Hello folks,

I've managed to find my Willys MB Jeep blog so I'll be resurrecting this one as it's been a part-built shelf queen for too long.

Following the sad demise of the Firefly (temporarily) this Tamiya Jeep will make for a nice relaxing little break!

I've got Andy Deafpanzers nice little Verlinden Resin Stowage set that he sent to me and some random kit too. I haven't touched this build since the photos above were last taken in April as I moved onto Andy's Panzer III GB to build a StuG then hit that Firefly so the photos above show exactly where I'm at now (everything is dryfitted btw).

I'll be interested to see what can be done with this little Jeep!

Ben

Hi guys,

After the recent disaster with my Firefly build, here is my continued Jeep blog as promised

I'll be building the Firefly again. A friend has the same kit and feels that he won't ever build it as he's going to be building a Tasca Firefly. It might be here tomorrow so that will be built between now and Christmas - thanks buddy!

So, I'm resurrecting this old blog from April. The first few photos below show it as it was when I opened the box today and the remaining photos show it post priming which I did today. It's looking really nice now and the build looks good in a suit of Grey Vallejo air brush Primer!

LENSES: Foolishly I fitted my headlight lenses during initial assembly and now they have all fogged up, I'm assuming it's the glue, and the lenses now look pretty rubbish so I've now popped them off to be sorted near the end of the build. I've looked through my spares tub and have two totally clear lenses minus any lens detail that are too big anyway (5.5mm) but there is one that is a perfect size (4mm approx) but again - totally clear without lens detail so not perfect unless I use mud or dust to cover it up a bit but regardless - I'm still one short.

HELP: I'll probably have to buy a set or re-use the fogged original ones but if anyone can spare a couple of proper 4mm lenses that are suitable for Jeep Headlights then I'd be super grateful, would cover any cost's incurred and of course my spares tub is yours!

I did have an issue with my ab and ab primer today:

You guys who use Vallejo ab primer - do you thin it with water? My airbrush finds it 'unforgiving' as it's very thick and gloopy unlike thinned paint and the primer builds up around the needle tip and the needle tip housing. If you do thin it DO you use water and if so, by what ratio? Mine was spattering so I turned it on light PSI and tried making light passes but it wasn't great so I used my trusty Mr Surfacer 1200 from the rattlecan, again sprayed lightly which worked just fine. I'm going to buy a new air brush on pay day so the one I have now will be a back-up air brush. I've cleaned it all down and it's fine now.

My current primers of choice - Mr Surfacer 1200 and different coloured Vallejo Air Brush Primers:

This is where I got to before today - sub assemblies (the RB Brass barrel is the only aftermarket item in use but I'm planning to use Dragon PE clamps for the tools):

So, that's where we are now. The plan is to paint all of these parts Olive Drab now then assemble - I'll give the engine a little detailed painting but the hood will be fixed closed as I'm going to scratch some 'T' latches.

I'm then going to brush paint all the other parts with Vallejo Colours - seats, gun, wheels, dash etc and then I'm going to add the detail that would have been put on in the field like a Piano wire cutter for the bumper and plenty of stowage - all this will be painted so it stands out nicely.

I've got some great photos, links to blogs and a genius magazine article to follow so I'm well prepared. The windows up front will be left until later at I need to mask of the areas where the wipers would cover the glass and add some muck/dust where they wouldn't.

• If anyone is able to help me with a couple of 4mm headlight lenses then that would be superb

I hope you enjoy the build - it looks like fun. If anyone has any helpful Jeep info then that would be great!

Btw, the Jeep is going to be built as a 7th Armoured Division, 814th Tank Destroyer Battalion Recon Company No. 22 (January 1945, Belgium)

Have a good week fellas,

Ben

Ben , its looking good ! Here's a good walk around video from youtube . some info i didnt know about . Like the hinged head lights .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRD-BhD7yio

Cheers Shell - Great video!

Depending on how my windshield ends up I might have to show some tubing in place for the wipers.

Thanks buddy,

Ben

Ben,

Don't give up the ship just yet on your original parts. Try dipping them in Future and see if that removes the fogging...sometimes you can restore clear parts that have fogged/crazed that way. It's worth a shot and you've got nothing to lose! Nice work so far, that MG barrel looks top notch!

After reading Bills response it reminded me to ask you what you used to attach the lenses ? If you dont mind me making a suggestion its best to use something like Krystal Klear (basically a water base white glue ) to attach clear parts . It dries clear and will not haze the plastic . If you dont like the results soak it in water and it will lift off .

About the Valejo primer , i've never used it but after some research i read that it is recommended straight from thr bottle ...............however i also read where Liquitex ( a fluid medium) will prevent it from clogging the airbrush .I havent looked to see who carries it .

Cheers Bill and Shell,

I'm pleased with the MG matey, it looks a treat.

I need to see how a new ab performs with this primer unthinned Shell - my current one hates it It's really gloopy compared to say, thinned acrylic paint.

The problem I have with the lenses is that they all got busted up and chipped when I prised them off so I'm going to have to sort new ones!

Cheers buddy,

Ben

Ben , sounds like you hit the lenses with that Mr. Surfacer . Is that a lacquer base primer ?

Looking real good primed Ben!  Still am big fan of Mr Surfacer... had my panzer primed last night but I guess I am still stubborn for using airbrush instead of rattle can.  Do you have any issue with the control of flow?

Looking forward to see it painted soon!

Ben: Looking good! Have the same kit and pulled it out last night and gave her a glance over for an idea I'm fermenting about a Korean War diorama.

If worse comes to worse stick half the broken pieces back in the head light and run two wires out the front like the light was shot out! 

Looks like it is coming along pretty well.  It may be too late, but you might want to rework the brake and clutch pedels.  There wasn't a large, central brake pedel like on modern cars.  Willys MBs had two, small, equally-sized pedels on either side of the steering column for the brake and clutch.

Hope this helps.

Hey guys,

GREAT PHOTO Arty! I've shuffled them blinkin' pedals around about 3 times now but the photos I had weren't the best. This is perfect and I shall adjust them to suit - these photos will really help with sorting the dashboard colours out!

Someone mentioned the lenses and them being primed over - no, I removed the lenses pre priming then lost them but have sourced new ones. When painting is finished I'll paint the reflectors Silver and then fit new lenses with a different glue that won't fog. No biggie!

Andy - my ab doesn't like the Grey eyedropper ab Vallejo Primer but the coloured stuff I have (red and white) seems to be much better. I stripped it down this morning and it was really gunged up good! That Mr Surface 1200 rattlecan is brilliant though and sit's lovely on metal - it took to that Brass 30cal barrel really well.

All I have to do now is to ab the basecoat and preshade lines then everything else will be brushpainted. I'm looking forward to that!

Update soon!

Take care fellas,

Ben

Ben , if you looked at that video i linked (my previouse post ) there is a good look at the dash and pedals arrangement about 2 minutes in .

I'll be watching that now - cheers Shell. A static photo to put next to your build is always a bonus mind you!

Thanks for all your help guys! APPRECIATED big time!

Ben

Hey guys,

WIP Update:

During my day off on Tuesday I got the Jeep sub-assemblies all together and went out to spray the basecoat Olive Drab.

I'd been having some problems with my ab lately (low flow/weak spray/compressor cutting out all the time) and on Tueday it was virtually unusable so I spoke to Expo Tools where I bought the original set up from and spoke to them about the problems. They said to send the compressor back and they would service and sort it out for a small nominal fee so I decided to actually order exactly the same set-up again as it was so good - and affordable!!!

Onto the MB Willys Jeep build: All of the sub assemblies have now been painted a basic Tamiya Olive Drab. I haven't done any pre-shading but instead plan to try some colour modulation using Tamiya 'Sky' which works REALLY well as a colour to lighten Olive Drab in stages - ideal for colour modulation or also for post shading/highlighting panels.

All sub assemblies are now painted (seats, wheel hubs, chassis, bonnet and windshield). The only other items are the top engine detail which has been airbrushed flat black and will look nice when drybrushed and the rubber on the tyres which will be brush painted using Vallejo Dark Rubber. That leaves the .30cal which will be painted a standard gun metal.

I'll be painting the rest of the build including the seats and stowage all with Vallejo paints and brushes. Lot's of light Khaki colours and dust effects.

Were the seats leather btw?

This is where we are now at:

The new air brush - it works a treat!

New ab gun and spare needle:

Thanks for looking in guys - now onto the fun stuff, I love brush painting!

Please feel free to make any suggestions and give any advice.

Many thanks,

Ben

Ben,

I'm not an expert on these things but pretty sure the seats were canvas covered and not leather judging by the way most finished builds are done and displayed. Good to see you've go the AB issues worked out and paint is flying!

Cheers fellas!

Ben

Another pic .

WOW!  Congrats with the new AB set.  Real cool looking one!  I am glad you like it! 

Nice process on the jeep!  Yep, guys here are correct about the seats.  I actually sat on one few weeks ago at a classic car show... of course this jeep has my vote among all of boring cars even my boys loved it. 

That's my two boys sitting on those seats we are talking about.  My nephew standing with a helmet.  

I have their catalogue and have been thinking of buying from them.

Which Air brush and Compressor did you buy...cheers....kenny

The one one page 4 of the 2012 catalogue.

Code AB602 (Compressor, moisture trap, airbrush, braided hose etc) for £109.95.

I bought a couple of spare needles too - £3 each.

Hope this helps!

Ben

Hiya Ben...missed this one 'til now.  Nice.   I know these aren't as sexy as 100 mm of sloped armor plate but they are cool and not built often enough.

Hey Wingy,

I thought it would make a change - I'm wanting to build a few Allied pieces so thought this would make a nice start. I started assembly a fair while back but had to interrupt it to finish other builds.

I'll be finishing it this time and when the airbrushing is done I'll be detail painting everything else with Vallejo and AK products and paintbrushes.

The basecoat OD came out very dark so I'm going to pre-shade a few lines this weekend around the bonnet and rims etc then lighten up the Tamiya OD base colour with some Tamiya Sky which does the trick perfectly.

Looking at the previous photos in the thread it needs to be lightened up a lot. Andy's photos in particular show a lot lighter finish.

I'm going to have a go at the figure and masking the windscreen to show where the wipers have been which looks tricky. I'll add some vacuum lines for the wpers too and some 'T' latches for the hood.

I'm hoping to make good progress this weekend now the airbrush is sorted!

Cheers buddy,

Ben

Looking good Ben!  Sometimes these little builds turn out to be almost as complicated as major size kits, but as long as its fun!!  

Question:  How detailed and accurate are the wheels for this kit?  I just happened to be doing my own parts research on Jeeps and, strangely, could not find one set of aftermarket wheels for Jeeps.  Not wheels w/snow chains, just plain standard wheels.

Ben: Nice work there and congrads on the new airbrush!

Cliff

just came across you're posts.

nice build . About  the headlights paint them . You see photo's with canvas covers, painted or

bare headlights.

I'm in suspense how the build turned out last post was 07.21.12