I know it's another Stryker, they seem to be quite popular, until the next gotta have kit arrives. This is my interpretation of a M1126 with the 56th SBCT here in PA. I started with the Trumpeter base kit and added the following; Real Model wheels and tires, Trumpeter's PE set, Armorscales .50cal barrel, Eduards PE cargo nets, and HobbyFans Stryker crew. In addition to those sets I drilled out the front headlights and filled them with a clear acrylic glue, I made the camo net from sculpting clay and mint leaves, I think they were mint. The tarps were just tissue paper, and the ballistic glass coating was made with a roll of very thin somewhat clear kind of wrapping from Michaels Craft Store. I hope you guys like it.

Well, either my work is crap, I'm not part of a clique in here, or this is a horse thats been beat to death.

Not at all Timothy.

What did you sue for the spare tire. I had to make a mold of my AFV tires and cast a copy for my spare tire.

I started my Trumpeter Styrker way before I got the AFV one and I also got the Trumpeter photo etch set. I've been thinking about going back and re-working it after seeing yours and adding the photo etch set. The EWS looks alot better with the Hobby Fan and photo etch additions.

How did you like those figures? I have them too and hopefully since I have a long weekend coming, I will be starting a review on them for the sight.

The only thing I see wrong, and you probably already know, is the weapon station is floating and should be touching the hull. Oh, and maybe some bumper numbers unless the 56th SBCT doesnt have any bumper numbers on them.

EDIT: DUGH! I'm stupid! I should read the title a little more careful next time. It says MINUS THE DECALS! Stupid me.


Speaking of 56th SBCT, thats weird, becasue we have a 56th BCT here in Texas. Thngs that make you go HMM!

Timothy:
As a PA Stryker guy, I gotta say I dig it. The build and paint are dead on.
56th SBCT does us bumber numbers (standard sizes, black on sand). One caveat-in the Concorde book, the 56th is stated as part of the 26th ID, we are 28th ID (You probably know that, as I think you have a black keystone on the VC). Any more, however, ACUs are the common uniform. For a while, until about the past year, some "old heads" still wore BDUs, but all of out IBA and MOLLE is ACUPAT, with the occasional Desert Pattern IBS seen on bigger dudes {availability}.
The face on the figure is excellent, although if the setting is supposed to be Indiantown gap, PA, you may want to paint in swollen eyes and teardrops.

I was going to reply here yesterday, but it slipped me, so no worries about it being beaten to death - patience is a virtue here . One suggestion I had wanted to make, but for the life of me I can't find the picture - maybe someone could help me out. There were a couple pictures of these PA NG Strykers with huge "Student Driver" placards about the size of a "Convoy Follows" sign. Yellow background, black block letters attached to the front plate at the upper/lower hull angle. I'll keep looking, but it would give a little extra touch to an already great Stryker.

Jeff

...Something like this ?:

"A "student driver" sign sits mounted on the front of a Stryker combat vehicle at the Pennsylvania National Guard Training Center at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa."

HTH
Frenchy

Hey, there are people out here! Thanks for your responses.
Pete, the spare whell and tire came with the Real Model set. They are super wheels, they are sculpted with a "weight on wheels" look. The HobbyFan figures are also very nice. It is so much easier to paint a face that is sculpted with great attention to detail. No I did not realise that the mount should be flush with the hull. I have been staring at picture after picture but I just assumed that it was correct from Trumpeter.
Michael, "Roll On 28th", my VC is actually painted in ACU's, my pictures do not do it justice. I was so close with the pattern I showed my wife. She really looked interested for a second. I'll try to add another photo. The only tears I shed at the GAP were because we had to leave the "Springs".
Jeff, remember the guys driving these aren't used to handling this big of a vehicle. We smashed plenty of "things" at the GAP and other Posts while we still had M1's.
Thanks Guys

Firstly, I apologize for my error with the RWS, I will fix this. Secondly I took 2 more photos to show the ACU pattern on the VC. It looks like alot of the paint is only on the folds but I am just trying to fool the eye, at a normal viewing distance it looks OK.

Wow, that ACU is dead-on for scale, nice job!

I don't think there are any cliques here - something I really like about the site.

Anyway, you did a pretty nice job with a less than favorable kit. I will never build my Trumpeter kit, not after getting the AFV Club version. I aleady started sourcing out parts from the Trumpeter kit. I do especially like the subtle paint job. Well done.

I have not seen any tarps used like that on the bustle racks. Is that something the 56th does?

How did you like building those cargo nets? I have the set too and decided to only use one since I was getting tired of dealing with superdetailing my NTC model. I think it is very realistic, and is so much better than just crisscrossing some foil or tape or whatever. Eduard did a great job in depicting this detail, but it is work.

Is there a mike on the crew figure helmet? I would suggest that detail.

Thanks for posting pics.

Bob

Wow--the figure came out really great! The ACU pattern is one of the best I've seen, especially since it look to be at scale. I like the Stryker, too, but I'm not sure the cammo net does it justice--it looks to be a little out of scale.

By the way, what did you use for the groundwork? It looks very realistic, especially since you made the tire tracks in the grass.

Thanks for the replies.
William and Lucas, this was just one of those "I'll try this this and see what happens" techniques. The base color for the uniform is Tamiya Buff, with ModelMaster German Olive green, and a Tamiya field grey or a Grey Green. I'm not at home right now to verify. I just took an old stiff brush and stippled those colors on top of the buff. Then 1 coat of Mig Filter Dark green. I used my uniform as my example.
Robert, I did attach a mike, the tip broke off, I have to add another, it is visable in the 1st picture of the 2nd set. The tarps, thats from my experience. As a former Tanker (now converted to an Infantry Heavy Weapons Co.) I did not like my personal gear getting wet and dirty. We always covered our packs and rucks with a tarp. I would only imagine that others would share this idea. The Eduard set was a little challenging at first, but once I got the basic build done the second one went together much easier. They are nice once installed and painted.
Lucas, the grass sheet is from Heki, I used a small beard/sideburn trimmer to cut the grass leaving the tire tracks. Covering these tracks with a filter, then airbrushing buff lightly over them. The flowers are a great product from Silflor.
Thanks again, guys

Tim:
Now that i see the second brace of pictures, I see the ACUPAT.
The figure, again, looks great. How'd you do the ACUs?

I'm a dope, see the instructions as above on the uniform..
Sorry