Since it was a relatively slower day here at the shop (darn March Break starting), got some work done on the Coyote.
Drive train pieces:
Only thing about the drive train on this, Airfix did take some short cuts as all 3 axles are identical. I would think at least the front one would be slightly different as it would be the steering axle, and would have been nice to have the option to turn the front wheels, but alas, they will all be straight.
Speaking of wheels, here are the 6 of them
Front suspension settled into the belly pan
And then the top front added to the belly pan and front suspension
Top
And bottom
This is where I skipped ahead in the instructions (hope fully it doesn't bite me in the butt later on). After mating the front suspension and drive-train to the belly pan and upper front compartment, the instructions have you continue on with the innards of the front section, but I decided to skip ahead to the rear axle section.
Rear axles
And then the unit mated to the front.
Size comparison with an X-acto blade
Not huge, but not so bad. Would love to see someone do this in 1/35 styrene. There is a 1/35 one available from Accurate Miniatures, but all resin and fairly pricey.
I am learning that parts of this will have to be painted and then masked part way through assembly. One of the bulkheads has the obligatory pioneer tools molded to it, which will need at least the primer and base coat painted on it, as well as picking out the handles and heads of the tools, then continuing on with the build.
I thought I might be able to leave it out until the end, but some of the rear structure builds off of it, so no real other choice as there is no way to easily paint the tools after it is all assembled.
The instructions would also have you install the inner wheel to the axle, but I decided to leave them off to make it easier to get some paint in there. Just installed the inner wheel with the outer wheel, will just have to take care in painted the wheel and tire. One nice thing Airfix did, since the tires are styrene, they molded the tires to look like that have some weight on the vehicle, so they have a little sag to them.
In trying to find some reference for this vehicle, I came across an illustration for the Coyote showing it hauling an artillery piece. Apparently they were designed to be a light weight artillery tractor. Anyone know where I can get a modern British field artillery in 1/48??? LOL