Oh yeah - that's the kind of project I like! Good luck with it and have a nice day!

Paweł

Thanks Pawel. I am enjoying it. It is my kind of build: big truck with lots of kit-bashing and scratch work.

HeavyArty, this is a project that I can sink my teeth into!  The HEMTT truck are made right here in my hometown of Oshkosh, WI along with the MRAP and others.  They're always test driving them around our town so it's great to get some up close looks at them.  I've always wanted to build a model of each of the vehicles that the Oshkosh Corp. makes for the armed services.  I've slowly started colecting the various kits and hope to get started soon.  I'll be following your build closely.

TJS

Thanks Tom. Good luck on your Oshkosh builds as well. Sounds like you have lots of references riding around town too.

That's super cool Gino! Neat to have all the extra information to superdetail the kit- I'm lucky to finish one right outta the box. Looking forward to more! 

Thanks Gamera. I also enjoy doing the research and digging for that extra info. I am a bit of a book (well interwebs these days) worm.

I currently have the m983 and patriot launcher waiting for paint when the weather warms up. I'm gonna tag along to see how you paint the interior.

If you just can't wait as it will be a while before I get to that point, here is an M1074 PLS I did a few years ago that you can take a look at the interior on.  I also used the Trumpeter M983 as a starting point.

https://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/3/p/172589/1917614.aspx

Work on the M985 continues. I basically have the rolling chassis done. I added the fuel tank, BII box next to it, and battery box on the opposite side from the M1120 sprue. They are more detailed than what comes in the M983A2 kit.

On the rear, I added the stabilizing legs for the crane. I extended them by cutting off the outer leg sections and adding the telescoping square tubes out of square stock styrene.

I also added some additional details to the rear crane. The actual crane boom has three sections that telescope out to give it more reach. Italeri molds it with the second section fully in, and the third section extended. To make the full three sections workable, I followed Michael “165thspc” Koenig’s recent article on “Detailing that Italeri HEMTT Crane”.

I added the second section and filled in the underside gap. I added holes on the mount and a square section of tubing as a rest for the upper crane. I also added new, longer actuating levers on the control panel. Next up is adding some hydraulic lines.

I have also completed the cargo bed. I added the foot holds for the rocket pods from 45 degree angle iron styrene, and added the tie-down loops from styrene rod.

I also completed the engine cover with radiator, which will be added after the engine is painted, and the muffler assembly.

Next up is the cab. It is very detailed in and out.

That's awesome Gino!

Hope you put a mirror under her so people can see all the extra work you put into the chassis!

Thanks Gamera.  It has been a fun build so far.

Wow, quite the project!  Looking good so far.  What scale is this?

Thanks keavdog.  It is 1/35.

I have added all the hydraulic hoses on the crane. There are quite a few. I used 0.20 styrene rod for the fixed ones, and thin wire for the movable ones.

I also finished the construction on the cab interior.

The truck is pretty much done with construction. I need to start painting it next. The subassemblies need to be painted, then assembled, and interior decals and details added. For now, I will set it aside though.

I have moved on to the trailer. A while ago, someone on Armorama (sorry, I can’t remember who it was) was selling a started M985 w/M989 HEMAT and M26 launch pods. It went too fast and I missed it at the time. I was able to buy the M989 and launch pods from the guy who bought it at the time, thanks Brett.

I have taken the started trailer and added to it. It was only the load bed, tongue and light details started, along w/the sides of the bed (I removed the sides).

I added the frame underneath from C-channel styrene. I also added a left over spare trailer tire mount from the M983 kit. The trailer spare sits on the work platform on the truck.

I will be using modified springs left over from a HEMTT and rods for the suspension. The tires will be the Def Model tires for the PATRIOT trailer. They look right to me and are the correct size. I will be using pieces cut from the container in the M915 kit for the sides of the bed. They have the correct corrugated look and are the exact length needed.

More to come in a couple weeks. I’ll be on vacation next week; going to meet my new grand daughter (GD#2).

Amazing work on this beasty. She's gonna take up some realistate when complete.

BK

Thanks Brandon.  Yup, it's big with both the truck and trailer combo.

Nice work on the monster! And happy vacation. It's good to spend time with the kids, none of my own but it seems like yesterday my nephews were ten or so years old and they just graduated high school... 

I agree, it is looking very good and will up to your usual high standards. Can't wait to see the finished product.

Thanks gents.  I am enjoying this one.  The new granddaughter is beautiful too!

Hello Gino!

Congratulations on the granddaughter (more important) and the model (still very cool, too!). As the various kit show this truck isn't as easy to model as some might think.

One thing that amazed me for years was how crappy the Italeri HEMTT was and how none of the reviewers ever mentioned it...

And now for years there is the newer version of HEMTT with air ride - does anybody make a model of that variant?

Thanks for sharing, good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

Thanks Pawel.  The HEMTT is fun to model and can be super-detailed if you want to.  It leaves a lot to be improved.  

Pawel

And now for years there is the newer version of HEMTT with air ride - does anybody make a model of that variant?

That is the A4 version and unfortunately, has not been offered in kit form. 

However, you can piece one together from parts at Shapeways.  It is mainly a different engine compartment layout...

https://www.shapeways.com/product/MBGBHJNG8/1-35-scale-hemtt-a4-piggy-back?optionId=67304373&li=marketplace

...and the new pneumatic suspension units, x4.

https://www.shapeways.com/product/A8DYSRFNT/1-35-scale-hemtt-a4-suspension-kit-ad-130?optionId=119151122&li=marketplace

The cab is also longer and would need an extension at the back, like I did on my M1074A1 PLS.

Work on the M989 HEMAT continues.

I added the NATO tail lights to the rear and a few more reflectors (2 clear ones to the rear and two more on the front).

IMG_1935480×640 34.1 KB

I also completed the suspension. My original plan to use HEMTT springs didn’t work out as they were too short and didn’t give the right spacing between the wheels. Meng came to the rescue again. On the two M911 sprues, there were springs for the front axle. I used both sets to make up the HEMAT suspension, along with some scratch-building of the mounts and styrene tubing for the axles.

On the topside, I added the footholds for the rocket pods and some tie-down rings from a 3D printed set from Shapeways.

I also built the side panels out of the side pieces from the 40’ container in the Trumpeter M915 kit. The ones on the left show the inside details and the ones on the right show the outside details.

Next up is to assemble the side pieces (one side down for loading) and finish the hinge and latch details on them. Then it is onto the tongue, hitch, and landing leg.

This one is getting close to being built and moving on to painting.

Looks awesome Gino!

I've been loathe to commit to some big projects like ships but looks like you're doing a simular amount of work here!

Thanks Gamera. Yup, you can always make any project bigger than you expected once you start adding details..and more details...and so and so on....

I have finished building the HEMAT.

I added the side panels and the hinges for them, along with pins holding them together and four tiedown loops for a canvas on each panel from thin wire, bent into an upside down J.

IMG_1939480×640 38.6 KB

Here it is with the one side taped on to show the side panels down.

Then I moved onto the front with the BII box cover on top of the tongue and the landing leg. The leg is a couple different sizes of square tubing and sheet and rod styrene and a left over piece of PE runner for a holder for the handle arm. I also made the lunette ring out of thick solder, wrapped around a paint brush handle to get a good round shape.

I also built the MLRS rocket pods, all eight of them. I added the transport feet from thick styrene bar. This is only four.

You may see that one of the above has a device used to connect the hoist hook to. I built this from a piece of sheet styrene, a piece of angle iron, and a couple hooks from the Dragon kit LLM hoist. The issue with this is that the plastic pods are not balanced and dip in the front when suspended.

To fix this, I added 8 grams of lead fishing weight, flattened out, to the underside rear of the pod.

Pretty closely balanced; good enough for government work.

Here is a mockup of how it will look.

Next up is the paint booth.

I added a few more details to the stabilizing legs for the crane tonight. I had a couple of base plates left over from a PE set and added them, along with scratch-built pin supports to attach them to the legs.

Looks great Gino, she's really coming along well. 

Thanks Gamera.

I have completed the cab interior painting and detailing. I mostly used the kit decals for the cab, which there are a lot of. I added a couple waring and general placards, but only a few. The kit is very detailed inside the cab.

The only thing I added is a resin SINCGARS ASIP radio mount and handset. The kit comes with a radio mount, but I am not sure what radio it is supposed to be. It kind of looks like a SINCGARS mount, but not really. That is why I switched it. The speaker box comes in the kit. I fully wired the radio parts as well w/ 0.015 fuse wire.

The kit also included placards for the driver’s door and a serial number that goes inside both doors. Here are the completed door interiors.

I also completed the engine. I added some wires/hoses to give it some extra details. Most of it will not be seen, but I know it is all there. You mainly only see the back side of the engine since I left the side access covers closed on this one.

Next up is overall paint color. Hopefully I will get them into the paint booth this week.