This is going to look great, the model already does!!
I am sure that you have it all sorted but I thought I would just add these vids that I have found and have very useful tips/parts/ideas in them.

https://youtu.be/UuntDtSWizY
https://youtu.be/k_riLYXbW3E
https://youtu.be/3NRpMGMjRJU
https://youtu.be/pdE6k9v5h3w?t=6m55s

Hi Bob,

In case it may help... there is the water job I did with GEDEO/PEBEO Crystal resin

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/248087#2096410

Keep it up

I will be going with a resin pour. Is there a technique to prevent the resin creep along edges? I might be able to use the final layer of ripples and wakes for some, but ...

I had to get the hanging stowage on so I could pour the water. Later I will go back and add strapping where needed and dust up the rucks too. I did put on the large cargo strap that was sort of like a clothes line.

Probably a couple of more layers to pour after this one.

Wow.. Looking very nice.. Looking forward to next step

Another layer of resin and I still have at least one more to go. Costing me too much $ on resin. I made a mistake by not having the floor of the river higher up on the Amtrac. At least I did some practice on the ripples and waves and that seems to be something that will come out real nice.

Anyway, I added some personal weapons. The crew chief, against SOP, added a scope to his M16. And he had a bipod too. Test fitting of some of the figures. Looks like a total of 8 standing in the back.

I moved the helmets to the rear of the turret as well. The crew chief told me they were hung there and upon reviewing the photo they are hung there, I just could not figure that out.

Wow man. How could I miss this build earlier ? The whole thing feels so alive and fitting into the scene. Your creating the mood and dusty feel of the Road To Bagdad. The black slings on the M16A3s, the MREs, even the old dust googles and LC2 backpacks dont feel out of place. Marines make due, right ? One thing that I would maybe change are the iron sights on the M16A3s, maybe a couple ACOGs would not be out of place ? Good job indeed !

Thanks for the kind words.

The vast majority of Marines in OIF had only iron sights. Some did have flashlights taped underneath or to the side of the barrel. Not that there weren't guys with ACOGs but they were not common.

This is the photo for my inspiration. I am making this for the crew chief of this trac.

Wow now there is going to be some wet gear in ther for sure, not to mention that Tigris isnt realy a clean river either. Great picture, thanks for posting.

Looks really nice Robert congrats on an awesome looking dio! I've got one of these in the stash so have enjoyed your build a lot. Just one comment, not a criticism, it's with regard your reference pic, it shows foam emanating from the sides and around the track areas not so much the back of the Amtrack. Just something I noticed. Beautiful build mate!

Very cool!

Great job Bob!
Dan

Hi James. Your point is reasonable considering the photo. However, the photo is the inspiration and I am not trying to replicate it - but I am depicting the overall event. So, while I wanted to try and capture the details of that particular trac I was not going to try and replicate the water exactly in the photo. I needed to be consistent in depicting the water with the overall calmness and color, but ...

I did study lots of photos of amtracs in the water to be sure I was not being unrealistic with my depiction, and to be sure I got the water level correct. Keep in mind that the photo is only a moment of a real event that took several minutes. That means the driver at times gunned it, or was idle, or ran over sand bars that caused different water effects, etc. I considered trying to show a mix of foam and water but I went with this in the end - as far as my limited skills could take me.

The first photo here is another one taken from a different trac. The others are obvious.









There are many many different effects depending on speed and whatnot, and so even the wakes can be different. I chose to minimize my wakes - since the vehicle was not going fast and I did not want to make it look like a ship model we see with the big wakes.

Sorry about the long explanation.

Bob

It's starting to look like you're going to have this finished around the same time as the actual crossing took place, Rob. It looks great, the water effect came out really well.

[quote]It's starting to look like you're going to have this finished around the same time as the actual crossing took place, Rob. It looks great, the water effect came out really well. [/quote

Yes, and there is a show that day too and I'd like to finish this dio for that but it will be difficult. 8 figures to paint.

Very cool! Water is so well made ! It sublimates the model.

Hey Robert, my bad. If this is what you call "limited skill" than boy do I feel so inadequate right now! Cheers good sir. Looking forward to the figures too.

Robert,

'Only just caught up with this - fantastic build and attention to detail; the river effects are superb.

Can I just ask as to how you get the foam effects? I get the resin pour bit but would like to know how you accomplish the movement as it were. I hope (one day!) to portray a PT 76 in a river so any info would be welcome.

Keep up the good work- this is inspirational.

Brian

This look great so going to copy your build
Will the sides of base come off or it would look cool if the sides were gloss and painted the same colour as the water. Great work!!

Oh no, who was the unlucky jarhead who lost his ruck in the water?

This is looking awesome, the time and effort you have put into this build is awe-inspiring.

Oh, and no, marines don't use M16A3s, these are issued to sailors. During the invasion most marines were using the standard M16A2 with iron sights, some were lucky enough to get an M16A4 with ACOG. So your choice of weapons is perfect for the time period.

The last layer is acrylic gel, so for the foam I just stippled it with a brush. If I were to do it again I might use a toothbrush. I might go back and do just a small bit for just a bit more depth.

The sides stay on. Painted black and varnished. Then I will put some decorations on.

Thanks very much for that; this has, for me, been a tutorial in water effects so I'm very grateful. Hitherto, I've never had the courage to try them out.

Thanks again.

Somebody is going to have to devote himself for to plunge to get back the lost bag.

Finished. I finished it in time to take it to a show here in NJ.