I pretty much have completed initial construction and the conversion.

Here is the overall frame with scratched work platform made out of 45 degree angle and sheet styrene for the frame and PE from the M983 HEMTT tractor kit. I also used some of the fittings and lights from that kit as well.

I made the step ladder and hand holds from styrene rod.

I repurposed a truck transmission from something as an engine blank since you can see the emptiness from the rear. I also added the air intake tube from the air cleaner into the engine compartment. I will add some more hoses and wires later to fill it up more as well.

I added the steering gearbox and linkages on the driver’s side, along with air brakes front and rear. The front were on a sprue ordered from Trumpeter out of the M983 kit. The rear are ones that were 3D printed from Shapeways.

The 5th wheel is from the M915 kit, with a scratch base. It was left over from my M920 build where I used the larger M983 5th wheel. The ramps are from the M983 kit.

I found a better picture showing the rear lights and mud flap setup. I modified them using lights from an Italeri M923 load bed and the boxes from the kit lights. The mud flaps are from a Trumpeter M1120 sprue that will be used in a future M987 HEMTT Fueler build.

On the cab I added the grab handles inside and out from copper wire supplied in the Legend update set.

I hope to get some paint on it and the M1062 trailer this weekend. More then.

Thanks.  I hope to have another update soon.

It definitely looks fun!

Thanks gents.  It has been fun so far.

I don't know about the details but what you've got looks great! Looking forward to more. 

I do have to say!

        This job is exciting. What you are doing is great!

Always fun to watch your nagic shows.

Thanks Stik. You know I like to add a bunch of detail, most of which will be unseen when done, but I know it is all there.

This will be a good one to follow, watching your usual detailing improvements. Everything is looking great so far. 

Thanks lurch.

Thats looking great. I like the details you have added. 

Thanks Duster.  It has been fun so far.

Work continues on the M1088A1.

I have pretty much completed the basic frame. The front wheels are steerable. I will add the steering gear box and linkages and be gluing them in a turned position. I added the lift rings in the middle part of the rear frame from sheet styrene and some sliced hex rod for the bolts.  I still need to add air brake cylinders front and rear as well.

This is the Legend update set front bumper, with the kit lights and turn signals added.

Here is the front of the cab with the Legend grill piece added. It has a really nice Stewart & Stevenson logo in PE.

On the cab interior, I added the support across the rear of the cab roof from a piece of PE from the Legend set.

I also added the support structure for the gun ring on the inner roof from styrene sheet and strips. The PE sun visors are from the kit.

I built up the cab interior using the Pro Art dash and detail pieces. They look pretty nice. The dash is much better than the kit part. The storage boxes and gunner’s floor plate, along with the padding on the sides of the engine tunnel are nice too. There are very nice seats in this set that will be added later as well.

These are the Pro Art doors with handle details added inside (left) and outside (right). The new outside door pull is from the Legend update set.

Lastly is the air cleaner with a couple added pieces from Legend.

Next up is to get started on the 5th wheel, work platform and other tractor-specific parts.

That looks fine! Thanks for answering my question Gino.  

The slight difference in size is not an issue.  I have combined a 1/35 tractor with a 1/32 trailer before without issue.

A couple examples.

Whoa, very cool! Looking forward to seeing how you modify the kit. 

I'm curious about the difference between the 1/35th of this kit and the 1/32nd trailer. Are you going to hitch them up? Looking forward also to seeing how you match them up. 

I have never been in a transpo unit, but based on other units I have been in, I would guess two guys.  A SGT or SPC as TC and a PFC as driver.

Been a while (a long great while, really) since I spent any time around the Trains. 

Would they sent three or just two E4 with a road trailer of fuel?  Or,  perhaps two E4 and an E3:
Driver attached to Truck
Hose puller assigned to Fuel
And SGT to supervise the mafia?

Looks a great start on the 5 ton.

Thanks Brandon.  I like to make subjects that are not readily available in kit form.  

It is so cool to do conversions like this. I love watching the change in the look of the rig to something different that you just can't grab a kit for and build. Looking forward to watching this.

BK

Thanks gents.  I do like to make them a little different.  

Yeah, that's the kind of a project that I like!

Great subject, hope to see it soon.