Thanks Gamera.  It's not done yet, but will be once I get the new PE.  That is a picture of an M983A2 I did a while ago (2016?). 

I too get clogged openings in PE mesh.  I use a needle to "pop" them before it dries.  It usually works, unless the mesh is very fine, then you try to open as many as possible, but I still get some clogged areas.  You can open small ones once dried using a fine needle too.

Thanks, using a needle is a great idea. 

I generally shut off the paint supply to the airbrush by rocking the needle forward and then blowing the air without paint though the mesh. It cleans some of them but not always all of them. 

So, I have changed direction on this one again. It will now be an M978A4 Fueler, like this:

I started by cutting all the tractor parts off and cutting the frame just in front of the first rear wheel mount. I then added 30mm to stretch the frame to its full length. Another frame cross member added and a lengthened drive shaft and it is getting there.

Here it is so far with the fuel tank behind it.

Looks great Gino.  Interesting subject.  I wonder how the crew feels driving around all that fuel.  Hopefully they operate far behind the lines.

Hello Gino!

Now this is a surprising action twist! Could you write some more about why you decided to change plans like this?

Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

Thanks gents. 

As to why - my daughter wasn't set on having an M983, not her thing.  Also, I already did the M983A2 a few years ago and still have it, I really like the A4, and was planning on an M978 in the future and was thinking about making it an A4 anyways.  So, after all that, I went ahead and changed it.

HeavyArty

So, I have changed direction on this one again. It will now be an M978A4 Fueler, like this:

As long as you cleared it with the NCOIC of the Trains first

Looks spectacular right now.

Logisitics gets short shrift in both the real and the modeling world (I have suspicions the Spec4 Mafia is behind this, lest they have to do more work )

Without "beans. bullets, & band-aids" none of the pointy bits are very effective.

Thanks Capn.  Yup, cleared it through the 1SG first.

Construction is just about done on the fueler. I built the Pro Art pump compartment this weekend. It is very detailed and goes together well. I really like how it looks. It also includes pump handles and doors, not pictured.

You can see above as well as below, I switched out the marker lights molded on the kit parts, which were pretty weak on details, with 3D printed more modern ones from Michael @MikeyBugs Goldberg. They really add some details and are pretty much required for a modern A4 HEMTT, 18 lights in all added.

I also built the front steps out of the cut down kit step, some PE runners, chain, and left over PE treadplate. The actual ones are hinged and fold up if they hit an obstacle.

Here is the tank, along with the truck fuel tank and BII box on the left side. On the right side I added a winch and storage box, along with the battery box.

All mocked up to see how it will look overall. I really like it.

Up next is painting and detailing the pump compartment and then painting the whole truck.

Looks great Gino! Looking forward to seeing where the change of direction take you! 

It looks good. The Army is really getting some life out of the HEMTT family.

Thanks gents.  Yes, the lifespan of the HEMTT is getting extended out pretty far with the A4 version.  It is a great vehicle.

HeavyArty, your scratchbuilding work is amazing!  I live in Oshkosh,WI where these trucks are built and serviced so I see quite a few of them being test driven around town and I can say that your work is spot on.  Can't wait to see your next posting.

Thanks Tom.  Glad you like it.

Had the grandkids and kids here the last couple weeks, so not much modeling time. It was lots of fun though. They left last weekend and I got back to the M978A4.

I have completed the cab detail painting. I used kit and leftover decals for most of the details. The gauges are from a 1/32 aircraft instruments set.

I modified the Italeri seat base by adding a large spring under it to raise it a bit and made the two straps that allow it to move out of left over PE frets.

I also finished the pump compartment that goes on the rear. I painted it w/NATO Green overall, then picked out details with red, white, black, and aluminum. I added the gauges from another aircraft set and some date plates from leftover sheets.

Next up is to close it all up and paint it overall. I haven’t decided if it will be sand or NATO Camo. I am leaning toward sand as lining up the multi-colored stencils on the camo is a PITA. We shall see.

keavdog

I wonder how the crew feels driving around all that fuel. Hopefully they operate far behind the lines.

Not that different from hauling 8000 gallons of 87 octane from the tank farm to the local gas station around once a week.  And those drivers are surrounded by the idiots on our city streets and not some place safe like a battlefield.

"Behind the lines" is a bit relative, too.  The Trains are expected to keep up with the combat units on the advance.  ^You can't pull the armored units too far back from Forward Edge [of] Battle Area.  Or you use up tehir fuel getting back to Contact.

This is a complicated facet of Trains, since they also have to remain in contact with the main Supply/Logistics elements.

Amazing detail work!  I don't know a HEMTT from an APC, but I know quality workmanship.

Gary

Thanks CapnMac and GAF.  It has been a rewarding build so far.

She's coming along well Gino! Nice work. 

Thanks Gamera.  Its coming along.

I have just about completed the M978A4. I painted it with Krylon Ivory spray paint. I also used decals from the Italeri M978A2 kit, plus a lot of common stencils I made myself using computer decal paper.  All 8 wheels sit on the ground too!

Here it is so far.

Some detail shots.

I added a strap and Djiti Prod. ratchet strap mechanism to the spare tire mount.

In the back, I opened up the pump area and added a hose to the Pro Art dispensing handle and placed it in a drip pan.

You can also see the A4 suspension parts from the rear here.

Ew, may have to redo the rear light blackout lines here. Amazing what you see under a macro lens.

Next up is weathering.

Looks good, coming along nicely.

Thanks Rob.  It is almost there.

Loos good, I can almost smell the diesel, the old lube, and the hot metal.

Thanks Capn.  Yup, all the smells of a vehicle in the field are great, esp. those of the crew.  

Whoops, almost missed this update! Great job! Yeah, a little dirt and she's done! 

HeavyArty

vehicle in the field are great, esp. those of the crew.

Was reminded of that last Tuesday on a job site down in Houston with a number of excavators & bulldozers running--diesel, diesel exhaust, hydraulic oil, grease, cut soil and hot dust, crews working in 106°F heat--there's a "vibe" that resonates upon a peron's nose, if they have experience with it.

Olfactory nerves from nose have the shortest distance to the brain of any of the gross sensory nerves, which is why smells can be so distinctly evocative.

The M978A4 is done.

I weathered it with a couple earthy-brown colored washes and a sandy wash. I then dry-brushed selectively with a different sandy color. Lastly, I used Tamiya smoke for the spilled fuel and hydraulic fluid stains.

Here it is.

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Some close ups.

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I also added the cable for the self-recovery winch, along with a clevis at the end.

It was a fun and rewarding build. I really enjoyed it. Again, this build shows how you can combine parts from the excellent Trumpeter HEMMT kits with parts from the mediocre Italeri HEMMTs to get a really nice end product of just about any HEMTT version. I might just have another HEMTT idea waiting in the wings…we shall see.

Fantastic job Gino! Love how she turned out! 

Thanks Gamera.  I am happy with how it turned out as well.