Jump'n back to an earlier 537 topic; That being the off-set winch.

Just found the BEST photo I have yet to see illustrating this very obvious mistake on Trumpeter's part!



The red line marks the centerline of the tractor which is indicated by the separation between the two gas tanks. The two tanks being exactly the same size and centered across the width of the vehicle.

[quote]I am glad you guys like the Russian green paint effect because you are probably gonna want to shoot me when you find out what's going on there!

Hi Michael,
do you mean that your finish color is the Tamiya OD with the green pastel dusted over top ? Keep up the good work, one of the nicest renditions of this kit I've seen !

Sean

[quote]


Sean that is exactly how it did it!

There is a famous railroad modeler by the name of John Allen who used to say that "dust is a weathering effect - don't touch my models." With the MAZ I guess that I have taken this adage to the max.

Best Regards

There has been a lot of discussion on other blogs here of late about color balance and artificial (read electronic) adjustments to model photographs. I thought it was time I took some photos of the MAZ in natural sunlight to get a better read on how the colors would reproduce.


Available sunlight with full on fill flash. Slight enhancement of EV range using Photoshop curves tool. Darkened background and lightened vehicle using Photoshop burn tool


Straight sunlight with no fill. Slight enhancement of EV range using Photoshop curves.


Sunlight with slight fill using a white reflector. Slight enhancement of EV range using Photoshop curves.


Sunlight only.

At no time did I utilize any form of HDR (High Dynamic Range) enhancement or color adjustment.

Trying to focus now on cab interior detailing - really dreading the make or break moment when I attempt to mount the window glass - any suggestions??

Working now on the big cold weather heater that mounts in the center front of the cab.



Just received a brass etch interior detail set for the Scud TEL and it includes a driver's open grill ceiling mounted vent fan. It's gonna go in my MAZ!

Slightly off topic:



Earl, just released sprue shots from Trumpeter of the new tooling for their MAZ 543 Scud TEL:

Transfer case and rear face of transmission.


Chassis side frames and engine air intakes.

https://mbasic.facebook.com/TrumpeterModel

hi, are there reference pictures anywhere showing the tires suspensions and transmissions? I plan on making a working model of this.

One has only to re-read this thread to find links to photo reference on the 537. Page one of this thread offers a number of links to photo walk-a-rounds.

I understand that white glue is the best mounting solution for clear windows.

It's what I will be using.





Jeff

Thanks Jeff. Am now planning to "distress" the windows with some cracks and breaks if not a few bullet holes. Any advice on this score would also be appreciated!

Trying to follow this I'm new to this Forum and interested to understand where you get the transmission unit omitted from the Trumpeter kit. As you also suggest the whole transmission system does not figure to the truck but interested in seeing how some of this could be changed.

I'm sorry if this modification is something you must have completed in the past but your assistance would be very helpful.

Kind Regards Dave London England

David thanks for your inquiry; in answer to your question:

On page one of this thread you will find a photo of a scratch built transfer case as created by Opaperinik. There is also a link there to several MAZ-537 photo walk-arounds provided thanks to Adam Berhidi.

Also the original Russian Tech Manual & Parts Manual for the 537 are available as free downloads if you search this Armorama site and/or the internet. there are some very nice perspective drawings of both the Transfer Case and the Transmission.

In addition, my scratch built transfer case and transmission for the 537 are shown on pages 2 & 3 of this thread.

Finally on page 2 you will find a link to the company "E63 Modelli de Carta". This firm offers a FREE download of a WORD file that allows you to print out flat 1/35th scale paper templates of the entire truck so you can build your own version of any MAZ part using these templates.

That about does it. I hope this gives you a path to the research you need.

Happy Modeling and Happy Holidays!

Plan for the front bumper re-enforcements as built by Opaperinik in his paper model of the MAZ 537:

Now how do we build these bumper braces for our plastic model?

I started with Evergreen plastic shapes' .020 x.125 strip. I stacked four pieces of this stock together, each approximately 2" long, gluing ONLY the ends of these strips together.


I drilled guide holes, then used larger and larger drill bits to make the necessary perforations. Finally I roughed in the tapered shape of the brackets with a jeweler's saw and a file.


After this I cut through each end block to free up the separate bracket pieces.


I made the central web of the re-enforcing bracket using the same stack, glue, drill & cut technique and assembled the parts onto the model chassis.

Pure genius, sir!
Bartender, another round for the gentleman with the MAZ

John

Working now on my MAZ 537 Pusher Tractor;

Fiirst up is to correct the errors in the model's driveline.

Here are the modified #1 and #2 differentials and the scratch built forward final drive unit.



And here are the #3 and #4 differentials plus the scratch built rear final drive unit and transfer case.

Transmission to follow.

Revell has a glue which is extra produced for transparant parts. I used it many times, it does not "crack" the parts like normal cement does. And very affordable too.

The latest MAZ that I am working on, the 537F/A Pusher Tractor:







Does the term "pusher tractor" seem like an oxymoron to anyone else besides me?

The thread can be viewed at:
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/196250&page=4

hi in reference to the MAZ 537 is anybody still building this kit or has built it only i am new and it looks like I receive only the same thread. Can anybody assist me with the question where can you get a scale correct engine and gearbox?

Regards Dave London

Dave, Verlinden makes a resin T-34 tank engine and I am using that as a starting point for my 537. There is a Chinese army tank model which I am told sports a full engine which is extremely usable in the 537. (Also the tank is still usable as a full model just glue the engine compartment closed.)

Finally there is someone in Eastern Europe who is making a resin complete engine compartment for the MAZ but I have yet to make contact with this person. (Not for lack of trying.)

If anyone else has a contact for this fellow I would love to make contact.
_________________________________________________________

Here is where I am at with my Verlinden engine - a long way yet to go - still needing to scratch build the engine final drive gearbox plus those massive radiators and the fan drive mechanism.



(For the fans themselves I purchased four extra sets of etch from Mirrior Models from their Diamond T cargo truck.)

Hi
I am constructing the towing tractor version of the 537 used to move heavy military aircraft
Firstly I must thank you for supplying the information its been very worth while.

You sound are a guy that is in the know, have you come across anybody that has looked in the box of the MING Scud kit? I hear a lot about the Trumpeter version, but nothing about the MING version.

You get a kit because you like the subject and then you find out so much about the real machine, discovering information that 10 years ago would not ever have been available. As far as the Opaperinik paper truck information is concerned I was blown away by the detail.
So for whatever reason Trumpeter did not want to include the engine understandably with an inclosed compartment. But just didn't think of at least getting the main drive line that is on full view, correct.
What is you view on paint color do you think that the Hobby color both lacquer based and water are a good match.

All the best to you for the new year

Dave first of all thank you for all your kind remarks.

As to engines and paint: The engine offered in the new Scud kit would be an almost perfect substitute for the engine in the 537 needing only changes to the air intake and exhaust piping to make it correct. I have not seen a close up on the Meng kit as yet but I assume the same is true for it. However would anyone want to gut the new Scud just to provide an engine for the older kit?

(I admit it does sound like something I would do!)

As to paint I am just now approaching those same questions. On my first 537G I wanted that old sort of rusted out look so I used pastel chalk over a sprayed on Olive Drab base color. (Looks interesting but I probably over did it.) Now on my next 537F/A I want to give it a faded but well kept look. Not sure what colors I will use there. I have seen units painted in the light white/green, others in pea green and also in a dark green. The unit in the Missile Museum is primarily the light white/green but the load box on the vehicle and some of the equipment is in the pea green.

Any decisions yet to make!
Best Regards Mike

Interesting photo of the 537 found last night online showing the naked wheel gear hub and brake assembly - very compact!

Also I had mentioned earlier the large air tanks that should appear between the #3 and #4 axles.

Here is the resin engine compartment being offered by SOMEONE??? Can anyone provide a contact for purchasing this item?