Hey all, here is my first attempt at Italeri’s M977 HEMTT. I decided to dress it up by doing some scratch detailing using solder, wire, plastic rod and 0.13mm plastic card from Evergreen. My references came mostly from Prime Portal, On-line Training Manual while others are from doing a Goggle search and the new released book Armored / Gun Trucks Of The US Army In Iraq. The book is awesome, filled with large color photos of the many Gun Trucks in Iraq with excellent text. I will be ordering a set of resin shoes for her from Tanks Workshop. My plans are to add armor plates to the cab and box in the M66 gun ring mount. Not sure about the cargo box yet, still deciding. Thanks for looking! and comments and suggestions are welcomed.

Joe.





The next two show the panel cut from the roof using the back edge of a hobby knife.





Cab work.





Platform for gunner


Driver seat.


And fire extinguishers

Hi Joe, very good start.

i can't wait to see it progress. What an awesome looking truck!

Joe you never ciese to amaze me. I love your sratchbuilding methods. Totally awesome. You are the man!!!! That interior you're doing is just mind-boggling.

Nice progress Joe. Its really nice to see all the details you have added. The resin TWS wheels will be a nice addition also.

Looks like it is coming along great. This is one I will follow. Keep us posted.

WOW! It's hard to believe that you are using rod and sheet styrene--the detail is excellent. That looks as good as an AM photoetch or resin detail set. My hat is off to you!

Oh great. I remember you mentioning that you'd start this project. I like many, will continue to follow this. I am definitely am keeping a close eye as I eventually will want to build one of these.

Jeff

Many many thanks guys, I’m having a lot of fun with it. In fact I’m looking to inquire a few more. The book I mentioned up above inspired me as much as Ti’s “Charles” and Bulivyf “Miloslav” trucks. I really never did armor as I was afraid of not knowing much. But with a few books, on-line photos and questions to some members I gave it a shot. After this I will tackle a 1/35th Marine M60A1and will try and correct as much. I also have on hand the new Dragon M1A1 AIM kit…wow it is chalk full of parts. I won’t start it anytime soon as I need to understand it some more. Anyhow here are a few more photos of progress. Thanks again.













Cabin work,





Joe

This looks very good Joe. The interior is impressing.

Erik

Damn Joe, it's looking too good. I'm really impressed. Your builds are soo clean. Just beautiful. It's refreshing to see you work man. Thanks for this. I enjoy watching your builds. Keep going.

Wow the scratchbuilding work looks awesome! With the work you're doing on this build, you'll have no trouble with the AIM.

Todays update is the gunners mount and ring, and that some of the cammo was painted on. Later I plan on cutting out the armo plating and installing it on during the Craftsman NASCAR race in Texas.



The mount is loosely sitting on the frame,



Joe

HI

Looks really good so far. Goes to show just how basic Italeri kits are.

Think a nice rusty gun truck payload would look awesome in it.

Can't wait to see it completed.

Tom

Where did you get the ring? I didn't think that was in the kit. I also take it that you scratched the frame together?

This seems to be coming along great. Keep it going.

Jeff

Thanks guys, Jeff the ring came from the Italeri M923 Big Foot kit, and the frame was scartchbuilt with .080 X .080 and .040 x .040 Evergreen strips.

Joe

Looking great Joe I too got my gun ring from the Big Foot kit. I had bought so many of these kits just to use the parts and the ring was one of those that got used

Again Joe. Great job.

Ok, just about finished. Pretty much left to do is all the nickel and dime stuff What these photos will show is some of the work that was done to the crane, out rigger jacking posts, and the added on armor plating.

For the crane, well just added wires and cables. Added in a homemade snatch block. Again references are from Prime Portal.





On the out rigger leveling posts, I cut the pads of and installed them in the cranes base. Added were the connection pins and cables. I rounded the base of the posts and painted in stainless steel.





The steel plates were made from 0.25mm plastic card. First were painted in Tamiya red brown, then a wet base of red brown pastels was applied. Once dry a dry orangey pastel was brushed on and the very light coats of hair spray was coated over it to help seal in the chalk.



And two odd ball shots,





Joe

Looks great Joe. Can't wait to see this one finished.

Very nice. I like the windshield, especially on the driver's side. The streaks look great.

Bob

awesome work! Looks like the ones I see here on Anaconda!

Thanks guys
Ok, now I'm at the point where I'm going to screw this up. See I rearly do armor, and the weathering is going to kill me. I have everything painted now it time to wash, drybrush, weather and all that good stuff. I mostly do aircraft...is this prosess the same way. I've seen members here do some awesome weather on modern AFV's, and convincing results even with the tires. Can someone guild me here or even point me to a good article before I mess this up.

Joe

@Matt...Would you have a few photos of them, I'd like to see some with gear and such at thier natural state.

Amazing job, Joe!!!

How did you make the windshield streaks? They like so real!!!!

Keep us update.

Bye,

Marcelo

Fantastic job Joe. Then again, it's your trade mark to make beautiful builds. I too would like to know how you made the wiper marks. Keep it going.

Thanks guys:-H,
Charles, Marcelo and Robert, the window streaks were do by laying out the wiper pattern. Then using a thinned down Tamiya Buff, I took a Q-tip dipped into the thinned paint and rolled onto window. You don't want it to wet...enough to stay on to the plastic. Once dry I took a clean Q-tip and wiped down the window, and oh yeah while leaving on the wiper masking. If you mess up just totaly wipe down and start over to you get the effect your looking for.

Joe