STEP 36:

Here you assemble and install what I will call the 'engineer rack'. It is an extension that protrudes out above the rear ramp and provides additional storage space for engineer sets, kits or outfits. This extension is unique to ESV's.



The step is broken down into four sub-steps.

This step, overall, took the most work on the kit so far as a result of there being so many ejector pin marks.

Sub-step 1 has you installing a reinforcing cross member to the bottom of the 'engineer rack'. Here is the parts layout.


Here are the parts in place.


In sub-step 2, you are installing the bottom vertical supports(O44,O46 and O43,O45) for the 'engineer rack' on to the rack base (O38) that was assembled in sub-step 1. In this picture, I have installed O45 and O46 and am getting ready to install O43 and O44.


Sub-step 3 is the installation of the side rails of the 'engineer rack'. This sub-step required a lot of parts clean up as a result of the abundance of ejector pin marks. I had use a sanding stick to get between some of the part features on O40 and O41 as shown here.


Here is the parts layout after clean up was completed.

In this photo, I have the left and right side rails installed. Note the significant number of ejector pin marks visible in this picture of the base of the rack(O38).

Here I have installed the rear rail of the rack and I've applied drops of Mr Surfacer 500 to the injector pin marks on O38 (rack base).

In the next two photo's, you can see the 'slots' where parts O45 and O46 fit into O38 and ejector pin marks. I filled these with Mr. Surfacer 500 also.


I let the Mr. Surfacer cure overnight. It is absolutely critical that you wait to put on the front rack rail or you will not have adequate access to the base of O38 to sand the ejector pin marks.

After the applications of Mr. Surfacer cured, I then sanded all areas using a combination of a dremel on low speed, an x-acto knife and a sanding stick section.



Apparently I did not take a picture of the completed assembly at the end of sub-step 3.

Sub-step 4 is the installation of the 'engineer rack' on the rear of the ESV.

There are not any definitive marks or any alignment pins to help you place the rack on the back of the ESV. So, I referenced the Ralph Zwilling Stryker book again and proceeded to do some analysis and test fitting. Here is how the rack is mounted/aligns in a photo in Ralph's book.

Note how the vertical support for the rack extends down to just above the jerry can rack vertical support. Note also how the engineer rack vertical support is is set just to the inside of the jerry can rack vertical support. This was the best frame of reference I could find so I proceeded with installation using this photo and a couple of other pictures for reference.

As I began additional test fitting based on the photo from the Stryker book, I identified that two applique armor boltheads on each side were going to prevent the engineer rack vertical support from mounting flush to the rear hull wall. Here is a picture showing how the two boltheads line up behind the rack vertical support.

Here is an unobstructed view of the interferring boltheads on both sides.



To get the engineer rack vertical supports to mount flush against the rear hull wall as shown in the photo, the four boltheads (two each side) must be removed. I accomplished this with a tool distributed by Mission Models called a 'Micro-Chisel'. This is a great tool and I highly recommend it for everyone's tool box. Here is an 'in-action' shot of the micro chisel.


Here is an overall photo of the rear wall after the 4 boltheads were removed and the area lightly sanded down.

Here is a close-up of the right side after bolthead removal.


These last four photos show step 36 completed. Note the alignment of the engineer rack vertical supports (O45,O46) on the kit as compared to the book photo above. I don't think it came out to bad.





I feel that this rack, although it isn't a very exciting part, is a significant focal point for this model as a result of it being a large, unique feature of this vehicle. If you are building this kit out-of-box, this rack is empty when you are completed. As a result, it is critical you take the time to clear all ejector pin marks and ensure you do the best job possible with fitting your side rails together. Otherwise, the appearance of this feature will be sub-standard.

Looks goods !

Got mine waiting, probably a nice project to start the new year.
Wait till you are finished .... just in case !

Any Anti-Slip to go with it ?

Cheers
Christopher

Brent, it is okay to choose per the instructions. Here is a solid support example from a new Stryker at Ft Lewis in 2007.

@ Burik- That is why content from others is good. Because of your additional photo, we know that the model builder can use either configuration. That's great stuff.

Thanks again!

At this point, I'm surprised that you are using pe. There are tons of sets out for the Stryker family.

@ Christopher- I hadn't even thought about putting non-slip on this thing. I'm glad you mentioned it. I've never replicated non-slip on a model before. This is an out-of-box build log/review for Armorama so I'm hesitant to 'add' to the kit.

@ Retiredyank- I'm only using kit parts because this is intended as an out-of-box build log. The kit was 'donated' by Armorama.

As a result of this being a build log/review for the Armorama, I may keep it strictly out-of-box and not do anti-slip. Just not sure yet.

What do the readers here think? Non-slip or no Non-slip?

HI

Wait until you start the mine plow!! You will need tweezers and either very good vision or some form of magnification. There are a LOT of very delicate parts.

FWIW

T

STEP 37:

Step 37 begins construction of the Lane Marking System (LMS) dispensers.


Step 37 has two sub-steps. The 1st sub-step is assembling the lane marking pole 'packs' that go in the dispenser. I'm not assembling the pole 'packs' because they will need to be painted prior to being installed in the dispensers. I will not paint the lane marking poles till the end when I'm doing detail painting.

The 2nd sub-step is beginning the assembly of the dispenser body.



STEP 38 and 39:

I have combined steps 38 & 39. In step 38 and 39 you are finishing construction of the LMS dispensers.






The hardest part about assembling the LMS was assembling parts O53 and O52 for both steps 38 and 39. These parts were so small and difficult to work with.


With parts O52 and O53 being so fragile, I found it easier/safer to remove them from the sprue by cutting their respective sprue section off of the parts tree. This enabled me to place the parts flush against my cutting mat and cut straight through the ejector pins without risking breakage of any of the parts.




In this photo, I have one assembly of O52/O53 completed.


In this photo, I have completed assembly O52/O53 for both LMS dispensers.


Next came installation of parts O61 on both dispensers.


To put on parts O61, I used a wood toothpick to place a small drop of CA glue onto the spot where O61 went.


Here the dispenser bodies are about 80% complete.


The next thing to do is to assemble/install the 'swing arm' assembly for the LMS dispensers. I did not attache parts O13, O14 here because I will not put them on until the end of the project. Here is a parts layout.


Here are the completed, as much as can be, LMS dispensers.


As a reminder, I will not be painting/installing the LMS marking poles (V7,V8) or the swing arms O13, O14 until later in construction.


In the next step (Step 40) I will begin assembling the surface mine plow.

Nice work so far Brent. I think when I get to mine I will be making some tweaks. One in particular will be the basket with all the ejector pin marks. Instead of filling the marks then sanding, I plan on cutting a piece of .005 sheet in the same shape as the interior of the basket and installing it over the entire bottom of the basket. Looking forward to seeing more on this one. Keep at it. "Q"

Well, I've started the mine plow today. What a nightmare this thing is!!

My wife is going to come home from work and find me in the corner, in the fetal position, crying uncontrollably.

Surface Mine Plow (SMP)....The drama begins:

WORD OF CAUTION: I used Testors liquid cement on part of step 40, 42 and 43. Some of the parts are very thin and delicate. When I applied the liquid cement to some of the thinner parts (Q5, Q6, Q89, Q91 for example) it softened the parts too much and the parts broke during positioning. I highly recommend using CA glue as much as possible on the SMP to minimize your part damage. I used CA glue on parts Q48, Q49, Q50, and Q51 with no residual softening or part damage.

Construction of the SMP begins with Step 40.


Step 40 is divided into four sub-steps (two sub-steps for each SMP blade segment type) for construction of SMP blade segment 'P' (x 9) and SMP blade segment 'Q'.

I began assembly of one SMP blade segment 'P'. Here is a layout of the parts for the first sub-step of 'P'.

Here is the first sub-step completed.


The struggle with these SMP blade segments is going to be the fact that there are so many articulation points that will have to stay functional for the SMP blade overall, to look right after assembly. Each blade segment has got to be able to move to sit flush with the display surface.

I hit a wall when I got to the second sub-step of blade segment 'P'. My problem here is that parts V3 and V5 cannot be glued on if the blade segment is going to stay articulating for final positioning later in kit completion. I have no way of knowing what the proper angles are going to be for parts V6 and V25 so that the blade segment sits where it needs to.

Am I making sense here or am I over analyzing this and making it harder than I need to?

Based on my thought process above, I decided my solution to the problem was to stop building blade segments (I barely got started) and build the SMP main body first. I figured if I get the SMP main body assembled and ready for the blade segments, I can finish building the blade segments toward the end, install them and glue them in their final position. Make sense?

So I jumped to Step 42.
Step 42 is the assembly of the 'point' of the blade assembly segments.


There are three sub-steps. Here is the parts layout for the first sub-step.


Here is the first sub-step complete.

Here are the additional parts for the second sub-step.


Here is step 42 completed.


Step 43 begins assembly of what I call the SMP main body.

This assembly, when completed, will be the assembly that all of the SMP blade segments mount on.

Step 43 is also broken down into three sub-steps.
Here is the parts layout for the first sub-step.


Here is the first sub-step completed.



Here is the second sub-step completed.


Here is Step 43 completed.

Styrene origami! Hang in there Brent. Patience will prevail. "Q"

I've been away for awhile, but after checking out your thread..I just ordered one! I plan to add the textured anti-slip, but follow your build throughout.It was a tough choice between this and the MEV..the red cross' really stand out. The detailed plow won over!

Thanks for the great build info!
Jeff

Really nice work, and a lot of good info! It's looking absolutely great. I just might have to get a Stryker when I finish my Tusk II. I'll start working on my justification to the wife now so I'll be prepared when the time comes...

Finally the blase

This is absolutely one of the best WIP I've ever seen not only in Armorama.com

thanks for info and I will stay tuned for your progress !

happy new year

I'm back with a small update tonight.

STEP 44:

This step has you assembling the left side plow main body 'extension'.


This step was a bear...the parts are very small and fragile. There are 3 sub-steps.

The first sub-step is assembling Q70 and Q72. I used liquid cement here and didn't have any issues.


The second sub-step was the hardest part here. Due to the fragile nature of so many small parts, I used liquid cement to install part Q75 only on this sub-step. The rest of the sub-step, I used strictly CA glue. Standard liquid cement could possibly partially dissolve parts Q37, Q57, Q84, Q86 and V15 because they are so small and thin.

The instructions are very vague as to the correct angle/placement of parts Q84, Q86. After modification and assembly of these parts and looking further ahead in the directions, I don't believe I have parts Q84 and Q86 angled out far enough. But, I'm going to leave the assembly as is. I could not find any photographs (I didn't look real hard) of parts Q84, Q86, V15 on a real Stryker for reference.

Here is sub-step two complete:




The third sub-step is the installation of two parts, Q79 and Q83. The only thing of note that I did here was use the backside of my Xacto blade to make sure that the flat surface on each side was flush.

Here is a picture of the assembly at the end of this step.

STEP 45:
Step 45 is the same as step 44 except that you are building the plow extension for the right side instead of the left side.



After looking closer at the attachment points of Q84 and Q85, I noticed that the attachment point for Q84 and Q85 is actually molded at the angle that the piece needs to mount at. I was not able to identify this in step 44. Additionally, there is a specific attachment point for the front of Q86 and Q87 that I did not identify in step 44. So, if you mount Q84 and Q85 in their attachment points correctly, and then attach Q86 and Q87 to Q84 and Q85 correctly, you will have the proper angle after attaching the assemblies that consist of Q84, Q85, V15 and Q85, Q87 and V15.

Here is step 45 completed.





After getting step 45 completed correctly, I disassembled the parts Q84, Q86 and V15 from step 44 and reattached them correctly.

Here is a picture of the assemblies from step 44 and step 45 together.

Good Luck with the rest of the blade and happy new year to you Brent and your family
Cheers
Seb

STEP 46:

In this step you are attaching the left and right mine plow extensions.



This was a very difficult and frustrating step for me.Your key to success on this step is to get parts Q76, Q77, Q80 and Q81 securely glued in place prior to trying to attach the plow extensions built in steps 44 & 45.

I attached parts Q77 & Q81 with CA glue. After setting the CA glue with acellerator, I tried to attach the left side extension. The parts set with CA glue popped off as soon as I applied slight pressure to connect the extension.

Long story short, I got the left side done using CA glue. I then did the right side but decided to use liquid cement. I used it sparingly and it ended up working out great. The advantage to using liquid cement is that it leaves a little flexibility in the parts and they aren't brittle like they are when they are glued on with CA glue.

Please forgive my horrible pictures in this update. I decided to take some pictures without flash because I thought there was enough natural light in the room. Big mistake.

Here is the left and right side part layout.



If you are successful with attaching the left and right side plow extensions, you could leave your plow extensions 'moveable'. I glued my extensions in the down position and ensured all moveable parts were securely glued in place. This was done to ensure I didn't have any problems later on during mounting of the plow to the hull. But, for those of you interested, here is a couple of shots of one of the plow extensions 'folded'.



Here is step 46 completed.



I just noticed that I've taken 324 photos in this blog so far. I have a long way to go still. LoL.

STEP 47:



This step has two sub-steps.

Here is the parts layout for the first sub-step.


Here is the first sub-step assembled.


Here is the parts layout for the second sub-step.


Here is the second sub-step in progress.




Here is Step 47 completed.



Parts V1, Q34, Q35 were all a challenge to get in place. The pins, V10 were difficult to get into place through the holes in V1, Q34 and Q35 but it was manageable. Patience and persistence was key for me here.

Great work!!! I can't get over all the tiny parts present on the plow..my carpet monster is gonna be trouble w/ this kit.

Do you plan to add the wire / chain set-up on your plow?

AFV Club is supposed to release a wire/chain set. I will buy one and install it when it hits the states.

STEP 48:

Step 48 is the assembly of another component of the mine plow.


There are 3 sub-steps.

Here is the parts layout for sub-step 1.


Here is sub-step 1 assembled.


Here is the parts layout for sub-step 2.


Here are a couple of shots of sub-step 2 assembled.



Here is a couple of photos of sub-step 3 assembled.



Here is step 48 completed.

Thanks for the great info and illustrations during your build. My ESV just arrived, and looking over the work ahead.

Its amazing the detail they have included on the plow assembly , as you've shown it!!