The Calm Before the Storm ...

HOLY COW!!!! Has it REALLY been 5 months since I touched this last!?!?!

... maybe I'll glue on one piece today, but so I can break that "bad" streak ... HAHA!

I'll be getting back to this one soon enough ....

Thanks guys .... glad you like the progress. I'm planning on "shelving" this one for just a minute, as I want to concentrate on and finish my "mog" build. But ... knowing me, I'll probably still do a little work here and there ....

Thanks again for following .....

psstoff995 wrote:

Although after watching Chuck W over in the AC forums, I think this is a little underdone...

Of course you like his stuff better!?! He uses comic book characters that "talk" to you!

Not much of an update! I hadn't even seen both trucks the last time I remember...

Looks nice though, and heavy, if they're not scale weight at least they look it haha and I can't even see the ring thingers on the air filter thinger from the pictures, let alone the final painted build, so I don't know what you guys are talking about but I guess that means I'd hafta agree with camo about the crazy MC scratchbuild zone. Although after watching Chuck W over in the AC forums, I think this is a little underdone...

(I spelled thinger right, right?)

... you got me there ... That's the 1st truck. I think that I just got into building mode and just kept on truckin'. You should see the PE parts that I DIDN'T use! I expect to use even less on the 2nd truck. Its ok though. I've used numerous "spare" PE parts already in my other recent builds, to include "Sf quick build", "flash out", "on the hunt", my MH-6, etc. There's tons of buckles in the set to use wherever.

As far as the tires go, thanks, I appreciate it. But, I've got resin wheels already .... with the correct tread. I was just using the kit wheels to check the look. The only thing about the Resin wheels is that they're actually a little crappy. They're not designed quite right and w/o fixing, they stick out too far from the truck. As if there was a wheel spacer back there or something... I still haven't figured out a real good fix for it, but I'm working on it.

Thanks again for the offer, but I'm good. I'll be "smarter" about what details I add too. Thanks for watchin' out for me!

Not really too much of an update ... just wanted to post some pics of truck 2's progress. Gettin' right up there w/ truck 1. Shouldn't be too much longer before the interiors go to the booth for priming and painting...

Side-by-side ....

"Weighted" body sitting on the new frame to check spacing.

As always .... C&C's welcome. Thanks for following ....

camo junkie wrote:

its always a nice thing to do. it breaks it up and keeps ya from getting bored!

... and starting new kits, right!?!

Not really an update as far as you guys are concerned ...

But, I've been trying to play a little catch up on this one. I'm almost done with the suspension, frame, and body of the 2nd truck. This will bring me up to speed as far as getting the trucks up to the same point. Now, I should be able to make good time by scratching the same things in 2's. However, I may put the trucks aside for a bit and go forward with couple of figures just to change pace a bit.

modelchasm wrote:

HAHA! Don't make me resurrect my large-scale figure "midnight raid" dio! I'll do it!!! You know I will!!!! Thanks for stayin' "loyal" and following this one.

HAHA! Don't make me resurrect my large-scale figure "midnight raid" dio! I'll do it!!! You know I will!!!!

Thanks for stayin' "loyal" and following this one.

Hmmm .... scale weighted 1114's .... that's an idea, but by my calculations they would each weigh 514 lbs ... I don't think the next IPMS show would allow me in. Accurate, yes. Allowable, ... mmm, probably not.

I'm going to try to use about 15-20 figs for this one. On average, we rolled with about 18, so I'm shooting for around that. What's going to drive the real number is the number of "clean" casted figure combinations I can come up w/ from my stash. I'll be mixing and matching from about 4-5 different 1/35 modern figures. None of the figures have been started yet as, yes, I do want to take my time with them. They will all take a bit of doing each, as each one has to be modded individually. Most figs from the factory are modeled in some form of action movement. All my figs will be modeled "posing for the camera".

I'm still on the rail as to whether I want to model the whole dio "posing for the camera" or model the figs receiving a "slope" briefing from the hood.

Since this build is probably the least furtherest along than the others, its probably on the furtherest back burner as well. However, I'm getting ready to finish a side-build, so it'll bump up a spot....

psstoff995 wrote:

haha I know, sorry guys, I read all the updates in my email for the Forums I participate in, but I only get on the FSM website once or twice a week now to actually post. I think it was something like MCs dog ran into the table/got caught in some electric cords and knocked the figure over, MC said it looked like the poor guy dove on a grenade- parts everywhere and the fill putty cracked off, I think this was when he made that switch to his concoction of white flour and water and super glue???

oh...that's right. i remember that now! thanks chris.

Yeah you should post a picture of your dog- I'm still curious to see the culprit behind that mysterious SF Figure chest grenade incident that left him in shatters back in the day haha

Glad to hear you got that second PE set in, I'm sure these HMMWVs will be close to actual weight when your done  lol

How many figures were you planning for this one? And have you sidetracked yourself working on them yet? I know they mean way more than any old 1/35 piece of plastic, so I know you're taking your time with them.

I guess if I had a chioce I'd rather suck and than be a loser ... I think ....

But, since all you guys want are pictures ... I'll be sure and start posting at least one pic a day from now on. I think today, I'll start with posting a picture of my dog .... then tomorrow ....

So with Camo and Arkhunter telling me what a loser I am for not updating my posts, I figured I'd post a little on this one.

Well, I haven't really gotten too much accomplished on this one recently, but I did FINALLY get my second eduard's detail set for the second truck, so now its game on! Per my last post, I did start working a little on truck 2's doors ... but I only got one ... ok 1/2 of one done. I also worked a little on the HESCO barriers that I plan to use as the dio's back-stop. Just used regular wire mesh from Home Depot and strips from an old black t-shirt for the material that held the dirt in.

Hopefully, I'll be able to play a little catch-up on this one now that I've got the last detail set that I need in...

Will post pics when I get them loaded.

Thanks Chris,

In a way, scratching this much on armor or aircraft is much harder than on figures. W/ figs you can at least fudge folds, etc. Everything here has to be JUUUUUST right. The bars on the bumper were made by holding the rod just above the flame and waving it back and forth until the rod bent. Just let it sag 90 degrees under its own weight, help it along if needed, but be carful not to kink the bar where it bends. Think about how the real thing is made. Its bent in a roller press, so there are no kinks in the bend ... This should look the same way. That's why no jig or tool was used. The only thing that I used to help the bend was the round handle of a file, but only after the rod was cool enough not to imprint.

Glad you like'm thus far. I'm thinking of starting in on the doors for he second truck tomorrow. We'll see.

Honestly, they're really not all that heavy. The triangular pieces of the bumper are actually hollow for storage. Two people can easily pick it up. Besides, these things (the trucks) are loaded down with so much other stuff (a lot of it usless) it wouldn't matter.

Thanks for the compliments.....