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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
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Panda M-ATV CROW II: my building adventure
galactica
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Milano, Italy
Joined: April 11, 2008
KitMaker: 146 posts
Armorama: 126 posts
Posted: Monday, May 29, 2017 - 01:14 AM UTC
I like to share my "building adventure" of the Panda M-ATV Crow II.
I started the construction more than one year ago, I had a long stop in between and now I'm in the final assembly phase.

Beside the Panda kit, I have used:
- Pro-Art Models Update Set for Interior (PAU-35053)
- Real Model Wheels Set for M-ATV - Panda Kits.

Main references:
– the book “Oshkosh M-ATV – Photo Walk Around” by Ralph Zwilling and Jeffrey DeRosa, published by AK Interactive
– the “M-ATV Photo Reference CD-ROM” by Robert Skipper 18bravo
both includes a lot of very useful pictures with close views of up and under parts of the vehicle.
In addition there are many construction and picture threads in Armorama and elsewhere that I have referred to; here below a list:
- The M-ATV discussion thread
- Pascal’s M-ATV (Panda 1/35)
- Panda M-ATV build and improvements
- M-ATV wip, Panda kit, 1/35
- Pictures M-ATV exter/inter
- M-ATV Oshkosh MRAP-All Terrain Vehicle In Box Review
- MRAP, All-Terrain Vehicle a photo feature by Chris Green
- Oshkosh M-ATV
- Panda M-ATV WIP (very clear and useful, but in Korean language)

I will not go through the entire construction history but I will focus on some of the improvements I’ve made to the kit.

I will also show the parts that I have 3D designed and printed at Shapeways.

To start, here is where my build is, as of today.



WXerock
#450
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California, United States
Joined: July 19, 2015
KitMaker: 672 posts
Armorama: 668 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 30, 2017 - 05:56 PM UTC
Ettore, your build looks great so far. I am going to be following it with interest.

Regards,

Eric
35th-scale
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Kildare, Ireland
Joined: November 21, 2007
KitMaker: 3,212 posts
Armorama: 2,807 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 31, 2017 - 01:15 AM UTC
Looks very good so far. It is challenging, but you seem to be mastering it
10thmd
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New York, United States
Joined: December 10, 2008
KitMaker: 78 posts
Armorama: 73 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 01, 2017 - 05:22 PM UTC
Looks Great! Keep us updated
MakiWawa
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Warszawa, Poland
Joined: December 17, 2014
KitMaker: 448 posts
Armorama: 448 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 01, 2017 - 10:27 PM UTC
Ettore, looks very good
galactica
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Milano, Italy
Joined: April 11, 2008
KitMaker: 146 posts
Armorama: 126 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 22, 2017 - 01:18 AM UTC
Now an immersion into the interiors.

The Panda model includes a fotoetch radio rack, very complex to build but a good replica of the original one.

Unfortunately all the radios are missing in the kit.
I used the only aftermarket kit available that includes all the different radios usually
found in an M-ATV: "Update Set for Interior" by Pro-Art Models (p/n PAU-35053).
It's a real pity that Pro-Art Models closed production because this kit is no longer available.

To make things more challanging I decided to wire all the radios: I can assure you that it has been
a tough job, but the result was worth the effort.
As a reference for wiring I used the photo references mentioned above and product material by Harris,
the producer of the radios.

Here some pictures of the first rack








35th-scale
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Kildare, Ireland
Joined: November 21, 2007
KitMaker: 3,212 posts
Armorama: 2,807 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 22, 2017 - 03:11 AM UTC
Thats looking very good!

Shame about Pro-Art alright. Maybe one day he'll sell the holes to another company. Blast Models also do a nice modern radio set
galactica
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Milano, Italy
Joined: April 11, 2008
KitMaker: 146 posts
Armorama: 126 posts
Posted: Monday, September 11, 2017 - 02:55 AM UTC
Very few moments spent at the workbench and instead a lot of time spent at the computer, to design a couple of add-ons.

Spare tyre winch








and the additional front mirrors








Today I received a notice by Shapeways that both of them have been printed and are now on the way to me.

I can't wait to see how they are.
andrekidbsb
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Distrito Federal, Brazil
Joined: April 03, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 273 posts
Posted: Monday, September 11, 2017 - 03:07 AM UTC
Hi, where did you buy the mirrors in shapeway site?

Thanks

André


Quoted Text

Very few moments spent at the workbench and instead a lot of time spent at the computer, to design a couple of add-ons.

Spare tyre winch








and the additional front mirrors








Today I received a notice by Shapeways that both of them have been printed and are now on the way to me.

I can't wait to see how they are.
galactica
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Milano, Italy
Joined: April 11, 2008
KitMaker: 146 posts
Armorama: 126 posts
Posted: Monday, September 11, 2017 - 03:15 AM UTC
I have designed the mirrors and I have uploaded them on Shapeways to be printed.

If the output is good I will make them available for purchasing in my Shapeways page
http://https://www.shapeways.com/shops/galactica-models
WXerock
#450
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California, United States
Joined: July 19, 2015
KitMaker: 672 posts
Armorama: 668 posts
Posted: Monday, September 11, 2017 - 07:31 AM UTC
Ettore, I for one will buy the mirrors If you can sell them.

Regards,

Eric
andrekidbsb
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Distrito Federal, Brazil
Joined: April 03, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 273 posts
Posted: Monday, September 11, 2017 - 04:01 PM UTC
Me too
Regards,
André


Quoted Text

Ettore, I for one will buy the mirrors If you can sell them.

Regards,

Eric
leopard122
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European Union
Joined: August 26, 2016
KitMaker: 417 posts
Armorama: 411 posts
Posted: Monday, September 11, 2017 - 07:43 PM UTC
I already have the mirrors otherwise i would have bought them too . I have your antenna set and that is really good, so thanks for that..
You are not planning to make the winch hook to sell?
Removed by original poster on 09/12/17 - 19:14:57 (GMT).
galactica
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Milano, Italy
Joined: April 11, 2008
KitMaker: 146 posts
Armorama: 126 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - 12:16 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I already have the mirrors otherwise i would have bought them too . I have your antenna set and that is really good, so thanks for that..
You are not planning to make the winch hook to sell?


Thank you for your appreciation.

Are you interested just in the hook or in the whole winch set ?

leopard122
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European Union
Joined: August 26, 2016
KitMaker: 417 posts
Armorama: 411 posts
Posted: Tuesday, September 12, 2017 - 01:27 AM UTC
[quote]
Quoted Text

I already have the mirrors otherwise i would have bought them too . I have your antenna set and that is really good, so thanks for that..
You are not planning to make the winch hook to sell?


Thank you for your appreciation.

Are you interested just in the hook or in the whole winch set ?

[/quote

Mostly the hook for the front winch but i'm intreasted in all update sets for the M-atv]
galactica
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Milano, Italy
Joined: April 11, 2008
KitMaker: 146 posts
Armorama: 126 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 17, 2017 - 12:06 AM UTC
Mirrors have arrived.
The printed output seems OK.

I have to make the vertical bar of the arm a bit longer, to allow a proper rotation over the bonnet.


I'm not sure if the horizontal part of the arm bar is too long; in your opinion, does it extend too much
outside the bonnet ?

I publish some pictures below.
Give me your feedback and suggestions.











MikeyBugs95
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New York, United States
Joined: May 27, 2013
KitMaker: 2,210 posts
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Posted: Sunday, September 17, 2017 - 03:22 AM UTC
I quite like it, Ettore. I think I'll order one next chance I can.
WXerock
#450
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California, United States
Joined: July 19, 2015
KitMaker: 672 posts
Armorama: 668 posts
Posted: Sunday, September 17, 2017 - 06:15 AM UTC
Ettore, those truly turned out amazing. Just let us know here when you've decided to sell them.

Regards,

Eric
galactica
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Milano, Italy
Joined: April 11, 2008
KitMaker: 146 posts
Armorama: 126 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - 01:06 AM UTC
I have modified the arm of the mirrors and uploaded them again on Shapeways.

Both the items, mirrors and spare tire hoist, are now available on my Shapeways page https://www.shapeways.com/shops/galactica-models

I'll post pictures of my model with these new add-on parts in the next days.

WXerock
#450
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California, United States
Joined: July 19, 2015
KitMaker: 672 posts
Armorama: 668 posts
Posted: Wednesday, September 20, 2017 - 05:53 PM UTC
Thank you Ettore, I placed an order this morning. I'll let you know when they come.

Regards,

Eric
youngtiger1
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California, United States
Joined: May 14, 2008
KitMaker: 534 posts
Armorama: 344 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 21, 2017 - 09:57 AM UTC
Ettore, those look great. You know, most of what you have done can benefit Trumpeter 1/16 M-ATV kit as well. I would love to have then in 1/16 for my kit and I'm sure others with the large kit wouldn't mind a set or two.

Food for the thought
galactica
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Milano, Italy
Joined: April 11, 2008
KitMaker: 146 posts
Armorama: 126 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 21, 2017 - 05:14 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Ettore, those look great. You know, most of what you have done can benefit Trumpeter 1/16 M-ATV kit as well. I would love to have then in 1/16 for my kit and I'm sure others with the large kit wouldn't mind a set or two.

Food for the thought


Hi Mike,
I'm crunching your food :-)

I will PM you to follow up on your suggestion.
andrekidbsb
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Distrito Federal, Brazil
Joined: April 03, 2006
KitMaker: 284 posts
Armorama: 273 posts
Posted: Thursday, September 21, 2017 - 10:11 PM UTC
Thank you Ettore, I placed an order now.

Regards André
youngtiger1
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California, United States
Joined: May 14, 2008
KitMaker: 534 posts
Armorama: 344 posts
Posted: Monday, September 25, 2017 - 05:49 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Ettore, those look great. You know, most of what you have done can benefit Trumpeter 1/16 M-ATV kit as well. I would love to have then in 1/16 for my kit and I'm sure others with the large kit wouldn't mind a set or two.

Food for the thought


Hi Mike,
I'm crunching your food :-)

I will PM you to follow up on your suggestion.


Glad to hear that I can provide some...food

I will be happy to chat with you any time
 _GOTOTOP