Some welds & lots of details

My friends, this kit takes tiny plastic details to another level, there's so many of them! But we're getting there, it's gonna start taking shape soon. Tomorrow I'll start adding all the stuff to the sides, like smoke dischargers, ERA blocks etc. 

I'm also kinda uncertain about the whole engine deck part because this huge mine roller storage rack is blocking quite a lot of it. I didn't want to keep it removable (except the highest part, I'm keeping that separate) because it has to be welded to the hull, obviously. I guess it won't be too bad getting under it with the airbrush and brushes, but it won't be comfortable. Also check out it's "tail". I have no idea why that pulley thing is attached like that, there's so little contact surface it must break immediately. But hey, that's the way it is in the kit. Obviously I can't verify it with the real vehicle because there's literally zero reference pictures online, I only found a few overall shots and a video showing it during trials and that's it. 

And of course, I welded the whole thing. There's a bunch more welds on the glacis and rear plate, and more is yet to come, which I'll be adding as I progress with all the details. Also there's gonna be some serious welding on the mine roller. 

Another point of interest is the unditching beam. I textured the plastic part with a razor saw, and am kinda curious to see how it'll look with some paints on. It's not a tree trunk as many people like to depict them (kinda throwback to WW2 I guess), but actually a turned piece of wood. 

Alsooooo, I'm still very, very impressed with the quality and level of detail. There were already a couple of details where I had to kinda shave off the locating knobs and make them smaller otherwise they wouldn't fit, but other than that, it's a beautiful kit! 

Also also the few reference pictures I have show how simplified some parts are to some extent, but that's what I call the curse of having reference pictures, so in this case I take it as a blessing 😂 

Anyway, I really pushed it tonight so I could have the entire rear portion finished, and I'm totally burned out. I need to get some quality shut-eye right now, so I'll get back to y'all in the morning 😊