GIAT Le Clerc 1/25 Fly Model

[modelperry]

Tracks.

They built up Ok, although the main plates seem too thin built as instructed. I colored the pads black with a sharpie to represent rubber.

Fit around the drive sprockets was terrible.

Greg

[Don Boose]

Whatever the fit problems may have been, everything looks great now.

Don

[modelperry]

Side skirts and tie downs.

None of these assemblies have good drawings to aid building. You get to figure it out for yourself.

The tie down lugs have no numbered locations, so you get to figure out which white spaces get covered by them. The tie down clevises do have half a pattern to work with. This is fine if you are familiar with what clevises actually look like.

The little square "hinge" things above the side skirts boxes are mislabeled color wise. They are all the same so just use them where appropriately colored.

The boxes themselves have inner formers. All of these formers need trimmed and beveled to fit correctly.

Lots of thought required. Not good for a beginner.

Greg

[modelperry]

Just one picture today.

Front hull details.

Yes there were some fit issues. Some parts called for lamination but really didn't need to be. Oh, and I still hate petals.

Greg

[modelperry]

Back half of hull details and the bottom half of the model is done. Missing and poorly drawn illustrations hampered this part of the build. Especially the reserve fuel barrels.

Greg

[modelperry]

Turret formers assembled. One big issue with this: the barrel pivot plates cannot just be installed in sequence. There is noway to insert the pivot pin once all the formers are in place.

So, I had to build up part 90 out of sequence and install it with pin first then install the pivot plates inside. It would have been nice to have another hand an set of eyeballs to get everything lined up easier.

Now that the formers are in place, I think a frigging elephant could stand on it with no damage.

Greg

[smithdr]

That is really coming along, Greg. Nice job...Dan

[modelperry]

Thanks Dan!

Turret skinning is complete and the crap on the left side of the turret is built up and installed.

Speaking of the left side crap: parts fit was horrible, diagrams were horrible the entire experience was horrible.

I had to rework many of the parts, change build sequence from part number sequence to something else that made more sense. It was just unenjoyable all around.

Anyway here are some photos.

Greg

[modelperry]

Right side stuff on the turret was only slightly less hassle than left.

Top side stuff was not much of an issue.

I don't understand the rear bustle rack arrangement. What are those tubes for? Oh and those tubes only had flanges for two, I had to make four others for the other tubes and ended up painting them.

Barrel was multiple wraps. Not quite done with it but should finish up tomorrow.

Greg

[modelperry]

Ta-done!

Thankful this one is finished. I was really into it when I started and was enjoying it until the drive sprockets and turret details.

Because of the lack of diagrams, poorly drawn diagrams, fit issues, and some poor design choices, I wouldn't recommend it unless you really want to build this particular French tank, since it's the only one currently designed in card.