Hi folks,

Here's the start of my next build, the Plus models conversion for the Italeri 15cwt to turn it into the Chevrolet C8A Heavy Utility Wireless Truck.

I might have bitten off more than I can handle here as the Plus Models conversion is basic, lacking any kind of interior and with all the doors moulded in.

There will be a lot of work in this one as I would like to show the vehicle with hatches/doors open and with a reasonable representation of the interior.

Time will tell if this will be possible.

The Kits










As you can see below the plus models set is pretty basic.



I've only started to research this vehicle but the first thing I learnt was that access was mainly through the LHS door, the RHS one being sealed up in side, so......



I need to do a bit more digging on the vehicle but if my current preception is correct the square on the roof is actually a sliding hatch so both it and the rear doors will need to be opened too.

All help and infomration will be greatly welcomed.

Al

Wheels and Tracks had an article on the HUP years ago that had drawings taken from the manual. Have you tried the IWM? They might have the drawings on file. I sold my copy, but I remember there were interior views showing the layout of the inside. Good luck with it.

Hi Randell,

I have a copy of the article, but the pics are very 'dark', still it will hopefully be enough to work with. I got some pics from the web also, again they are not great.

Cheers

Al

Hi Guys,

One of the things I like most about modelling is learning about a new vehicle or kit, or for that matter one you've built before.

The only way to see if I could open up the doors etc was to try so here's the progress so far.

I cut out the sliding roof section and then cut a large amount off the bottom. It may need thinned some more but I won't know that until I make the PE runners for it. I also cut out the LHS door earlier this morning.





Then I cut out the rear door and also deepened the surround of the RHS door to give it a bit more depth



Apparently the vehicle was lined with timber so I may scribe some planks and wood grain into the internal sides, which might help justify the thickness of the panels.

some pics of the spurs an old but still very useful kit; the 15cwt









That's about it for now.

Al

clean building!!!
the etching around the door is well done,
what type of clutter are you going to add on the inside?

Good luck with this one. Your start looks good and I hope the reference material comes in droves.

Thomo

This looks to be an extremely interesting build, Alan, can't offer any help but I'll be following along!

Hi Thomo,Jimmy and James

Thanks for looking. I scribed some wooden panels on the inside this evening,

Would anyone have a pic of the inside of either the right or left hand side rear doors? Handles/markings etc

James, 'clutter' will be in the form of radio equipment and the fixtures and fittings as near as I can get them.



I'll make the radio table, various storage units and stuff from plastic card, and the spares box.

Cheers guys

Al

Hi Alan

Sorry I can be of little help. I do have two of the 15cwt kits sitting in boxes amongst my stash but i don't have any reference material for this vehicle. I would think with these sorts of vehicles you would have a base set-up and the operators would tweek things to make them suit.

Thomo

clutter i meant in the good sence
are you planning a little base or dio for this Alan?
good luck and i shall be watching closely as for xmas, or maybe after (depends )
im looking to (hopefully); have a job, and be planning 4 dios, 1x great uncle len sitting on the back of his truck (witht an inscription, "To My Daling Dasie")
and one for each of his Reme trucks, 3 15 cwt variants, (all no 38!) i think they are, morris humber and the one you are making chevrolet, i know its a long way away but i really need to plan these.

sorry, ill let you get on!

Hi Thomo,

Thanks, I shall have to cut/file down the LHS and rear door as the thickness of the sides means they would look kinda odd open lol, lol. The rear door held a folding table, I have a pic of that one for the other I'll just thin it down a lot and add a handle.

I've been told the tyres should be 13inch and not the 16inch ones that are provided with the Italeri kit. Anyone know if the 13inch are available as AM?

Jimmy,

Time moves quickly at least at my age so Christmas will be around sooner than you think. Good luck with your research.

Al

Some updates on the doors.

The inside of the truck was lined with 1/4, fir plywood and/or masionite and later models were coated with flock. I have no idea what the fir plywood might look like so I've added and scribed some wooden planking. That seemed to fit with the very thick panels best. The inside was painted white.

As you can see the cut out doors brought a lot of excess resin with them and I've cut this off. A little more sanding to smooth them out and they should do. I've also deepened the outline of the RHS door inside and out to give it a bit more definition.

Some pics:

With the planking and thick doors









With the thinned down doors



Al

Hi Alan. Very interesting build so far. Will be following this.

Hi Frank,

Thanks for dropping in. I'm quite disappointed in the Plus Models Set. No boubt it will build into a good enough 'closed' vehicle and I've seen some good ones of this kit, but it wouldn't have been too hard for them to mould the doors and roof hatch as separate items, and if 13 inch wheels are required then these should have been included too. Not cheap this kit, but the only game in town, so I shall see how it develops.

Just finished fitting the rear and side panels to the floor. The LHS panel required some cutting as it wasn't a good fit, so I shall get the milliput out and tidy things up.

having to cut and sand the doors down to an appropriate thickness was a real pain

some pics, excuse the paint pots, but my camera doesn't like to focus on cream resin for some reason.













Next up will be the chassie, you need to cut off the locating lugs and also remove a cross member and cut some off the end!!! There is also some cutting work required on the cab floor to shorten it, more later.



Al

Your Really Powering along on this one Alan!!
The wood grain is really well done.

keep it up

Hi Guys,

SWMBO has gone shopping for shoes, aren't quiet Sundays great

So some more porgress:

I've cut the end of the chassis, always a worrying time cutting things off . The instructions tell you to remove what at first appears to be the middle crossbar, but in fact are the points on top of it, so be careful there. I've opted for the safe option which I believe is correct, but it won't be until I've build the caB that I'll be sure it all fits.

Some pics





also added the metal divide between the rear cabin and the cab. This had sliding windows and a small roll down curtain.



Thanks Jimmy, nice quiet Sunday to get on with stuff

Al

Nice project Alan. You tackle the unusual subjects but always seem to make them interesting.

Hi Allen , Hussar makes some resin wheel sets for the Chevvy with different tread patterns dont know if they do different wheel sizes tho, hope this helps. p.s. hussar are carried by air connection.

Hi Jeff,

Thanks for dropping in and you comments, appreciated.

Hi John,

Thanks for the info on the tyres. I was looking for technical data that said they had 13" not 16" tyres but no luck yet lol, lol. Pics seem to indicate they may be 13" , but if any used 16" I'd go with that!!!

Cheers guys

AL

Hey Al,
You've got a good start there on the conversion.
Always wanted to try the Plus Models conversion for the CMP 15cwt.
Here's the link to the Hussars page for Air Connection that John C. mentioned:

http://www.airconnection.on.ca/HUSSAR/airconnection_HUSSAR_35063.htm

No pressure here but I'm looking forward to another great build from you !!
Cheers

jjumbo

Hi John,

It will be a fun build. You don't get much for your money in the set. Thanks for the link for the wheels, I need to find out if they are 13 inch. Nice set but they look like 16 inch so wouldn't be worth the money on this one, but next time who knows lol, lol.

Got some work done on the chassis this evening, and added the cab for a test fit. Need to check that the bits are right before I go further.

Busy week next week, so might not get a lot more done.

Al

Some Help.

Sean

And some more. I hope they are clear enough.
Sean

You are hammering along. Looking real good from this end. Looks like I need to send the family out for shoes often.

Hi Sean,

Thanks for those, brillient. It's the later model with the spare tyre on the RHS but the layout pics will be really useful, as I doubt there was that much difference. 1st class pics.

Excellent stuff.

Hi Thomo,

- time well spent then

Cheers guys

Al