Hi Guys,
Just some build up pics of the recent kit of the Meng - pick up with AA gun. Im not going to do anything spectacular here. It is a really nice kit and a fun build!

this is the sub-assembly stage - it only takes a few hours to build up



chassis and cab interior



lots of detail underneath - but that black plastic is rather soft more like vinyl?



dry assembly shot - test fits . it goes together very much like scale auto models



cheers
Mark

Good luck Mark...I'll follow this...

Mark: Looks good. I'm only a couple steps behind you on the truck, although I've assembled the gun. For me the gun was very finicky with small parts and the glue not holding so well to the soft black plastic. I hope mine survives the painting process.

Happy Modelling, -zon

Hi Hakan ! great to see you - where and what are you blogging and building?

Hi Zon - I agree the gun took longer to make than the truck - but it is a very fine little model!

love this poster --



and this one



Primer on the parts chaos black and white from the games workshop spraycans





interior parts - the chaos black is going to serve as the primer and the actual colour. making this a very quick build !



bare metal foil trim to the cab rear window - undecided on this



AA gun built up and primed - very fiddly as Zon says !



AA cannon avec "hoodie"





check out me alloys ! pimp my ride !



rubber wheels - not caused me a problem on other builds - so i dont mind



the tyres are actually branded ! although the pick-up is not



dry fit chassis



dry fit technical - but end build wont be this configuration

cheers
Mark

Nice work so far Mark!

Mark

The tyers are branded but not not with a proper name "an almost but not quite" like the rest of the kit.

I suspect that Meng have produced this model without obtaining the permishion from Toyota or Dunlop.

But at least we have it the model which is more than we had tis time last year so

And as Rob said (no relation) Mark nice progress with the model.

Pete

Coming along real nice Mark. What configuration are you planning?

Rob - a big thanks - what are you building at the moment I want to catch up!

Pete - your quite right - im worried about my real Toyota now I thought Dunlcp - were the real deal !! Its good they have done a fair representation. I noticed the Hobbyboss HET has actually branded Michelin tyres.

Hi Karl - big thanks. Its going to be boring ! Just the roll bar a white paint job and probably some "allied coalition" chevron decals. Im planning on this being loaded on the HET with an ISO container or maybe a convoy lead vehicle.

painted up cab - airbrushed with some zero paints racing white and clear coated. all the trim was hand painted to save some time




cargo compartment - decaled to certain brand



the interior - didnt spend much time on this - little is visable through windows





bumper bits with some silver inlaid for the light reflectors



lights painted up using clear red and yellow



decals on the mud flaps



all the bits ready for assembly



cheers
Mark

Mark: sure is looking good, and the gun is a fine piece when finished. I've gone to subassemblies, but am holding off on the interior paint. Not sure how I want to do it.

Happy Modelling, -zon

Hey Zon ! big thanks - im looking forward to seeing more of your build.

just putting it together -



















weathering bit next - cheers
Mark

Looking good so far Mark....

Mark: Super looking build. It's turning out very nice. Also, good job pimping them rims. I've based the interior in gray and trying to decide if I want to two-tone the seats. I'll be doing the exterior in gloss blue. As I make more progress I'll post it in the Technicals Campaign, but probably not until later this week.

Happy Modelling, -zon

Mark,

So glad your showing this build as I have been thinking about getting this kit. Your one is looking really good, I like the lettering on the tailgate of the 4x4, very iconic look. Can't wait to see how it looks when you're done.

Zon, Hakan and Alex - im looking for your builds ! thanks for support this is not exactly an exciting subject! Also so late to update-

I added a pin wash to get the panel lines to pop out -





I start the weathering soon...
thanks
Mark

looking really good already!
wondering how you are gonna weather this pickup!

It is coming out really nicely. I need to start mine now. Looking good. One more detail you may want to add is the roof seals. The two lines down the roof just above the doors should be black as they are rubber seals at the roof joints.

They are hard to see in most pics, but you can see where they wrap around the rear of the roof to the window in the below pics.

Boris and Gino thanks - I wish I had kept track of this ! I missed the info on the roof trim!.

Ok it was real simple -
I started with a wash using AK dust effects







then I applied a slurry of pigments and let that dry. I followed with splashed mud effects using AK Earth and Mud effects.



can you read the message













I cant think of anything else to add - but if you have any suggestions I would be glad to hear !

thanks
Mark

Mark- nice weathering I must say- looks like it just drove through a muddy field. I like the mud graffiti on the hood and the bits on the windows where it looks like somebody has cleaned it with their hand. My only suggestion would be to try and get a 'wiper trail' on the front windscreen- i.e. have it dirty where the wipers don't reach and clean where they do.

Karl - a big thanks for both comments and the advice. I shall try and have a go at representing that effect - great idea.

thanks
Mark

Nice indeed! I like it a lot. Mud grafiti on the bonnet show that you have a great attention to details

I've never used Ak products, I'd like to try them.

Very nice. The weathering came out really well. I will second the wiper tracks though. What about some gear and a figure?

Looks good Mark...

Mark: excellent!! I like the mud and graffiti as the others have commented. Great job. I'm still bogged down on mine. just finished the blue base coloring. Took a lot to get past the white.

Happy Modelling, -zon

Hi Mauro - the AK products i find very easy to use. The set I have really found the best is the NATO weathering set the filter, wash and dust effects can be used on nearly anything.

Hi Gino - I think your advice needs to be adhered to! I have some blackdog US spec ops figures. I think a diorama of some sort is called for!

Also regarding gear in the back - Im thinking some ammo and bergens - just need to find something suitable.

Hakan - big thanks - will check your website to see what you are busy with

Zon - I hope to see your pick-up soon

thanks
Mark

Hi, Mark!
Very nice work. May be you can add a little chipping in the cargo area, but anyway it's really some fine job you've done so far. Keep us posted!