Hi guys -

Well, I tried to post - but there's apparently something wrong with the gallery server - ok then - another time!

In the mean time - Alex, nice looking piece of iron!

Nick

ok - second try - let's see if this works:

The original truck:



The high tech way of getting scale and proportion about right - that is, import pic to powerpoint, enlarge or reduce at 100% against some measurable part, like a resin tire/wheel, cab etc - over the correctly scale pic and there you go...I've done this on a few builds - it helps:



and some working pics:











and last but not least - air ride, walking beam in the back:



Sorry about not too many words - running a bit low on time today! I've made more progress than this and will try and post by Friday. So far, this has been a complicated and interesting build - less easy to do (for me anyway) than it might appear!

And, yes, all six generally sit on the ground at the same time!

Happy model building!

Nick

I'm not sure Nick, but I think your scratch built gaffer tape is a bit overscale

Looks like a great challenge there. I'm going to enjoy watching this one too.

Bloomin heck Nick slow down a bit so the rest of us can catch up
here you are on your second and I'm still messing about with an engine .
To you and all the participants - keep up the good work, always a pleasure to see how others approach the "dark art" of scratchbuilding.

Nick,
What I see is a third masterpiece of yours shaping up in this Campaign.
Looking forward to the next batch of pictures,

Outstanding!

Nick, I like what you have gotten done so far. I like Wreckers.

Big thumbs up and a ditto on what Ronnie said.

Also I have used the photo scaling technique many times myself. Find a profile photo of the vehicle and scale the print is match the size of a known measurement. I usually use the wheel drum. (Remember to subtract the height of the rim itself x2 - the drum on a 20" rim is 20 inches NOT the rim.)

Always worked for me!


Cheers
Mike K.

Hi gents - first - I'm glad to read that this build is passing the "eye" test of you guys so far! I appreciate hearing that! Also fun to see a few guys are also truck nuts - makes for an almost unlimited supply of things to build.

This project has been a handful - not at all as straight forward as it might appear - between the sweeping shape of the utility body and the hydraulic components of the towing function - this has required more than a little head scratching! As I don't have any drawings, the powerpoint scaling method (BTW Hey Mike - glad to hear from you! -- I was hoping you'd drop by one of these days - all sorts of neat stuff getting built) and looking at photos has left me wondering a few times about what is really going on on the truck....????

That said, I ain't wasting time on no more! Still building:















OK -there you have it - I sort of raced through the posting because the gallery is still having some troubles....anyway you can see what I've been up to -

As for the pace of the build, I think a few of you know, I do this as a way to relax - some people meditate and whatnot, I like this - so, work has been a bit complicated recently - so, more reason to enjoy doing this!

Cheers and happy scratch building!

Nick

If this is what you do to relx Nick, I do not want your job......

Terrific work there.

Thanks for the positive feedback.

I'll be wrapping this build up pretty soon. There's been a good deal of trial and error in finishing up assembly, but I'm liking how this one looks.

As an aside, I might be doing a StuG VI based on a Tiger 1. It's not a big build, but it is one that I've been planning ...and putting off...for a while. I may try to post it as well.

Hi gents - -

I'm still building - this week I took on making some progress on the cab - and mid section stabilizers. Getting the stabilizers to fit was tight!

As for the cab - I dug way into my scrap etch fret box for all sorts of stuff. I decided I'd convert many of the kit plastic parts to my own scratch built re-placements. Maybe a better idea than reality -but, I made progress and think it looks fine. I squeezed the "boxes" onto either side, behind the cab running boards - which was not easy.

The biggest hassle though was getting the Panda blast shield to get glued in place. Funny - you'd think the scratch work would be harder than the kit - lol - you'd be wrong -hahaha

Anyway, here we go:







The tedious parts sticking out of the front bumper...I'm guessing is a bracket for the folding tow bar? I just don't know....Also, you'll see mixing and matching parts between Kinetic and Panda - just choosing the crisper or "better" details when I can.





Some more details in the rear - glad hands, power, and in the bed, a winch.

back to the cab:






As is always the case with a scratch build, some part just aren't as straight forward to build as you might guess..

As for more work - you can see above, I've started on the boom, and still plenty to do on the cab - and...I'm thinking about adding anti-rpg mesh, like this:



I've done this before - but it is a lot of work:



Above - the mesh on a Panda MATV - if it wasn't hard enough to build out of the box!! lol -





The end result is pretty nice (I think) but it adds a lot of work...just not sure if I'm willing to put myself through it....

Anyway, hope you're all building good stuff out there -

Later

Nick

Sensational Nick. Thanks also for pics of the MATV, I'm always up for seeing other peoples work like that. Very nice work there too.

Hi Peter - thanks for the positive words! I appreciate them, on both projects! I think I might be the only guy who enjoys building the MATV - I’ve built a few of them and I suspect the protective screen was a logical step.

As to adding it to the MRV - I just don’t know yet. It might look pretty good - but....I’m not sure if I feel like trying it. I read that in use it’s something of a problem - makes the cab even wider, making it tough to maneuver in many places - the truck being 34’ long apparently doesn’t help either.

I spent today working on the boom assembly. While it’s tight near the cab, so far so good. It’s got a pair of big winches which were neither easy to figure out or build but they’re done now.

Ok - have a good one - and happy model building!

Nick

Hey gents - Yes - I am still working on the MRV - it's beginning to get heavy - and awkward - it's now rolled off the workbench onto the concrete floor twice - with not much damage as a result. I spent last week working on the bed/boom. It's coming along fine - I hope to post some photos - we'll see - I'm having trouble with the gallery again -

A message : "Server busy, try again shortly" keeps popping up -

Anyway - I'll give it a few minutes and see - hopefully it decided to work!!

Ha! work it did!! posted the same pics three times!!!

but now, won't let me download to this post...perfect....

Now says it's down again -





ok - this is getting tedious - server down again!!




and down again...!!






down again.... oh well, between the intermittent service, I can say the build is coming along. As always, mostly evergreen, but a variety of re purposed etch, remnant kit parts and whatnot....



And there you have it.

Hope the rest of you guys are still building! I, and I'm betting lots of others want to see what you're up to!

thanks

Happy scratching!

Nick

Just gets better and better every time Nick.

Nice work Nick.

I finished mine so this post will be a bit lengthy.

The first thing you may notice is a different main gun. I decided to drop the 122mm gun in favor of a 115 U-5TS gun from the T-62. The 122mm gun I was using is a WW2 gun and it looked dated. In addition, this armored vehicle shifted from the assault role, to the tank killer role.



I wanted to add both the big IR/white light spotlight as well as the laser rangefinder. I had to rig up a mount over the gun similar to that of the ASU-85. To mount both, I had to place them side-by-side. I would have preferred to use a KTD-2 unit but I didn't have one.


I added styrene strips to the kit's molded on mount brackets for the rear fuel drums. This is an easy addition that really adds a good bit of detail with little effort.
The black vertical lines on the rear casemate plate are guides for the weld beads. I made these using a fine grind bit on a motor tool and ran it along the ink lines. It gives a weld bead look. It's a bit more subtle.


Another view. I'll add...I think I missed mentioning in the last update...I did add handles and latch mechanisms for the two-piece hatch. The other hatch has it as well but it's closed.


Plumbing added to the dozer blade. And another view of the spotlight and range finder setup.


Casemate roof. The purple ink marks note bolts to hold the roof on. I have these running along the edge of the roof as well as running across the middle. There is also a weld bead on the bullet splash for the miniturret. That open spot left of the ventilator was where I had planned to place engineering tools. I changed my mind and ended up leaving it empty.



I went with an overall field green color. I was going to go with a dark green and field green scheme but decided to keep it simple.
I did remove the Easter German insignia from the mini-turret before I painted. I drybrushed, added a wash, and dusted it.
The tracks are rubberband type. I was goignt o hide the lack of sag with side skirts but I didn't like how they changed the look of the vehicle. I glued them down to give them some sag.
Decals were bare minimum...just vehicle numbers. In the photos the number decals do catch the light, revealing their edges. In real life, this doesn't show. I added a tow cable and detail painted where needed.
The crewmen are Tamiya's WW2 crew. They just seemed a perfect fit for it.
The dozer blad got dabs of filler putty to give it dirt texture. The edge areas are painted light earth. I'm colorblind and the light earth and field green look similar to me.











And I think that's it for this build. I did enjoy this build and I feel like I learned some things. I'll add a couple of pictures to the Gallery in a day or two. If there are any fixes needed, I'll take a couple of new pictures and use those.

I'm enjoying watching the rest of the builds...maybe I will do a second build.

Nick and Alex-well done gentlemen!

It is something to be proud of Alex. Very nicely done indeed.

Compressor repaired and finished:





I'll add some weathering when I build the towing truck.

Next project will be finishing one of my Shelf Queens-the SU 6.
That was my first scratchbuild, inspired by the work of late Sergey Voitzechovich.I started it in November 2016, worked on it on and off till March 2017.
2 pictures from back then showing what is already hidden
Hull with interior parts and ammo:

Driving compartment with driver and commander seats, gearbox, transmission,battery box, oil handpump for suspension jacks e.t.c:

Next weekend I'll show some progress,

Hi Alex - wow! Nice build - that’s a serious looking beast - very nice work!

Hi Angel - nice save on your compressor! It looks great! Now - waiting to see some wear and weather on that powerhouse! Also, looking forward to your next steps on the new/old project!

Cheers
Nick

Great work on the compressor Angel. It looks fantastic, even after the unintentional battle damage.

Looking forward to the next project. All that work you have already done should not go to waste.

Thanks Nick!And thanks Peter!

I struggled to get my mojo back for couple of weeks, but now that I got it- won't let it go again

Maybe I repeat myself, but...
Nick-once again sensational work!
Alex- your WHIF "ambush-killer" looks really the part!

Keep model building!

Angel where did you end up getting the wheels for your compressor?