Alabama Slammer

[Kerick]

I’m definitely not buying this kit! I’ll build what I need no problem. Lots of material on hand that will work well for no additional cost. Out shopping with the wife so not any progress today.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

The Italeri Bigfoot tire are not even in the same galaxy compared to the real thing.

I often wonder if they do that on purpose just to irritate the modelers that are seeking ~100% accuracy in their modeling efforts. 

[Frank3k]

The Italeri Bigfoot tire are not even in the same galaxy compared to the real thing.

I often wonder if they do that on purpose just to irritate the modelers that are seeking ~100% accuracy in their modeling efforts.

To quote an MST3K episode about lazy creators:

"They just didn't care. They. Just. Didn't. Care"

I'll see if there's an STL out there of these tires. If not, I'll try to duplicate the pattern. I have a Bigfoot model that I just gave up on mainly because of the tires ...and the wood slats on the cargo floor (should be steel), among other shortcomings.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

@Frank - The wood slat issue is an easy fix with sand paper and the real truck bed has a weld seam across the width of the cargo bed located near the middle of the bed.  Also adding some dents and dimples to the surface will come close to what most military cargo truck beds look like. 

[Kerick]

I finally got home and commenced some building to clear my head. I got out some Plastruc shapes from the former computer drawer under my desk to see what I had. Some 1/8th inch rod for the horizontal pipes and some H column for the verticals. A little 1/16th inch rod for the side pieces. I managed to drill some nicely aligned holes to keep things square. That little 4V rechargeable screwdriver I picked up a Wally World work just right. I lined it all up for squareness on the lines of the cutting pad to glue. Its now resting comfortably under the lacquer thinner can to keep it flat while the glue dries. I'll have to make a C channel part to attach it to the bumper. I also built the winch so this will stick out quite a bit from the front end. The front suspension will get worn out quickly.  I'll trim off the side rods tomorrow. I'll probably paint it NATO black to set off the sand color of the truck.

[robunos]

Oh, this is excellent, looking forward to seeing it finished . . .

cheers,
Robin.

[Frank3k]

Pretty quick work! Don't make it too perfect, though!

@Jeff, I sanded down most of the wood pattern and filled in the gaps between the wood. it's just that the kit has so many issues and relatively poor quality that it's best to use it as a whiff or a parts donor.

[Kerick]

The thinner can did its job and everything came out nice and flat. I’ve added mounts and towing shackles. I’m working on the hull by cutting out where it fits over the cab. I’m also adding another hatch over the passenger side. I cut out the HMMWV window openings for the front. Sides are next. Pics of the tacked together rig soon.

[Kerick]

Here's the finished bull bars on steroids.



Here's the whole thing so far with a little silly putty to hold the wheels on.





I'm adding some plastic back above the hood. I got a little carried away. It was late, I was tired........
I'm also adding another hatch made from a road wheel above the passenger side. Why? because I can. The lid is in casting mode tonight.



The pencil lines on the sides are future cut outs for HMMWV side windows. Maybe a second one on each side if this goes well.
The white is boxing in for the missing cab doors. Plenty of busted M113s laying around.



Plenty of room for a platform on the back. I have some diamond plate around here somewhere.



I'll also box in the space where the tracks were. I'm also casting some storage box covers left over from the M41 builds. If I had something from a Soviet vehicle I'd use that but I've never built one, yet. So that's the latest. I'm going to see if my mold of the hatch cover and tool box covers worked out.

[Frank3k]

Wow, this is looking really good!

[Old Wombat]

Wow, this is looking really good!

Absolutely!

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Really nice so far.  Your intentions for the curb side access is a great idea.  A shame you do not have another M113 roof section to use as another driver's hatch in that location.  Stowage boxes under the hull to fill in the void left by removing the tracks is also a winning idea. 

[Kerick]

Thanks guys!

[apophenia]

This is turning into a bonzer build (said in best 'Crocodile Dundee' voice) 

...  Stowage boxes under the hull to fill in the void left by removing the tracks is also a winning idea.

What he said!

[Kerick]

The UV resin molds of the hatch cover and the stowage box doors came out well. I’ll make a couple more.

[Kerick]

Stowage boxes are done and in place. Just a bit of trimming to go. I’m looking at cutting off the rear part of the cargo bed to make the platform on the back. This will leave the tailgate for boarding the vehicle. Unless I cut out a part of the side to hinge down. I’ll have to check the hinges on the side. Maybe photos tonight. Right now my wife and I are back at the ER as when she was walking the dog she fell and damaged her ankle and ribs. Back to being chief cook and bottle washer, nurse, laundry, etc.

[Old Wombat]

Good grief! She can't take a trick, can she!

[Kerick]

Photo dump. Boxes look good. I glued a blue piece of sprue behind the parts to stiffen it up while I was handling them otherwise it would have fallen apart at the seams.









Tailgate end or front end, what do you guys think?

[Kerick]

I was going to put some diamond plate over the wood pattern on the floor of the bed but the pattern on the sheet I have is much too big. Time to go shopping again. Spent some time cleaning up the lockers and cutting out the side windows. I bought a set of saw blades with actual teeth that made short work of it. I used it in the dremel tool and it still melted more than it cut. I’ll try a regular drill next time to see if I get a cleaner cut. The hatch on the passenger side is drilled out and sanded smooth.

I think I’ll end up using the tailgate end of the bed. It just makes more sense. Either way I’ll have to make a ladder.

I’ll save the rest of the bed for the future and maybe make a trailer out of it. I should make a mold of the tailgate.

My wife had a follow-up appointment today. Turns out she has two broken ribs and a broken ankle. I’m ordering a bubble wrap suit for her.

[Buzzbomb]

Really like how the lockers came out.

A vehicle with a porch.. how civilised for afternoon drinkies 

[Kerick]

We make do with the things we have!😁

[Kerick]

I cut the bed to size for the rear platform. I may start calling it the veranda. Now I have two thirds of a truck bed left over. I'll make a cast of the tailgate for a spare and I've already built a new frame around the tailgate area on the left over portion. I'll use it for a trailer or something.
The veranda has enough room for the spare tire. I'll need a device to lift it off of there to the ground. I'm going to spray some Rustoleum Terra Cotta texture paint on a piece of sheet plastic for a rough surface to simulate the texture surface on vehicles. It works well if I don't spray too much color coat on it. This will cover up the wood plank surface the kit comes with. Then it's time for the boarding ladder.

[apophenia]

Your under-hull boxes look fantastic! 

... the rear platform. I may start calling it the veranda...

 

[Kerick]

Thanks!
I stopped at a local hobby and craft store and they had models at 40% off. I bought a 1/32nd scale truck trailer for the wheel set. I’ll use the box on some other project. I have to see if the wheels look right under the cut off truck bed. I’m going to spray some sand color paint soon.