The Desert Fever campaign has given me an opportunity to clear one kit from my stash, that has been there for the last 20+ years, a Italeri Dodge WC-54 Ambulance, and get me back into the hobby after a 8 year break. I intend to make an AFS (American Field Service) ambulance attached to the 2nd NZEF in North Africa.

the kit


Stage 1 the chassis



I replaced the kit wheel nuts and filled the sink holes in the bumper.

more later
cheers
David

Looks good so far Dave.
Don't forget to make up front door handles. Something the original manufacturer forgot to do. :-)

Looks good so far. Old kits like that really brings out the memories

Thanks for sharing

Sweet! Looking forward to seeing this "yellowed" :-) :-) :-)

Next update, I intend to keep the interior basic with not much showing, but even so those massive sink-holes in the front seats needed filling!



I also detailed the wheels

and the door handles!!

Sorry a bit on the dark side
The interior with a bit of paint on it



More to follow later, once I finish negotiations on ownership of the chair!!!


cheers
David

A small update



Door handles replaced/fitted and window winders replaced.

Grill thinned down a bit and pin marks removed.

cheers
David

Another small update. The body just about ready for a primer coat.


and set upon its wheels, it is starting to look like a WC-54


My plan is to paint it over all OD then over paint Desert Yellow, Vallejo 847 Dark Sand and try my hand at chipping

cheers
David

Wow you certainly brought out the best in this kit so far David.

Keep us posted!

Looks really slick mate

Which of the signs/markings are you going to paint and which are going to be decals? Are the red crosses in the decal set from the kit? They seem quite large for decals...

Cheers!

Hi all

The next update. One grey WC-54




The body work primed with Humbrol 64 Light Grey. Priming showed a few flaws that needed seeing to

Doors and grill, at this stage I'm planning on having a couple of doors ajar.

As for markings, they seem quite simple with AMERICAN FIELD SERVICE in black on both front doors and one back door, WD number on the bonnet (hood) and at the rear and CAUTION LEFT-HAND DRIVE NO SIGNALS on a rear door. As for those large red crosses, like the originals, mask and paint, hopefully it will work

cheers
David

Good progress and looks good

Looking forward to see it with some yellow paint on it

Hi All
A bit more progress with my AFS WC-54.

First paint it Olive Drab (yes I know the campaign is Paint it Yellow)


It's just like the real thing, first OD then over paint with Desert Yellow




The vehicle was over painted with Vallejo 847 Dark Sand. I fitted the windows prior to painting the Dark Sand and masked out the areas that will remain clear. So there will be some over spray on the windows.
It is starting to look like reasonable, on chassis and wheels



You can make out the masking on the last shot. I used masking tape to cover the area of the window screen wipers and extended the area with masking fluid and used just masking fluid on the side and rear windows. Hopefully this will work
I did a bit of experimenting with chipping with the salt technique luckily on an old test hull and not the WC-54 . I found that the salt stains the paint (Tamiya) and that that stain shows through the top coat of paint. So it's for chipping it's out with the 0000 paint brush, on with the high power magnifier and take something to steady the old hands
But first the a light coat of a light sand colour and then the markings, including those large Geneva crosses

Till next time
cheers
David

Looking good, David!

I really like the extra work you put into the wheels. They look great!


Cuhail

Hi all
Painting Geneva Crosses

Stage 1 Painting the white background. I used "American Military Camouflage and Markings 1939 - 1945" by Terence Wise as a my main reference for size and location of the markings


After painting the white squares on the rear doors, I realised that they were in the wrong location So I repainted the doors and relocated the squares closer to the hinges:


Stage 2 Painting the Red Cross

About 2 to 3 hours masking and 20 minutes painting
Then the unmasking



There is a bit of overspray and bleeding that needs cleaning up, but over all I am happy with the results

until next time
cheers
David

It looks very cool. Good job on the painted crosses.

The allies is going to need it when my DAK Tiger I enters the scene

Thanks for sharing

Hi all

Just a short update, in the process of shifting house But still managed to do a bit.

Markings. I kept it simple, just WD number (fictitious), "American Field Service" and "Caution Left-Hand Drive No Signals" all home made

First I gave the model and the markings two light coats of Klear (Future) and left to harden (24 hours). I applied the markings using Micro Set and Micro Sol, once dry (another 24 hours) I gave it another coat of Klear.




I am reasonably happy with the results so far, this is the first time that I have used Klear on a model
I am now plucking up courage to start the weathering process.

Till next time
Cheers
David

Looks really good. Good job on the decals.

It seems like the windows have gone very unclear? Is that so or is it just the lighting in the pictures?

Thanks for sharing - looking forward to see more

Great looking build David, its been ages since I saw one of these kits around anywhere, really is a blast from the past!
Am glad you got the ownership of your chair sorted, I have a similar problem with my computer chair...

Hi all

Another small update

Weathering Stage 1




Firstly I gave the whole thing a light dusting with a very thin mixture of Tamiya Deck Tan and Buff. I gave it a heavier coat on the lower body/chassis and the rear. Once dry the vehicle was given a thin wash with Vandyke Brown.

The next stage, I will try my hand at chipping

Jesper


I should of experimented with Klear (Future) before attacking the model Another lesson learned, hopefully

Mark


Negotiations were successful We now have a chair each Luckily it was just a case of rearrange the furniture to suit the cats

Till next time
cheers
David

David,
A minor thing but the window cranks should be more on the hinge edge of the front doors. Where you've placed them there was an armrest/doorpull.
In the late 60s-early 70s, we used one of these as our surf buggy on the San Clemente California coast.
Original inside and out, paint too, but CHP (California Highway Patrol) made us paint over the red crosses. Lime green left over from a greenhouse.
I'm sure enjoying your build. Keep up the good work.

Hi all, again
twice in the same day

Thanks Don for the info:


I places the cranks as per the kit, should of checked looks like I'll keep the front doors closed.

Chipping
I was going to paint them on using a 0000 brush But then I read some posts that talked about using Scotch Brite pads. So this time I did experiment and came up with a method that works for me

Using a new sponge backed pad I cut off a strip about 6mm wide, I then cut off a number of small pieces at around the 3mm mark. (measurements were judged by eye and the 3 & 6mm are what it worked out to be). Holding the mini pad in a pair of locking tweezers I dipped the pad in the paint, Humbrol 161 US Marine Corps Green, then repeatedly pressed the pad into a paper towel to take of the majority of paint. When it got to the stage that it produced distinct small points of paint and large blobs, I gave it a couple more presses into the towel, before just lightly pressing the pad on the model slowly building up the chipped paint effect.
Now for the results.







Till next time
Cheers
David

Looks great with the chipping of the paint! A new method I have not heard about before.

This one will be one you can be proud of

Hi all

Like a fool I decided to experiment with washing the model with Acrylic paint Klear (Future) is very good at repelling water. I should have given it a flat coat first, yet another lesson learnt



Hopefully dry brushing and a light dust with pastels will tone in down it seemed to work on the wheels.

Before on the right and after on the left
So out with the tried and trusted Humbrol for dry brushing.

cheers till next time
David

Hi all

Finished at last
My entry in the Desert Fever Campaign a Dodge WC-54 Ambulance used by the American Field Service in North Africa.







In summary from this:

to this:


So it's hang up the yellow paint brush and on with Major Hirst's little car for the Best of British Campaign.

Cheers

David

Very nice David...I like the weathering. Not a big fan of chipping, but iyou did a good job.

Don't see many ambulances...

Paul