Michael - The actual "S" part of the S can is inside the brake drum, but there is a shaft/tube that comes outside of the back of the brake drum area that attaches to the slack adjuster.. That also attaches to the brake chamber.

Dustin, I almost went back and posted the remark that the slack adjuster does attach to the opposite end of the shaft the S cam is on.

Again I won't know until the Real Model resin parts arrive. Also, so far I have not found a good photo or drawing of how the brake actuator mounting brackets are laid out on the HEMTT.

Found one!

Took this vampire out into the sunlight to take some progress photos. Don't know for sure these add anything you guys and gals have not seen already.

The bracket that the brake chamber bolts to, and the S cam goes through is pictured here.

H Michael, you Vampire looks pretty good so far. I am following the build and enjoying all info you are putting out. Keep up the good work.
Ronnie

Michael, this build really is something to watch. Isn't it fun to look at a drawing in a TM only to find 90% of the detail was missed? You can get carried away trying to replicate it all.

Regards,

Eric

Yes it's fun but even I know there has to be a limit! (Of course deciding where that limit is - that's another matter!)

Photographer uncredited



Anyone know of a gun ring kit available separately that I could add to my HEMTT? (Clearly the Italeri gun truck has one.) Is there any other source?
I can probably scratch the framework but the traverse ring could be the problem.



Did you know the gunner has a removable platform to stand on?

Boy, this build is taking whole another meaning to modeling. All this information is priceless.

Mike,
I have 8 of those round air brake things from my Trumpeter Patriot kit and an older style gun ring kit you can have if you want.

Mike - I feel like this is the kind of research you have to do to take a model to the next level of detailing and with the internet almost anything you are looking for is probably out there.

I have the rings from both the m923 and the m35 if you need them.

I hear you brother as you are absolutely correct. The evidence is already becoming clear with what you have done so far. I would strongly suggest to still replace your rubber tires for resin. I had a bad experience with rubber tires frm trumpeter kit. No matter how much paint and flat coat I sprayed on then in the end they look as if I had spray gloss.

So, in the end I gave up and took them of the kit and washed them in simple green to remove all the paint. From then on all my builds use resin replacements just so I don't have to repeat the headache.

Either way, I'm enjoying your build immensely.

A small added detail plus finally, a good look at those new Italeri rubber tires:


Small angle brace added to the fenders.

AND . . . . a shot that up till now I have not thought to take:



p.s. I started to buy the new Italeri 20' container at the same time I bought this model. Then I thought I might end up building my own load or go in a different direction entirely so I put my wallet back into my pocket.

Mike - As far as painting/weathering the tires is concerned I usually weather with pastels so anything reacting chemically with the rubber is not a concern for me.


These are rubber tires on this HobbyBoss White 666 semi-tractor. (My conversion)


These are painted resin tires on this flatbed trailer.

All weathered using pastels.

Sagged wheels would really set this off though.

That last shot is very cool.

Impressive work Michael, you have done a great job on this so far, it is going to turn out great!

I won't promise but I do have a plan to glue the wheels on so they do not rotate and then use my Dremel to grind some flats into the bottoms of the tire.

OR . . . (a technique I saw recently) use a counter sunk wood screw through the tire and into the rim to cause the rubber tire to flatten on the bottom and bulge at the sidewalls.

More on the brakes:

Did a little photo retouching last night - starting with drawings from the TM. Here I have eliminated the internal workings of the HEMTT brake actuators so the external "look" can be seen.

Another small:




Rear angle brace for this right side rear stowage box.

Michael, that is some great work on the TM images. I will have to visit this thread when I'm ready to tackle something this big.

Regards,

Eric