The build isn't really that hard.....there's just lots of parts and the build is a little scattered when dealing with screws...so if time consuming is considered hard...then I guess it is. I've compared many of the available Tamiya manuals (found hereor here) and the Pershing is the second most detailed tank and the Leopard being at the top of the ranks. So far, I can say the Leopard was hard and testing but Tamiya well planned it. It has a gradual ease then peaks of crazy difficulty than drops back to ease, wash rinse repeat. Unlike the Pershing, the steps of the build called for many of the pieces from the same sprue or screw bag so you didn't have to fiddle around much finding the correct sprue or sorting through screws. The Pershing build has you kind of bouncing like a pogo stick. The Pershing was my first Tammy and I can tell you, it's not hard at all.


oh and as for the periscope guards and turret canopy brackets...it'll probably cost you an extra 65-80 bucks, can't remember...but, they're details for the stickler.<br type="_moz" />