Panzerhaubitze 2000

I was feeling in a tank kind of mood. Having a little browse amongst the shelves, my eyes rested on this 'little' Panzerhaubitze 2000 Self Propelled Gun. I say little, in fact it finishes at almost 35cm long!! Most of the other 1:35 scale tank kits, are around 20cm long, so this really is a giant.
Opening the box, you find just 2 main sprues, 3 main pieces of hull and turret, and an aluminium gun barrel (as well another one the sprues). With just over 100 parts, the main build should be fairly quick.
I've decided to use the aluminium barrel (because its there!!). Because this vehicle is relatively recent, the picture I have seen show the self propelled gun as generally dirty and dusty. The rust has yet to take hold, so i'll have to put the rust pigments away for this one!! They say that 'less is more'.

I decided (right or wrong, and wrongly it seems on review, see this later post) that i would assemble the entire kit, less the wheels, tracks, and side fenders. Then would weather the suspension, add the wheels, tracks and fenders, then continue with the painting and weathering on the completed model.
The suspension fitted easily, and lined up without any need for adjustment. It was easier to glue the top of the hull on at this point, and continue with the build. Then all the remaining pieces fitted without trouble. The turret was assembled, as was the Howitzer. For ease of painting, I decided to glue the gun in place later on.
The main pieces were undercoated with Halfords grey primer. I have to admit that the detail is superb. Very impressive for a kit of this price.
The photographs that i've found suggest, as does the painting insructions, that the hull behind the suspension is in a single colour, and not camouflaged like the rest of the body. So it'll be painted in Revell bronze green, matt, and will be joined by Revell leather brown, and Revell tar black for the upper hull, turret and gun.