IS II GB - "couldn't help myself!!"

Hi Guys,

well haven't shown much on here for a while, as am squarely in the 48th camp now but thought i'd chuck this latest build into the mix so to speak. It's my recent entry into the GB over on the 48th scale site ( you should check out some of the fine detail work from many of the guys , and remember its 48th!. A
fter seeing all the recent fantastic builds and the fact that i lost it with my T/34/76 entry i decided i'd have a go at my all time fav wish list tank...(thank you Tamiya). Ever since seeing that photo of the Monster in the Berlin Street with battered and brusied fenders and that massive gun looking completely out of place in those tight streets, with that large turret white banding i knew i wanted to build one.

And then Tamiya helped me out...and everyone else as well i'm thinking.? So i was going to do the Berlin Monster but since everyone else is kind of doing a similar one i thought i'd look for some inspiration else where. I loved the build article from Mr Zaloga in MIL MOD and that has been my base, alongside builds from Spencer and Rick etc. I found the tank i wanted to build. A Polish Tank from the 4th Heavy Tank Regt as they enter the town of Miroslawiec, Poland in March 1945. The tanks of this regt were pretty beat up and some still retained their white wash on upper turrets and surfaces. Some had a very individual application of white wash and i will be trying to recreate it as per photos, and a little artistic license !!!

Anyway here's the build so far, it was going to be a OOB build at first and then the bug got me.....!!
All the weld seams were redone and new torch cuts done also, cast effect added and lots of smaller details like handles and the like, not as good as Pats fantastic models but enough for me..and my dodgy eyes these days.

Just a word on the kit...i still don't get the fact that Tamiya can't do a slide mould one piece Gun barrel..in the scale and the fact its a big gun it needs to be done guys, and i'm sorry to say i always have a few issues with their tracks...maybe i'm just rubbish at building them..( no comments please)
Here's the pic's..comments on them are welcome..sorry about photos am on the case with that one.
kind regards
Doug

ps, the hull sections aren't glued yet as i will be painting the tracks seperately.