The Calm Before the Storm ...

modelchasm wrote:

Check ebay .... I think I remember seeing a couple of the Czech HMMWV crew sets there. As far as my guys go ... I'm planning on about 12-15 guy standing out in front of the trucks. I'm still not sure if I want to go with the group standing in a circle getting a briefing or if its going to be the "camera shot" before the roll type setting. I think that the one thing that's going to be the challenge for me on this build is that I wasnt most of the guys to have there helmets off ... and I've never really done hair .... Hmmm.....

where on ebay??? i've looked and looked??? (i think u saw the verlinden crew...not sure though). and as far as hair...1:35 doesnt have to be perfect!!

Instead of just under "military" kits, search Nemrod under "models & kits".

I'll look too.....

Yeah, I thought I say them. Check out a seller by the name of "modeldetailer" and here's the auction numbers...

360038328505

..... and.....

150231555822

Hope that helps. Might be a "little" expensive ... but there's the rub, brother!

no, that's the nemrod ones...and im not to interested in those...no offense...just not what im looking 4. this is the czech masters one im trying to get ahold of...i could get it from europe but at like $50. not sure what im gonna do just yet!!

as u can see this one would be perfect. driver....passenger...and gunner!!

Ooo... that's my fault. I remember reading CM and for some reason just ran with Nemrod ....

Are you looking at the CM website? The only other place that I know of that ALWAYS has a nice size selection, and they're still overseas, is Hannant's. That place has massive stock, but I don't remember CM figures. For 50 bones, those MF's better be brand-spankin' new figures!

Other than the Nemrod kits, this one from CM, and the crappy figures that come with the Tam kit ... I can't really think of any other HMMWV crew out there. However, I do agree that this one from CM is pretty nice.

I see that I'm going to have to be dilligent with my updates IOT to keep your "chatter" to a minimum! HAHA!!! Just kidding.

I'm working on the 2nd truck's turret shield right now. This thing is almost completely scratched and its kickin' my butt!!! Well, its just taking forever...

I'm going to stay up late tonight just so I can get it done ...

Well, camo .... here's your *** UPDATE ***.

I wanted to get more done with the turret #2 as I'm leaving town for a couple fo days, but this will have to do. Plus, I kinda have my process down now, so it'll go fast once I get back.

I actually started out w/ the shield, building it from a scrap piece of metal from an old computer disc. The thickness was just about right. I cut it to shape and got to work. The rest of the framing was make from styrene strips, and the glass pieces are actually the window pieces from the Tam 1025 kit. I'm planning on using 1/8" plexiglass for the doors, so it freed these pieces up. The 1/8" plexi just didn't look right for the shield glass.

Here, you see the difference in the angle as compared to the turret 1.

... now with complete framing ...

... with the .50 installed (I still have some PE work to do on the 50) ...

I used a long pin to connect the cradle mount, the ring mount and the shield mount ... gives it a lot of strength too.

Then I started in on the turret itself, using sheet styrene and channel for the construction. You can see I how I plan to install the armored windows after painting. I'll finish off the top of the windows with another channel piece after installation.

Thanks for all the encouragement. All comments welcome. See you guy next week.

ENJOY!!!

yeah, u can get some at home depot there chris!

very nicely done model. that takes some talent and knowhow so my hats off to you sir! i'l save all the ooooo's and aaaaaahhhhh's for when its completed!

Thanks guys. Camo is right on. HD has the 1/8" plexi in like 8.5x11 sheets. Should last me quite awhile. I'm only using 1.5cm sq pieces at a time!

Next, I'm looking at tackling an IBIS bumper. I'm only going to build one though ... again, just to make the trucks look different. I'm hoping to work on it a little before I take off.

I'll more than likely start working on the getting the truck 2 up to speed next week. There's going to be so many sub assembles to this thing once its really for paint that even after paint it'll be like putting a whole 'nother kit together!

Anyway, thanks for following this one ...

***UPDATE .... kinda ***

I've completed the 2nd turret and I'm happy with the way it turned out. The only addition to note of (not shown in the pictures) is that I cut and glued a piece of mesh for the anti-sniper/ sun cover on the turret.

Other than that ... enjoy!

Now, I'm off to try my hand at scratching the IBIS bumper. Thank GOODNESS I've only got one of those to do!

looking sweet. cant wait to see it completed!

HAHA! .... you and me both! Hey, maybe we could combine our dios to make one HUGE one!!!

... or not.

Before I get started with this one .... Camo, did you ever find those Czech HMMWV figures you were looking for? Just curious. The more I look at them, the more I like'm! Anyway ....

***UPDATE***

It took me a little bit, but I was finally able to sit back and get the IbisTek bumper scratched. It wasn't that it was hard to do, pretty straight forward. Its just that there was SO much to measure and re-measure ... small cut here and there ... file a little .... etc, etc. But, I think that it looks good and its the only one I'm going to do. Not every truck had them, so I'm only doing one.

Here's where I started. Just sheet styrene pieces. I used some styrene I-beam to give the bumper a little structure and strength as its going to be holding the RHINO anti-IED system to the truck after its all said and done. For the bars, I simply used styrene rod heated and bent over a lighter. Pretty easy and straight forward. The little blocks in the front are actually rubber bumper ... uh .... bumper pieces in real life. I used styrene square tubing that I had to make those. However, since the real-life blocks are solid with bolt holes in the front, I used glob of putty on a post-it note for filler. I just took the square tube piece, cut to length, then smooshed into the putty to fill it and give it the smooth look on top and bottom. No sanding needed. After it was all dry, I glued them on, and then drilled small holes for the bolt holes. The two holes in the front of the bumper are actually a mistake. I was getting ready to drill/ file out the opening in the front for the winch cable, but since this is going to be covered by the RHINO I didn't need it ... but it was already drilled out ... oh well.

IOT mount it to the truck, I used straight pins cut to length. I drill holes into the front resin piece and matched everything up. The pin heads give it a good bolted on look as well as strength. Don't think this will be coming off any time soon.

Enjoy! And as always, any C&C is more than welcome.

yeah, i figured you would (like the figures). no, and even if i buy them from cmk...almost $40 with shipping!!! (once they're back in stock). may just use the tamiya driver and make my own gunner...!

anyway, is that thing a bumper or a battering ram??? needs some spikes on it to be like the mad max movies!!

Those IBIS bumpers are crazy ... I'm telling ya. Not much stands up to them, but with anything, you can't abuse them TOO much or they start to break mounting bolts and bending the points at the frame where they attach. Other than that ... yea, its like owning a battering ram for a year and you know you don't have to drive it after that, so who gives a f*ck right! Smash away!!!

(DISCLAIMER: The above statement neither confirms or denys actions taken ... or not taken ... by any individuals who may or may not be involved with this posting, scale model building, the US Army, or even life itself. Thank you for your time .... or not.)

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.....

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.

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.