Progress is always swift at this stage

 The build is progressing well. I had a comment that the build was going really fast. Not really, this is how I always work. I work fairly quickly getting the structure built, it is all the detailing that takes forever. For example, the steel shell will be covered in armour made from 3mm aluminium, each peice being cut by hand, shapped then fixed onto the steel carcus to represent the armour plate. Once the body is all fabricated it will have to be disassembled finished then painted then reassembled. 

I have done loads more work on the lower structure today, it is even starting to look like a tank.

I have also mocked up in carboard the turret which will then be cut in metal. The turret is a very different construction however. Given all the angles the steel will have to be welded then sculpted whcih will take much longer to get the correct shape.

Found an old bit of metal from a cooker extractor hood. It should look really good on the back of the tank, sort of representing the engine area, plus will be really good to hide the sepeakers but still giving them the ability to produce some good volume.

Front part of turret mocked up in carboard. 

Tube for the gun is fitted to see if it the correct diameter.

Still needs to rear part of te turret mocking up.

All the card parts will now be used as templates to cut out the metal.

I am using slightly heavier steel for the turret (2mm). It should be easier to weld than the really thin 1mm.