Hello guys how r u ?

This is the final day of our Campaign, and I am very glad to finish on time. The DUKW Experience was something difference. It was a good kit, kind of Spartan though, with enough missing thingies, but stuff that all could e scratched , many of them would show after finishing and some wouldn’t (underneath), So I decided to scratch and improve only things that would show after building, cause the time was very limited.

So diversions, improvements, add ons from the boxed kit that I did are:

The front surf plate was depicted lowered as it usually appears in pictures
The M36 hip ring for machine gun mounting and its 3 feet stand system was scratched since the Tamiya accessories set for the GMC track was not available.
Lots of measuring and rescaling till the right proportions and dimensions were found.
The wheel wells covers were not added (though I ve started scratching them) cause many pictures in action show them removed proaly for easier maintenance resons.
There was builded from plasticard a whole new “box” for the winch to fit properly at the back side of the vehicle.
Extra rope and chain was added to the anchor attachement
The clear parts of the windscreen were dipped in Long Shine (Future replicant)so that I could use CA glue to attach them securely .
A securing small bar was added to the rear side under the winch
The winch was supplied with some real ship modeling rope that shows much different from the plastic molded one
A pair of spare tires were opened and hollowed out with mini drill router it to use as side bumb preventers.
A First aid ox was added on the dashoard
Various hoop tie downs on the outboard edge of the cargo area
The air intake grills that are molded solid in the kit were hollowed out with mini drill and files and replaced with fine PE mesh grill (that was a heavy job due to thickness of plastic there and location of parts to be cleared out )
Other small details were added from lead foil (as protecting camvas, ropes, replacing all handles with rass wire ones and all these things that are common when improving akit)
The cargo bed , was decided to be loaded with other than the presceduled jerrycans
And oil barrels that I have purchased for this one. I didn’t want to look like all others I have seen before. Reading about DUKW informed me that this vehicle could carry from 25 fully equipped soldiers, to a jeep a 105 Howitzer , and many many more variations and kind of loads, so run out in the mountain to find some nice……

Reference material that was used and was useful , though I did not had the time to do all improvements I was planning at start. The following guys are to e thanked a lot from me for their big effort, research and ideas on a DUKW building:
Jim Lewis – Guntruck
Ian Sadler
Scott Taylor
Pete Brown.


So guys I hope I did not tire u too much with this text , The picture stuff follows.

I have to make a last important notice. Being a jeep owner and a nature lover I know that vehicles of this style are abused by drivers, so I decided to go on a probably heavy weathering scheme on the DUKW (not damages though) even if this sucked me many hours of washes, pastels, dry rushing, and other procedures. I have used some small bits of artistic license in that area so that the vehicle is good looking to me at first (I will be staring it for the rest of my life not u !!!! hehehe) but also applies to reality standards .

Thanks for your patience
Costas


P.S. Many thanks on the fine Campaign leaders for nice leading it, for providing me a 3 day extension of time limit – that I finally denied after trying hard to finish, and for honouring this important day.

Awesome Dukw. I now have plenty of ideas for mine

Costas, that was worth the wait..fantastic, one of the best builds I've seen from this kit.....
please can you post one of the pics in the campaign gallery here:
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/photos/showgallery.php?cat=12922&si=&page=2&sort=8&perpage=10&password=&ppuser=&stype=0

very well done Costas. the weathering, especially under the winch is a little heavy for my taste but it is still a well done piece of work

PS> the only thing wrong for a D Day DUKW is the drain holes done the sides.

Thanks for your kind words guys.
Cliff if i removed the drain holes at the sides how could the water come out ...?

Did the rope you used to tie the tires on the side come with the kit? If not what did you use for rope?

Great example of the DUKW Costas. The weathering is great. I noticed the the real taillights have not been painted and I think that they are upside down. It looks like the black outs are on top. I think they are supposed to be on the bottom. I might be wrong though. One of the WW 2 experts could clarify this for me if they would. I am in love with the finish. It looks like it has seen a lot of heavy duty. The Anchor is a stand out. Although I think that the rear chain is a little too heavy with rust. Might you brush it lightly with a stiff tooth brush to remove a little of the rust? All in all it is a fantastic example of the old reliable DUKW. Bravo and three cheers.

Awesome work. I too am battling to finish my DUKW by the deadline tonight. Have to say, mine is not as good as this, not by a long chalk Still, hopefully I'll get it done in time. I'll not have time to do the crewmen unforunately, nor the display stand, still if I finish the duck I'll be happy.

ShermiesRule : for all ropes on my models i use the ropes thatthe wooden ship model guys use. They come in several diametres. i usually soak em in tea, coffe, soya souce, burntumber dilluted , or anythin like that to get some colour. Try them theyre fantastic
Animal thanks for your remarks ill have to check on them , maybe this one missed me under time pressure
Winchweight i bet u ll have a nice DUKWie. I did dnothad the time to finish a base and the crew i wanted also , but i needed to contribute on time for the campaign. So the dio will follow . keep on till the end . Tonight s the big night

Goose:
Sweet looking Duck. I really like the overall weathering, there are a lot of nice subtle coplor changes (and a few that aren't so subtle, but look just right). I'd agree that some of the rust is a little thick, but overall your rusting effect looks great.

I think you're on the right track sticking this baby on a dio base, especailly becuase it looks one of the wheels just doesn't want to touch the ground.

All-in-all a fantastic piece of work in the 12th hour (almost literally)

WOW! You did a killer job on that puppy! Nice work, sir.

that was why they added them post war as they rusted out real bad from the trapped water. It was a design fault that was corrected after the war.

Weelllll Nate thanks for your kind words
The wheels are aligned straight and touching the ground alltogether ok if...they re on the right ground. The pictures were taken on two wooden bases touching a fully irregular stone stel underneath thus the height difference and the "wheels on air" phenomenon.a base will be done asap and also some crew.

Cliff i was just kidding about it . Iknow that the puppy needed the water exits, just wanted to tease u .Thanks for being so informative though. i know that researc and information is your field - and not only this

Booshamer thanks a lot also

brother,
i will not let you painting only figures because you should never stop building vehicles when u do great..awesome build.congrats

Major

W-hat a great looking DUKW
O-ustanding weathering
W-onderful job on the cargo stowage

This is good stuff!

Steve

hi Major_Goose i just want to tell u that you did some job on this dukw. its out standing in evey way,
its looks so real.,. so keep up the great job

Brother Engin, Steve and Tazz , thanks on your kind words on my work . Finishing on time was a must for me and since many people likes the result seems that it was worth 4 continuus sleeples nights .
Enjoyed very much the campaign and the DUKWie

that just looks awesome, great weathering, it looks so real.

Thanks a lot ave for your kind words