So after a long wait, and prompted by Empress releasing a re-worked version of the HLBSCo model (replacing a lot of the resin detail parts - hatches, tools, extinguishers - with white metal ones) I set about assembling the original HLBSCo one.
I started out by drilling 3mm diameter holes in the centre of the locations moulded on the hull side.
The second and fourth road wheels then needed to be glued in place - and the metal and resin decided that they did not like each other and no amount of superglue would bring them together. One of the road wheels fooled me into thinking it was secured - then fell off and glued itself to the floor.
Eventually I got them all secured (for now), though I am not convinced by the spacing.
I drilled the location for the smoke dischargers and bent the pin so they were at what I thought was the correct angle.
I drilled through the centre of the aerial mounting points and used 1mm brass rod for the lower part of the aerial. A piece of plastic tube was used to raise the base a bit.
Rear view showing the stub aerials. The gear basket on the door is still to be added.
I ended up having to sand the hatches flatter (wet and dry on my glass plate came in handy).
The splash plate on the front of the hull is currently only secured at the front, I need to straighten the end above the first road wheel.
Not sure what I am going to do about the lights on the front. originally they were under the splash plate (the swimming skirt ran across the top of it - below is an FV102 Striker ATGW showing the skirt and the original low mount lights).
When the Spartans no longer were fitted with the skirt the lights (upgraded) were fitted on top - three bins were additionally fitted, one between them and one each out side them. Later one big bin was fitted across the whole width and the lights again mounted underneath.
I have to add the mud flaps on the front and decide what format lights I am going to use.
And then I will add some gear and possibly camouflage nets.
