Hachette's JGSDF Type 74 Main Battle Tank

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

051
A LED control board is provided in this step, but will not be utilized just yet:

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Instead, this step had me use leftover parts from 046 and 047 to add more rigging detail onto the rear portion of the hull assembly:

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052
It looks like a big step for the lighting will come soon with the appearance of a LED board:

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The lenses from this issue and optical cables from 049 were used for the rear lights:

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The last remaining parts from 049 were used for assembly of the mud flaps:

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[number1]

Awesome looking Tank, keep it coming!

[Valkyrie Hunter D]

Awesome looking Tank, keep it coming!

Thanks, will do!

053
Only one brand new part here, the motor that rotates the turret:

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Most of this issue was for rigging the lighting for the rear panel. First, the LED module was assembled using parts from #052:

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Next, the rear panel was attached to the hull. Using parts from #052, plugs for each of the optic cables were assembled and plugged into their respective LED module cavity, which was attached on the underside of the hull:

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The box for the control board from #051 was put together:

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Using the previously supplied battery box and testing board, the new motor was powered up:

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The control box and motor were then attached on the hull underside:

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054
A no-build issue, a huge metal chunk of the lower chassis was given:

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055
I was wondering when I would see these parts. And so begins the start of the treads:

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I guess I was foolish to think that the treads would be given pre-assembled. I mean Hachette wouldn't expect subscribers to actually build the treads linkage by tiny linkage, right? Those links would have to be aligned perfectly to maximize power output and it would just be a royal pain in the butt to put each segment together with nothing but a hammer and a flat, hard surface, right? Ha, fat chance:

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I estimate the segment I assembled here is just a tenth of what is needed for a full belt. For ONE side. Oh joy.

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[Valkyrie Hunter D]

056
Another metal piece of the lower hull was provided:

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With some screws and brackets, this new piece was attached to the part from 054:

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I'm surprised the "tub" is metal, I was assuming Hachette would just use hard plastic for that area.

057
I guess the issues with the skinny boxes are going to contain more of these:

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As the belt comes together, it gets easy to forget that the tread patterns should all go one way:

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058
Another huge, metal chunk for the hull from this issue:

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This was attached to the bottom hull assembly:

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059
Gah, another skinny box of these:

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I encountered a slight hiccup here; I was short four linkage rods so the belt assembly could not be completed as planned:

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I'm hoping the next issue contains the missing rods, otherwise I have to buy another issue with those rods.

060
Just another segment of the tub in this issue:

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Sadly, no sign of the missing linkage rods from 059. Anyways, the new segment was attached to the lower hull assembly:

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