Ive decided to try somthing a little different from WW2 Allied so I have just purchased Italeri's M977 HEMTT along with the Eduard PE update set.

I must admit browsing through the box everything seems nicely moulded with good detail.
However as im out of my field on this one and even though I am not a rivet counter , is there anything I need to look for when building this kit , are there any glaring errors that need to be corrected or anything that can be added ?

PS I do intend to add the hydraulic cabling and wiring on the cargo crane

Thanks in advance for any help.


Ian


EDIT ... DOH i meant HEMTT in the subject title

Hi Ian

You should have a look at the recent threads on this forum about the Hemtt variants built by Armorama members Burik and Dexter059. Some of the included pics show the improvements that have been made by the builders...
Sorry, I'd like to help you more, but my M977 is still waiting in its box...

Frenchy

there are a quite a few missing items from the kit but depends upon how much you want to do.

you will need to add the air brakes and the steering set up, plus the details in the cab. the wheels need to be replaced as they are rubbish (IMHO)

Blast models stock the PRO ART resin updates set
blast models

and check out accurate Armour for a set of wheels by MR models
MR wheels

heres a link that might help

HEMTT


HTH

keith forsyth

Thanks for the links Guys

I do see what you mean re the tyres , hmmm may have to get the credit card out again :-) :-) :-)


Ian

The Eduard set should be pretty helpful. You will see when you compare the kit to the real thing the details are there, but they are soft. The Eduard set will be very helpful there. The chassis is not that accurate but if you are not flipping it over then you are fine.

Don't use 70A as is. They actually are on the top side of the axles, not the undersides. And the front one should be above and behind the axle, not below and in front. You would be okay leaving them off entirely as they can not be seen, really.

The cab interior is equally soft and a little generic. I would leave the door closed unless you get an interior update (Pro-Art) as the seats and seat supports are aweful.

The pro art sets are excellent and strongly recommended even for a beginner as they are all resin and no photo etch.If you want them in the UK, Ian Hanratty at friendship models stocks them and offers a very good service.I've just placed an order with him and one of the items was out of stock,he ordered it from pro art and had it sent direct to me,I had received it within a week.
Excellent service.

Once again thanks for the heads up everyone , I will definately replace the wheels. However as to the cab interior, I will have to see how funds are going or atlernatively I will study some photo's of the real thing and maybe even do some scratchbuilding


Ian

Hi, attention MR wheels is very bad, Eduard sets is super. I build this time M977 and next weeki make of photos on this forum.
Bulivyf

Thanks Miloslav

So you would recomend the Pro-Art wheels over the MR wheels ?


Ian

Hi,
I still not look in nature Pro Art wheels(in photo is good).
I have all next wheels for HEMTT.
MR - bad no corect wheel and no corect and very big tyre.
TW - very good, but small wheel disc, but tyre is good.
Nimix - bad
Hobby Fan - all good, but narrow.
Real Model - Michelin is good 70% new rebuild Good Year(old type) is very good
Wheels for HEMTT is 16 inch x 20 inch = 1/35 width 11,6mm(only tyre sample), diameter 37,7mm(new tyre).
i receive aal sets from Pro Art, but i think that is some is unnecessary.
Eduard interier set is very very realistic and exterier set for M978 is the same.
From Pro art crane (this is necessary), fuel pump (this is necessary).
Real model prepare engine with transmission, new front mudguard and some detail, whis missing or is bad on other sets (transmission Pro Art is copy Italery, but HEMTT transmission is Automatic, Italeri kit is good type, but bad model).
(sorry me english)
Bulivyf

Thanks Miloslav

The wheels will be my final purchase so I have a few weeks to decide on which set to use(probably the Pro-Art set ).

I have the Eduard PE set and will also be adding a few scratchbuilt items , both on the exterior and interior. I have some great reference photo's and will be constantly refering to them.

I am going to have to use the kit supplied crane but will be adding details such as the hydraulic piping and electrical wiring


Ian

For more detail look on
http://www.tpub.com/content/trucks10ton/TM-9-2320-279-24P-1/index.htm

Thanks again Miloslav

Those diagrams will be of great use


Ian