Mega Mule (Glencoe 1/15th scale M274) Scale-O-Rama to 1/35th scale

[Frank3k]

IIRC, the axle pins were just begging to wear or break off after a few tries.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

IIRC, the axle pins were just begging to wear or break off after a few tries.

A politicians promise has more going for it than the axles and joints on the Glencoe Mule.  The things are held in place with a lot of hopium. 

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Assembled the kit wheels and sanded down seams after assembly.  I did consider using the kit wheels modified with the AFV Club Stryker IFV rims but I only had four modified and was not in the mood to carve out the rims on four more wheels.  So stock kit wheels win this time around. 

I did do a fit check using the Trumpeter LAV-25 wheels but the things looked to small on the Mega Mule so I went with the kit parts. 

[Alvis 3.1]

Mega Mule!

[GTX_Admin]

 

[Frank3k]

I did do a fit check using the Trumpeter LAV-25 wheels but the things looked to small on the Mega Mule so I went with the kit parts.

Did you try the chunky HEMMTT tires I sent you?

[Jeffry Fontaine]

I did do a fit check using the Trumpeter LAV-25 wheels but the things looked to small on the Mega Mule so I went with the kit parts.

Did you try the chunky HEMMTT tires I sent you?

Hi Frank.  Yes, I did do a fit check of those tires and the things were too large to fit on the axles and under the cargo platform.  I had hoped that maybe they would fit so I could use the things but alas, not to be. 

[Jeffry Fontaine]

More WIP on the Mega Mule suspension.  Applying more CA glue to all four axles to bulk up appearance and provide a strengthed component connection.  It looks a bit janky at the moment and hopefully when paint is eventually applied the sins will be concealed. 

As far as the CA glue goes, with paint it will represent a fabric dust/debris cover over the drive axle joint connection to the wheels.  Not watertight but a preventative maintenance accessory to minimize FOD issues to the mechanical components.  So in the spirit of Brian da Basher I suppose it would be correct to call these things Spats. 

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Had to take another image and reduce the size so it would upload. 

Both models positioned to show front and rear features.  The light tan/beige parts are from a Tamiya Sdkfz 4X4 armored reconnaissance vehicle that had been in the spare parts stash, never had the complete kit.  The small blue plastic rectangle just below the Sdkfz 222 part is a landing gear door from an ancient Monogram Avenger, Hellcat, or Corsair kit that was scrapped mant years ago. 

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Forgot to include a b4 and after images of the work done on the kit fuel tanks.  Original parts were quite simple looking with an open area on the top that would not be seen when attached to the underside of the cargo platform.  Attachment was via two plug/pins on the fuel tank to the located holes on the platform.  I removed these features from the platform and fuel tank so that I could add the two straps of plastic as reinforcement features. 

Attached images showing the unmodified and modified fuel tanks.

[Buzzbomb]

Yep, bits coming together 

[Frank3k]

Looking good! What are you going to do about a radiator for that now massive engine? I don't think you can air cool an engine that big.

[Ramba]

Coming along nicely. Looking good!

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Looking good! What are you going to do about a radiator for that now massive engine? I don't think you can air cool an engine that big.

Going to stay with the whole air-cooled engine theme so no radiator required.  As far as engine displacement goes, this engine would be in the same category as many other general aviation power plants so not that unusual. 

[Old Wombat]

I'm not sure how big this is going to be (nothing to scale it against, yet) but aircraft radials are big air-cooled engines & the US used them quite effectively to power tanks during WW2.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

I'm not sure how big this is going to be (nothing to scale it against, yet) but aircraft radials are big air-cooled engines & the US used them quite effectively to power tanks during WW2.

I posted an image that is now on page three showing the Mega Mules with a 1/35th scale Italeri HMMWV sandwiched in between the two platforms for a size reference.  The platforms are just a little bit larger in width than the Italeri HMMWV and about equal in overall length.  Attached is the same image again for you to see. 






***Edit to upload image from mobile phone where it resides at the moment. -- jjf

[Old Wombat]

OK, missed that, somehow.

Engines are definitely small enough to be air-cooled, then!