Looks like your conversion is going well - better than mine anyway! The only thing you may need to change is your weapon ring. It is used on the M1025 and all were replaced when converted with the uparmored vehicles.

Here is what the Blast kit gives:

Here are the best pics I have of the M1114 weapon ring.








Not too many people will notice so its up to you if you want to replace it or not. Ascetically it looks good - thats why I love the Blast kit. Keep it up, I always like seeing modellers do humvees!

Jeff

They're great pics, thanks. Is that you up on the roof?

I have the "correct" weapons ring that came with the MIG kit, but the Blast one just looks so much better. The other thing I've not put on any hummer is the armoured surrond for the weapon ring. I can understand why guys in the field appreciate these, but they just ruin the look of this magnificent vehicle.

Heres some of my older Humvee's http://s213.photobucket.com/albums/cc69/35th-scale/Models/?action=view¤t=IMG00089.jpg
Click on "next" to see more....

Enjoy,
Sean

I dunno, I kinda like the OPK shields, it adds a little more to the equation, especially with the new O-GPK turrets with the ballistic glass and you certainly can add the old turret ring to an M1025 - there is always room making another humvee! That said I always advocate that it is the modeller that has to live with the model so its their call what they want to do - if they are happy that is all that matters. Anyway here is an M1025 that I made with the Blast turret.:





And no that is not me. I was in ROTC for 3 years but I can't say I served in the US Army. However I'm working on getting into Officer Candidate School and we'll see how that goes. The images come from a very large database that I have on my computer of various humvees.

Jeff

It's been a while, but I'm back here to post the completed vehicle:

A walk-around of the completed kit:
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc69/35th-scale/front-left.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc69/35th-scale/front-right.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc69/35th-scale/front.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc69/35th-scale/left-side.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc69/35th-scale/rear-left.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc69/35th-scale/top.jpg

And the interior before the roof, doors etc went on:
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc69/35th-scale/IMG00295.jpg
http://i213.photobucket.com/albums/cc69/35th-scale/IMG00294.jpg

All comments welcome!

Actual photos....












I doesn't look too bad, from what I can see in the pics.

A few pointers...The interior is way too light though. It should be forest green (the same green on NATO 3-tone camo). The concertina wire on the hood is too bright as well. It should be a steel color with some rust on it, not silver. Looks like you painted the small slits on the turn signal and brake lights the same color as the lights. The slits should be black. They are blackout drive marker lights and look black until lit, when they have small marker lights inside. Ther stowage is off in color too. The US Army doesn't have desert camo duffle bags and ruck sacks. They should be medium green and/or woodland camo (for medium rucksacks only) with all straps the same color as the bags. Radios should be medium green as well.

Not a bad effort, just off on some of the colors.

Thanks, that's what happens when you're colour blind... I can fix up the outside; the inside is staying as is. The interior is US Army Interior Green (not sure whta brand) and I'm sure I've seen desert colour rucs somewhere. Must watch "Over There" again this weekend.

I don't know where Testors (I'm assuming) got the idea for the Interior Green color, no US Army vehicle has that color on the interior. I wouldn't use a TV show as a referance either; they are usually wrong. The US Army does not /has not issued sand colored duffel bags or ruck sacks, not in the 14 years I have been in and on active duty anyways.

Especially that TV show.

Went through the Concord Publications book on Humvees in Iraq: http://www.worldwartwobooks.com/product.php/4560/us-army-hmmwvs-in-iraq---concord
and Modern US Tanks & AFVs http://www.amazon.com/Modern-U-S-Tanks-Michael-Green/dp/0760314675
Actually, there is very little kit carried on the outside form these books

Anyway, I've stripped all the gear of this, and a number of others, and am currently repainting it all: rucks, bedrolls, tarps, etc...

I'll to the wire roll also. Was never really happy with it in the first place. Tempted to go for this:
http://www.accurate-armour.com/ShowProduct.cfm?category=7&subcategory=46&product=1961&manufacturer=0

Thanks for the tips guys,
Sean

The amount of gear carried depends on when you are depicting. During the initial invasion in '03, we looked like a gypsy caravan moving across the desert. The vehicles were piled high w/gear, ammo, water, MREs, and other assorted stuff. Once Baghdad was secured and we started occupying Forward Operating Base (FOBs) the operations chaged and most gear was left at the FOBs and soldiers only took what they needed on partols outside the FOB.

it could be for the us aac?
it looks similar to a lot of older aircraft interior green

I don't think so. The color you are thining of is Zinc Chromate Green. It is a different shade all together.

From my experience the normal interior of M1114s and M1151s is the Forest Green used in the NATO 3 colour pattern. As a matter of fact the M1114 I rode in was painted Desert Tan on the outside and NATO 3 colour on the inside.

Perhaps someone could offer some advice (Heavy Arty?):

I've painted all kit bags mid-green Humbrol 101. What's the best way of giving them a weathered, worn look, a bit of character? I was considering a 50:40:10 wash of thinner:mid-green:black followed by dry-brushing with a sand colour. I don't use an air-brush if that makes any difference.

Thanks,
Sean

Your method is right on. A dark(ish) wash and a sandy dry brush will look great.




Yup, almost all M1114s/M1151s have Forest Green (the green in NATO camo) interiors. They come from the HMMWV factory in geen and then go to the uparmor factory. Once all the uparmor parts are added, the exterior is painted sand and the interior is left green. Your camo interior M1114 was probably a rebuild or one that was diverted from another production line already in the camo colors to be made into an M1114.