Here’s a project I started in early December, it’s for the NorEastCon in April here in Buffalo. I spent a good couple of weeks getting reference, measurements and putting together drawings to get her going. The M983 HEMTT started out as an old busted up model.



The frame had to be shorten by 39mm.









M860A1 Patroit Missile Semi-Trailer to go along with the M983. The frame was made from Plastruct “I” Beams, Diamond plate and Evergreen plastic. Photo shows how it was divided into equal quarters. The 1/1 scale trailer measures 403.5 inches which coverts in 11.53inches in 1/35th.















The fenders have a fold out platform, I made mine open as the will be in a firing position.



The gear ring, round rod glued then sanded to square of the teeth.



Here's where I'm at as of this weekend.





More photos can be seen here...

Photos

More to follow,
Joe

Dude,

That is lookin Sweet!!!! making some kick ass progress since we talked last week!!!

WOW!! great work!

We'll see on in styrene for sure now!

nice one joe

really loving this piece of scratch building

cheers

Keith

It looks superb joe
the detail is incredable there with all of the scratch detail and wiring
what did you use for the paint scheme? is it the NATO camo ?

i like the tatoos

Joe
You said you live in Buffalo?
GO BILLS!!!!
Evan

Look super Great Joe
The diamond plate is from Evergreen right ??
Look great never seen it before

BTW Nice tatoo more pics please
Cheers
Seb

Thanks guys. Yes James it's done in NATO colors as will the trailer.

Evan the Bills suck...I can't wait for the team to be sold.

Joe

Joe
And the photo of the tatoos ????

Very impressive wish i could make models like that hm maybe one day after lots of trying

Greetz Blade

Great work, like we're used from you.

Lars

That is some seriously mind-bending scratch building.

Beautiful build so far Joe. Very crisp details. Bravo!

That HEMTT tractor looks great. Pretty clost to what I remember C14 (our RADAR tractor) looking like). I was assigned to C11 (Engagement Control Station) for 2nd Bn 43rd ADA PATRIOT out of Ft. Polk, LA, for three years. Always wanted to do a PATRIOT dio of some sort.

I don't remember those fold-out fender platforms on out launcher trailers. Maybe they are something new. I was in a PATRIOT battalion back in 1992-95, and I didn't get out to "Launcher Land" very often (if ever).

Incredible work.

Jim

Amazing detail! Nice work Joe! Ace tattoo's as well!

Martyn

Great work on the scratch building. The M983 looks awesome.

how do yo do all the scratchbuilding without going nuts!!! That looks awesome. Great work.

The last couple of days I was asked my many for measurements for the trailer, I really don’t have the measurements other than the over-all from the trailers tag. I’m going to try an explain how I came up with my measurements. Now I’m not all that exact here and I’m sure I’m of 2-4 mm here and there, maybe more in other spots. I pretty much use the practice during all my builds.



Knowing the length of the real Patriot trailer vehicle (pic above) I opened the photo in a simple MS paint program. Then I drew a line out in red of the full length. At the bottom of the program there’s a number that’s reads out. Mine was 526.…



Then....

526 divided by 2 = 263...half the length shown by the green line.

263 divided by 2 = 131.5...quarter length shown by the yellow line.

So the over all length on the real Patriot trailer vehicle is 403.5 inches. From there I just did a somewhat drawing of the trailer and divided the 403.5

403.5 divided by 2 = 201.75 inches...green line

201.5 divided by 2 = 100.75 inches...yellow line


In another example shows how I would determine the height of something, for this it was a figure. I went with a 6 foot soldier. I drew in the red line for the 6 foot mark and for the generator the blue line, I then cut and past next to the figure to get an estimate…2 foot 9 inches or in 1/35th scale 24mm.



From there I transfer my info into drawings and start building. I hope this answers or helps you out.

When I want to build something I hit the net hard looking for as many photo references needed. The first place to start is Prime Portal. Try to find tags, measurements, or asking someone here. One of the things I do looking around is typing in measurements of said vehicle many ways in goggle. After sometime you’ll find many things.

If I haven’t gotten back to you yet via PM or email I will soon.

Thanks,
Joe

Thanks for the comments guys; I’ve been pretty busy with it.

@James…the fold out is on the driver’s side. I did both fenders and when I found it wrong I removed the passenger side. My fold out platform is 4mm to wide also. I may change it.



I’m also thinking about doing a few other related vehicles, ANMPQ-53 and the 900 series truck. I may be asking some questions if you don’t mind.

Joe

After figuring out the measurement for this unit I cut out the four side. I then penciled in the lines, then using my scribing tool I scribed in the lines for the panels. I then cut out the holes for the handles and vent screens.







On the backside I filled in the handle holes with plastic and screen for the vents.



and boxed in a few openings.



I still have work left, need the frame, top and bottom and detail work.





Happy Modeling,
Joe

Edit...last pic the generator is upside down...duh

Looks great Joe. Another excellent scratch-build. Good job, buddy.

Great work

The M983 HEMTT Tracto ris beautyfull, one from my further projects !!!

Joe (or another guy) did you have pics from the ECS -ICC Shelter carried by M927 LWB rucks ?
I began one but need some more details pics to complete the shelter rear end.

TIA

Joe it looks stunning the detail looks great!

i really like the generator on the fron of the trailer

WOW. Stunnig scratchbuild! Waiting for next chapters.