I did manage to make several lift rings for the glacis plate from copper wire. I think I can make a couple of them work. I managed to make the "gouges" in which the rings will sit with a small dental burr-type router bit in the Foredom motor tool. The real lift rings had about six huge weld beads around their attachment points so I hope "bedding" these rings in CA will approximate that. I'm leaving them off until I assemble the two hull halves.
I'm adding the small, auxiliary muffler for the tank's generator too. Originally, it was mounted on top of the right rear main muffler but due to intense heat there, it was subsequently relocated to the front right fender. I've seen ARVN Bulldogs with either type and since the rear mount seems easiest, here we go with that! I found an ancient model car exhaust collector that will approximate the aux. muffler and a piece of electrical wire will do for the flexible pipe connecting it to the exhaust port on the rear starboard engine deck. The exhaust port for this muffler had to be drilled out too. The muffler will need a bit more work to attach the connecting pipe and create a short tail-pipe too.
The stiffeners for the sides of the stowage boxes are half done. I laid them out last night and scribing the location for each one. I had stretched some gray sprue so the contrasting color would help locate the sprue pieces, and attached the port side with Tamiya liquid cement. It went okay, but I see how I can improve the process for the other side. I tried some RLM 81 over the storage boxes to see how the stiffeners looked painted as well as to try out the color. The Model Master paint is semi-gloss, and once it's flat-coated, I think (hope?) the stiffeners will look okay.
Starboard side ready for sprue "stiffeners":
Well, I'm afraid that's all I've got for now folks! I hope to add a new update in a few more days. Thanks for stopping in and taking a look!
