TM page 5, which is the last relevant page of the frame:



TM part #118 match Trumpy part A44 and A46. You need to take the three light units from Italeri part 9, since these lights are not on the M983.





Also is should be noted TM part #113 is not depicted right in the drawing. the real deal looks like this:

Hi Michael,

Thank you for your comments. Please see below, how I did the rear "H".

The parts for the front "H" are the parts, which can be seen above, which are not assembled.

Regards Thomas

Good work!

Thank you, Michael

The frame parts from Trumpeter and Italeri:

These parts were the first parts, I modified, and I made some errors right away

The transfer case is placed in the same distance from the front of the frame on the M983 and the M985 respectively, indicated by the black arrows in the picture. This also means all mount points for the suspension units are placed in the same way on the forward part of the M983 and M985 frames. So I should have made the cut in the area indicated by the dark green snake pattern line. So the orange areas indicate my cutting errors, which should be ignored. I will do better the next time

The important point here, is that you need to add lenght to the short M983 Trumpeter frame two times, since the M985 frame is longer than the M983, but the difference in lenght is not evenly distributed.

There has to be room for the crane, thus there is a need for some lenght after the rear suspension unit, and there is a need for some extra lengt between the two suspension units, since the M985 has an extra box between the two suspention units, which is not present on the M983.

The suspention units are mounted on the frame by the attachment points indicated by the light green and red lines on the Trumpeter parts. These attachment points match the light blue and yellow lines on the Italeri parts.

Todays update:

The two frame parts are now ready for the next step. The left one in the picture is the "right" one, meaning it has been cut the right places. Also the forward "H" has been put together. Before I put the frame together, I will add the transfer case and bolts where appropriate. I bought some nuts and bolts from Meng, and they look good to me.

Regards Thomas

Well, you can say, an update is due...



Link to photo in original size.

https://myahvg.am.files.1drv.com/y4m-2eCzoFA-qLByTc6FpO0LSM7-j3xg1rgProCJuqtKwFpslNdSSrHZh0u5nQxCsORA5Uloi1CMUUz0RHnGfkWMhUyr1FRcg-vwHPa3h4gvZBYEmdcBzQfaoR8Px4hw9CjDc55XCKR8PGITnGijBomfHCv3gAbFWBvx_rfLBP5F41XurgM3VuRffGMtVpPnUXa1FufbHCDkvUwafdT3yVh7Q?width=3096&height=5504&cropmode=none

The frame is nearly finished, and placed on the load bed to check alignment. The rear "H" is slightly tilted, but I have decided to let it be this way, since it will be hard to see on the finished model.

Next to do is the final rear parts on the frame, where the crane is to be mounted.

Regards Thomas