Alabama Slammer

[Kerick]

Here is my idea for this GB. This combo has been kicking around in my head since 2003 when during the invasion of Iraq the need for "hillybilly armor" was quickly discovered. While most soldiers were scrounging scrapyards full of busted Iraqi armor the mechanics deployed to Kuwait from Anniston Army Depot in Alabama on their own time were chopping up a five ton truck and a no longer serviceable M113. Now some may recall a gun truck from Vietnam with an M113 in the bed which had a regular cab on it. This would have left the driver and passenger exposed. In this case, the M113 was cut open and placed over where the cab used to be. The engine opening was plated over with aluminum and bullet proof HUMVEE windows cut in. This part is true and I have the pics to prove it.













This constitutes the research portion of tonight's show. I'll try to find the article I read about it but no promises. These pics are all I've ever found about it. Apparently, it never got farther than this point in favor of the MRAP trucks. My desire is to show what it might have looked like thundering (or lumbering, as the case may be) down the road to and from Bahgdad. The article pointed out that the ideal Slammer would have been on a later model truck frame, which is what I have here. I'll include an ACAV shield for the .50 cal and probably some other guns on the sides. In the photos you can see the vents for the engine compartment but I will close them up. The drivers and TC hatch will remain. The rear door will remain with some sort of ladder to get in and out. As I recall, this was built on a dump truck frame which was a little shorter but the kit I have is the regular cargo truck frame which might leave some room for a proper porch. Maybe something like an old time passenger train car. The M113 kit give a full interior of which I won't use many of the parts so extra bashing parts for later!
Here is the required by law photo of the kits involved.



Hopefully I won't get too involved in advanced modeler's syndrome as I'm a month behind already.

EDIT: Here's a link with the same pics if you like.
https://forum.finescale.com/t/crazy-concepts-from-kuwait/180586

[Buzzbomb]

Off the charts coolness with this plan 

[raafif]

A bigger gun (20mm-30mm) & maybe a couple of firing ports in the side ?  More work but possibly another gutted M-113 towed behind as a personnel trailer ?

[Robomog]

I'm not a treadhead, but this sounds interesting 

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Kerick]

The Academy M113 kit includes two .05 cals but they are both terrible. Fortunately I have a few better ones laying around. I need lots of ammo cans.

[Kerick]

I managed to glue together the truck frame tonight. A quick test fit shows there will be lots of room behind the M113 hull for a porch unless I shorten the frame. IIRC the original Slammer was built on a semi tractor frame or dump truck frame so was shorter than the cargo truck that comes in the Italeri kit. I put together the wheels too. The wheel rim halves don’t match up very well and I’m not sure what to do with that. Maybe some custom wheel covers to hide them.

[Frank3k]

Great project! I have the Bigfoot version of the kit - the chassis is pretty easy to shorten - just make sure the cuts are even on both sides! Phill mentioned on Whatif that the wheels suck - they do; it seems that they're pretty band on the regular version as well.

[Kerick]

I’m planning on sanding the centerlines of the tires and maybe make a flat spot to show weight. If that doesn’t work out then I’ll look for aftermarket wheels. I do need to find a radio set. This build will have more of the interior visible so seats and such will all be required.
Thanks for all the positive vibes!

[Kerick]

Here's a pic of the rear wheels. One of these is the outside wheel but the instructions are unclear.



The center hub is slightly larger than the other but otherwise are identical. Anybody out there build this kit and have this figured out? I'd like to get this right and not have the wheels too far out or too far in. Then there is the ridiculous mismatch between the two halves of the rim. I'll try to fill and sand that as best I can on the outside wheel and never mind the inside wheel. These wheels really do suck but the price of resin is totally insane. A die cast toy has better wheels than this. Otherwise things are coming together. I'll start on the back axles next. Maybe that will help get this wheel situation figured out.

[Frank3k]

I think one set is for the inner pair of the rear tires (or outer pair).

[Kerick]

One is the inside wheel and the other is the outside but I can’t tell which is which.

[Frank3k]

I looked at the big foot version and the rear ones are the deeper ones with the bolts at the bottom. The front tires have the bolts closer to the tire surface.

[Kerick]

I built the rear axles last night. Test fitting the wheels showed that the wheel with the longer hub is the inside dual so that the rim clears the springs. Not by much but better than the other way around. Problem solved! 

[Kerick]

I've gotten a little progress on the Slammer. I shortened the frame behind the rear axles by 1/2". This still leaves some room for a platform behind the M113 hull. I've been working on the wheels and have them sanded down to something that looks like a real tire. You can see the pic of the first four I did with the shortened frame behind them. I also added some thin spacers to bring the wheel out a little more as one was touching the springs.



The more I look at that jerry can holder on the battery box the more I think it's got to go. It's begging for a brass or thin plastic replacement. I've started on building the cab. It's mounted on the frame now so I can start working on the M113 hull cuts that fit around the dashboard and firewall. I have some plastic sheet that is the same thickness as the hull sides and roof so I cut and glued in some replacement for the engine grills and such. I'm probably going to box in the area where the tracks were for gear storage lockers. I'm looking at cutting a small part of the truck bed for the platform behind the hull. Now I have to fill all the little ejection pin holes on the inside of the bed sides and ends so they don't look silly. I guess someone thought the shelter box would hide them all. And then sand down the bed floor as the kit provides nice wood texture but the real truck beds are steel sheet. Question for when I get that far is whether to use the front of the bed with nice wood rails so no one falls off a moving truck or the rear part of the bed with the handy tailgate? Or figure out how to attach railings to the tailgate. I'm trying to remember if the 5 tons I saw had railings there or not. I was too busy looking at the .50 cal MG mounted on every vehicle in sight.
I'm debating whether to add another drivers hatch over the passenger's seat. It would be right where the engine grills used to be. There will be windows to see out of but you know how everyone likes to ride around with their head out in the breeze.

[Buzzbomb]

Forward progress is a good thing 

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Looking good so far. 

I wonder how the real builders of the Alabama Slammer addresses the rear ramp on the M113 hull.  Did they secure it permanently to the hull (weld it shut) or was it still able to free-fall open when released/unsecured? 

[Kerick]

That’s a good question! The only photos I’ve seen have the ramp shut.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

That’s a good question! The only photos I’ve seen have the ramp shut.

Same here. 

I always thought that it would be prudent in the case of the Alabama Slammer and similar that having that ramp at the rear with the option to drop might be a good idea to include something for it to rest upon when down.  Especially if they had planned to use it as a means of ingress/egress.  Maybe some ladder rungs welded to the inside of the ramp so that it could be accesses when down would be the solution.   

[Old Wombat]

Or use the personnel hatch for regular ingress/egress & leave the ramp for "emergency egress" (as in: "Oh, bugger! The tank's on fire!")

[Kerick]

I don’t think the mechanics got that far. What I’m building still has a longer frame so the ramp could only come down to a horizontal position. Looks like I’ll just go with the ramp shut and the door open. I'll have to come up with some sort of retractable boarding ladder. Don't want to make it too easy for someone unwanted to climb up on the vehicle. I don't think the ramp comes down fast enough to use in an emergency. Two or maybe three hatches to use on top so lots of exit choices. I found a random road wheel from the junk parts box that will make a perfect hatch over the passenger seat. I'll probably make a UV resin cast of the driver's hatch cover to use on the passenger side. Only one side will show anyway.
This one is on hold for a few days so I can get the M41 assault gun Badger and Weasel done. I've just GOT to get something off the desk and onto the display shelf!

[Jeffry Fontaine]

I don’t think the mechanics got that far. What I’m building still has a longer frame so the ramp could only come down to a horizontal position. Looks like I’ll just go with the ramp shut and the door open. Two or maybe three hatches to use on top so lots of exit choices. I found a random road wheel from the junk parts box that will make a perfect hatch over the passenger seat.

If you leave the frame/chassis as-is then you have a supported area for the ramp to rest upon when open.  Add on a step ladder at the edge of the ramp when open and you have easy enough access to the rear of the vehicle.  As for step-ladder sources that is a tough one.  The Italeri HEMMT Gun Truck includes two ladders for access to the cargo bed that might work but that means acquiring that kit for the parts.  A small wood ladder is available in the Tamiya WW2 German Tank Mechanic figure and accessory kit that has a lot of vintage tools, engine compartment bits and some fuel drums and cans. 

Link: Tamiya USA > 35180 German Tank Maintenance Crew

(Image source: Tamiya USA

[Kerick]

This would be a good reason to use the tailgate end of the truck bed for a platform. I think the ramp might be too long when lowered so opening the tailgate would allow for it to be fully lowered. I might build a boarding ladder out of some diamond plate I have laying around.

[Kerick]

I found a photo of a real gun truck with a battering ram built from steel tubes and I beams. Super bad a$$!  It will be a real Alabama Slammer with that! I think I have the right parts to build it.

[Kerick]

Now that’s a Slammer! Italeri included it in their M923 hillbilly gun truck kit. A little too much to buy for just that part. Plus it’s the Bigfoot version and everyone says the tires and wheels suck. Replacing those would be another expense. Not this time!

[Frank3k]

You could probably replicate that with sprue or styrene rod and some strips of plastic.

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

[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.

[Kerick]

I’ve been messing with various fiddly bits lately. The ramp on the M113 hull collides with the veranda. Looks like it will be glued shut. I’m leaving it hinged for now so I can paint OD green on the inside like the other hatches and mask it off when I paint the interior.
Looks like I may have solved the boarding ladder problem. I UV cast two new tailgates to go with the left over truck bed. Both have defects on the right side. If I cut the tailgate off so that I have the left two thirds useable it leaves me with just enough room for a ladder on the right side. This might involve some brass parts. Some actual accurate hinges for the tailgate would be cool. AMS is striking me hard!
I’ve been looking at the periscopes around the drivers hatch. They appear to be redundant to the mission. A little razor saw action may be required

[Kerick]

I dropped one of the four lifting lugs for the M113 hull last night. I searched all over and even swept up the floor under the desk looking for it. Then I searched for the extra I “knew” I had with no luck there. Tonight I searched some more and finally dumped out the garbage can I deposited all the sweepings from last night into. A little sifting around and there it was. The little devil. At least now I don’t have to rob another kit and kick the problem down the road.

[Buzzbomb]

I dropped one of the four lifting lugs for the M113 hull last night. I searched all over and even swept up the floor under the desk looking for it. Then I searched for the extra I “knew” I had with no luck there. Tonight I searched some more and finally dumped out the garbage can I deposited all the sweepings from last night into. A little sifting around and there it was. The little devil. At least now I don’t have to rob another kit and kick the problem down the road.

using Sods law... scratchbuild a new one and you will find it, 75 seconds after you glue it on

[robunos]

This is turning into an excellent Build . . .

cheers,
Robin.

[Kerick]

This is turning into an excellent Build . . .

cheers,
Robin.

Thanks!

I dropped one of the four lifting lugs for the M113 hull last night. I searched all over and even swept up the floor under the desk looking for it. Then I searched for the extra I “knew” I had with no luck there. Tonight I searched some more and finally dumped out the garbage can I deposited all the sweepings from last night into. A little sifting around and there it was. The little devil. At least now I don’t have to rob another kit and kick the problem down the road.

using Sods law... scratchbuild a new one and you will find it, 75 seconds after you glue it on

I do need to sweep under the desk more often. There must have been half a pound of plastic bits under there. And yes, carving out a new part would have caused me to trip over the dropped one!

[Kerick]

I found the spare part I had. It looked like I had stepped on it. I got it twisted back into shape enough to put back into the spares box.
I’ve gotten good progress on the boarding ladder for the veranda. I found a photo of one from a different type of gun truck and it should work fine. Photos will follow soon.

[Kerick]

Time for a photo dump!
The boarding ladder is complete. It even slides up and down.









We'll see if the sliding up and down still works after final painting. I bent the foot loop on the tail gate by accident but half the trucks I've ever seen had at least one bent so extra realism.
Did some interior painting and assembly. Looking pretty good. I searched some pics of M113 interiors and it seemed there were lots of color combinations depending on ownership and time period. This left me with an opportunity to use some paints I already had in the paint stash. It's much too clean and new looking right now. It needs some dry brushing wear and tear.





I stole a radio set from an Academy M151 TOW kit. It had two sets anyway and it only uses one or the other. It looks better here. I built a quick shelf and a place for jerry cans for water. Lots of space for ammunition and baggage.

[Robomog]

Coming together nicely, hope your moving ladder survives the painting 

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Old Wombat]

Damn! You're heading into Claymore territory there, mate!

[Kerick]

I’ve been working on lots of little fiddly stuff lately. Jerry cans, ammo cans, MRE boxes, baggage and weapons. Even a toolbox and fire extinguishers. Probably too much for this build but I’ll use it on something else. Windows have been installed also. I’m trying to find the best color for ammo cans.

[Old Wombat]

What sort of ammo? 

Ammo boxes, ammo cans, artillery shells, mortars, mg belts, 40mm grenades, 20/25/30/35/40mm rounds? 

[Buzzbomb]

Just loving this... so good seeing the detail work

[Frank3k]

It's looking great! I love the boarding ladder.

[Kerick]

What sort of ammo? 

Ammo boxes, ammo cans, artillery shells, mortars, mg belts, 40mm grenades, 20/25/30/35/40mm rounds? 

Ammo cans. .30 cal, .50 cal and 40mm for the Mk19. When I can find anything about their color it says olive drab, which might be ok for WW2 but not modern stuff. In my experience it’s a darker green that not flat, kind of a semi gloss. I think I have it narrowed down now. I dug out the old xtra color tin for Vietnam aircraft dark green.

[robunos]

Another masterpiece in the making . . .

cheers,
Robin.

[Kerick]

Thank you!

[Kerick]

I was trying to finish this in time for the contest in Indianapolis, Indiana this Saturday but it’s not going to happen. I better have it done in time for my club’s show in October! Seriously, I should have it done by the end of the month if I stop playing with all the stuff I could put inside that would hardly be seen.

[Old Wombat]

AMS - Both a Blessing & a Curse!

[Buzzbomb]

Try not to rush it.. it is going so well.

[Kerick]

Baggage and ammo boxes are installed. Pics to follow. I should close it up and bust out the sand paint. I’ll have to paint it in three parts. The chassis, the M113 hull and the veranda.

[Kerick]

Interior is done. The cab area and chassis will be painted seperately. The hull and veranda will also be painted in two parts. Then final assembly. I'm also working on the guns. So far a Mk 19, a .50 cal and probably an M249. Plus a couple of M4/M16s.



The before shot.





And after. Unless you're looking almost straight down most of this stuff is hard to see. Time for some clever masking and hose on some sand.

[Old Wombat]

You'll be surprised just how much of it is, actually, visible when she's closed up (especially through the rear hatch).


Well done, by the way!

[Robomog]

Like all the interior detail 

The important thing is that although you can't see much of the detail, you know it's there 

Mog
>^-.-^<

[Kerick]

Including the dust and plastic chips!
I’ve been saving up a bunch of this stuff for a while now and this is a perfect time to use it.

[Buzzbomb]

Coming to life now.

Still chuffed to see the venerable PRC-77 set in its vehicle rig, the VRC-64 and the VRC-46(or 47 in that setup). Very capable radios, reaching end of life when I was leaving the Army in the late 80's. Takes me back when I see them in builds.

[Claymore]

Truly an inspirational build, just loving the detail and ingenuity of your work! 

[Kerick]

Thanks for all the kind comments!

While I was at the Roscoe Turner Invitational in Indianapolis, Indiana I stumbled across a set of resin wheels for a 5 ton truck. I wasn't even looking for it but for ten bucks I said sure! I don't know if they will work as the brake drums are molded in and they look kind of skinny. The brake drum problem would cause me to chop up the axles which I would rather not do at this point. Here's a picture so let me know what you guys think.





The detail on the side of the tire and wheel is great.



Compared to the military tire they look skinny. There's no practical way to widen them either that I can see.

[Old Wombat]

Military tyres are often a bit wider & built tougher than civilian tyres, & the tread is more "all-terrain".

However, the civvies should still be quite functional, maybe even a touch more "optimal", for regular road driving.

[Kerick]

The army was using up tires like crazy when I was there in 2003 so I’m sure they started buying civilian tires to fill the gap. Since the convoys were cruising the paved roads I’m sure they worked better than the GI tires. I’ll probably stick with the kit tires and use the resin ones if I try this again.

[Kerick]

I'm going ahead with the kit tires and wheels. If I had found these civilian tires and wheels earlier before I glued all the axles together I probably would have used them. Oh well, saved for next time.
The Slammer is now overall sand. I have pictures to prove it!



Side view.



Bull bars.



Backside.



And the ladder still works!
A great deal of final assembly still needs to be done but this is a major hurdle to have overcome. I'm anxious to get the wheels on ASAP. I have decals I made and some from both kits. I just wish I had some gloss that didn't change the color. The paint right now looks just right. At least by the time I get back the paint will be thoroughly dry and ready for gloss of one kind or another.
Tomorrow starts our trip to sunny Florida. Saturday is already booked for a fishing trip. I hope I catch some something for dinner! No, not the flu either!

[Old Wombat]

That's really brought her together! She looks fantastic!

[Frank3k]

It really looks great under a coat of paint. Ready for an apocalypse or a trip to Florida!

[Claymore]

 

[Kerick]

Thanks guys!

[Buzzbomb]

Transformed with a coat of paint.

Really looking great

[Kerick]

Heading back home today. I’ve got two weeks to finish this beast! At least the decals are already printed.

[Kerick]

I painted 11 tires NATO black tonight. Next some gloss and decals.

[Dr. YoKai]

I gotta say, it is really shaping up nicely. Getting parts to fuse effectively like that is one of the things that really distinguishes a good bash.
Looking forward to seeing the final scheme.

[Kerick]

I bought some half round Evergreen stock to go around the windows to simulate the rubber seals. I’ll have to paint that black and cut it to fit. Otherwise it shouldn’t look all that different. I might try another gun truck pretty soon. The  NIMCON show is in June so maybe I can find another truck kit there.

[Kerick]

Thanks!
Now I'm redeciding what guns I'm going to use on which model since I forgot while I was gone! This includes the Slammer, the Badger and the Weasel.

[Kerick]

Another day, another screw up. Too many things on my desk at one time and I managed to knock over the open glue bottle! I was fiddling around with the guns and the M240s got ruined. The two round hatches might be salvageable but I have a mold for that so I can just make new ones. The round hatch for the center turret will definitely have to be repainted. It’s the back hatch in the M113 ramp that’s the worst. I was going to have it open so that will hide a lot of the damage. I’ll have to see what I can sand out. It could have been worse. The Slammer, Badger and Weasel were out of the way. Not only did it stink up the place but I had to clean it up with lacquer thinner which added to the smell. The spill was on the aluminum sheet I put down a couple months ago so that simplified clean up. It could have been worse but still a PITA!

[Old Wombat]

I know your pain, Brother!

[Kerick]

Fortunately I’ve managed to save the back door. I’ll just have to put new hinges on it but they kind of sucked anyway. I have to make one more drivers hatch. I had one extra from the first molding attempts so that will work. The center hatch was picky to clean up but ok now. I’m more ticked off about the waste of time.

[Kerick]

Here's a quick pic of the damaged and salvaged parts.



Like I said, it could have been worse. I just got done painting the OD green.
In my strange observations thread you can see my solution to the spilling problem.