. This has gone together amazingly well so far, it surely can't last ....... can it?

22. The Side-Armour Panels have a significant groove between the sections which I have improved using my razor saw

23. I do like this beast, it looks like a prehistoric armoured dinosaur. Running Gear and Road Wheels tomorrow

24. Road Wheels completed, and copious use of a heavy file and sanding sticks to roughen the tyre pieces

25. All running gear is now in place and ready for paint, nothing is glued as yet

26. Using Michael Mass' book pages 48 and 68 & 69 as well as being advised by Tony I have up-detailed the Smoke Units

27. I used 60thou square Evergreen, 10mm long for the control boxes and 0.5mm rod for main retaining bolts. There are still more to come!

28. Even before I apply the paint I am impressed with this kit. Some parts could have been included but on the whole I love it!

29. Having added all the vision blocks and windows, I sprayed the Red Brown undercoat it became obvious that I had forgotten something

30. Using VMS products I applied the scattered anti-slip effect in line with examples shown in the Desert Eagle book No.15 Nagmachon

31. Simple cover, including the superstructure roof and hatches, then it was back upstairs to spray the rest of the undercoat

32. Admittedly, this does look like a B-movie Spider with hairy legs and it does take the paint well.

Now I have a dilemma! ​What colour and brand of paint shall I use: Vallejo, AK, MiG, Lifecolor or the new Mission Models?

​Considering the extras I've put into this build I shall play it safe and stick to my favourite ... Vallejo Model Air Hemp.

​A small inconvenience however, for the first time in years I have damaged the tip of my airbrush needle on my Sotar 20/20 and I've only had it a few weeks -  Annoying or what!
​Steve at Barwell Bodyworks will be getting a visit for a couple of replacements next week.

33. So, Vallejo Hemp it is and using a new bottle too. Once dry, I shall need to partially repaint areas and then paint the Doghouse assembly

34. In doing some of the distress these frames get in reality, I have applied some Maskol to various parts to give a good effect - we shall see the results later

35. In the meantime, I made up a wash comprising Hemp, Matt Black & Stynylrez Red/Brown adding lots of Thinner & water. Then I applied it - side armour first

36. Road Wheels, Drive Sprockets and Idlers next and the effect is actually come out really well. I may need more later - we shall see about that when it's all together

37. More Wash application here as well as adding all the Red to the Handles, Tie-Downs, Latches and Levers

38. And yet more of the Wash applied to the sides and front - this is going 'old school' but it still works

39. Still a bit of remedial work to do in the lower hull area around the running gear (return roller mounts)

40. Before, Doghouse front with the basic top coat applied and before the Maskol is removed

41. After, with the handles marked and the slurry wash used to tone down the red/brown areas

42. Then, the Doghouse was fixed in place on the Hull and seated in

43. Before, Doghouse rear with the unpainted bar armour now fixed in place

44. After, again toned down with the slurry Wash which, gives a much more weathered look

45. And again, as fixed in place. We're nearing the end here, tracks next then more painting

A slight pause whilst I fix another model but the Tracks for this shouldn't be too much of an issue. Having done several of these before I already have my assembly jig/tray.

​Following the track assembly, painting and installation will be the final varnish which will then allow me to remove the remaining masks.

​And NO, I haven't forgotten about the headlamp clusters. I shall get my head straight and attack those at some point!

46. Track mix is Vallejo Metal Color Gunmetal 2:1 Steel then scrubbed into the tracks and allowed to dry - can be buffed

47. Tracks dry, re-installed on the chassis using superglue. Next is Vallejo Matt Varnish and allow to dry - keep covered whilst drying

48. These HobbyBoss heavy reinforced Bata"sh track needed a bit of work but fully worth all the effort. I have 88 links left over too!

49. Last job, remove all the window masks to reveal the tinted windows. Not as strong as I'd hoped but.......

My next dilemma is with the weathering and the setting planned for this vehicle. No, not a base but a location in time ..... Sinai, Negev or Golan, THAT is the question.

​The Desert Eagle Book takes me so far and this vehicle is pictured within the book. I shall try to match the pigments as close as possible to the few pictures I have whilst using the other images for guidance when applying the weathering.

Wish me luck!

50. This is NOT finished but I've weathered it anyway

51. I have decided that this is set in the Sinai Desert so the finish reflects that

52. A heavy use of Pigments from Lifecolor - Set PG-102 Sinai Sand

53. I have also added the Israeli Flag from ETA Models of Greece, recently obtained - very easy to use too

54. I have both scrubbed and dusted the pigments and have not 'fixed' any part. A bit more tweaking to occur yet though.

55. The levels of finish on the rear deck is born out by pictures in the Desert Eagle publication. Getting Lifecolor coaching from Ant tomorrow

56. A most excellent reference piece