Beyond The Sprues
Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Land => Topic started by: Old Wombat on March 16, 2021, 04:14:56 PM
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OK, gotta start somewhere & this is it:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-BF3ZH4p/1/1d199584/X2/DSCN7789-X2.jpg)
The build is for the Blue Lights GB (https://www.whatifmodellers.com/index.php?board=200.0) over on What If Modellers, that I am co-moderating. We'll see how I go, shall we? ;)
I've barely even looked at the sprues, so this is going to be as much an adventure for me as I hope it is for you!
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Crap! :icon_crap: 20 million individual track links! :o :o
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Weaponized construction equipment! = Winning!
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More of a de-weaponised tank. ;D
If I can get the paintwork right, it's going to be a South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) fire-fighting vehicle. ;)
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Reminds me a bit of that Demolition Robot from the Will Smith movie "I Robot." The scene where Smith is investigating the deceased doctor's residence and the Demo-Bot suddenly activates and starts tearing down the house with Smith inside.
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I am keen to see if your vision and what I see with those two are even remotely similar
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This is going to be good :D :D
Crap! :icon_crap: 20 million individual track links! :o :o
Tragically, the Hitachi's tracks aren't individual links. So, can't use the Neo tracks to bump up your link numbers :(
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Oh that's a crackin' good idea!
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Why when I read the title was this the first thing that I thought about? Looking forward to seeing what you come up with.
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There has got to be a one liner about having crabs in your tank but I just can’t make it happen! Someone out there fill it in!
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Thanks, guys! :icon_alabanza:
So far, so good! :smiley:
Crap! :icon_crap: 20 million individual track links! :o :o
Tragically, the Hitachi's tracks aren't individual links. So, can't use the Neo tracks to bump up your link numbers :(
You, sir, are evil! >:D
Actually, there are 348 347.5 track links (one is short-shot) & the build, according to the instructions, requires 328. It's doable, but the nerves are going to be fried by the end of it. :-\
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Just finished removing & cleaning up the track links ... About 6 hours work. :-X
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Can't wait to see this come together.
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Thanks, mate! I'm hoping it turns half as good as I'm aiming to acheive. ::)
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The tracks are finished up to the painting stage but I won't be doing that until I've got the hull ready (& that's coming along quite well, at the moment ... Touch wood!).
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Having gotten carried away in the moment, I forgot to take photo's of the driver's hole before I fitted it into the hull. :icon_crap:
The following images are the best that I could achieve with my minimal photographic skills in situ;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-NFLWf72/0/c18ce375/XL/DSCN7797-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-br5mBSw/0/d6818bc3/XL/DSCN7801-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-QPR9rm3/0/8ef330ea/XL/DSCN7798-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-bkpNnnL/0/57c9e11f/XL/DSCN7799-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-Xxx7NF7/0/8d18d33b/XL/DSCN7805-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-QR2nSsL/0/b94d373e/XL/DSCN7803-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-hT3fw79/0/e706177a/XL/DSCN7796-XL.jpg)
Lots of other stuff has been primed but I'll wait until the hull is complete before the next photo session.
That may be a little while off, as I'm back at work for a few days (training), then I've got a skip coming to be filled with crap from the garage & shed that I've been trying to get rid of (in some cases for years).
Cheers! :icon_beer:
Guy
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Looking forward to see where this one goes
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Looking forward to see where this one goes
I'm sittin here beside you!
8)
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Me too
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Thanks, guys! Hope she lives up to expectations. :smiley:
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Count me in with the prior comments -- "Looking forward to see where this one goes."
Why do I get flashbacks to Wild Wild West movie ?
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Got the popcorn and coke, lets do it ! ;)
Mog
>^-.-^<
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I'll try to have some WiP pic's up in a few days for you all! ;)
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Thanks, guys! Hope she lives up to expectations. :smiley:
Only if the machine drives side-ways like a real crab :smiley:
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Finally got the first major construction element completed! :D
Still lots of detail stuff to do but the first point where I can sit back & say "Yep, I've done something!"
Too late for photo's tonight (day shift tomorrow). I'll take some after work, then, & post the WiP.
Thanks for watching! :smiley:
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As promised, WiP pic's! :smiley:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-hDdbQBf/0/3fcd1544/X2/DSCN7811-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-fm6w6fr/0/fccda379/X2/DSCN7812-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-VBrpNKj/0/bb576d29/X2/DSCN7813-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-ccr2ckF/0/5d203b24/X2/DSCN7814-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-b99MLNt/0/32d7abb1/X2/DSCN7815-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-h8HXTH4/0/ccd2598a/X2/DSCN7816-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-7V6strQ/0/f4ac25fd/X2/DSCN7817-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-GxhSp3R/0/235ada6e/X2/DSCN7818-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-ZWCNTjs/0/00af74b8/X2/DSCN7819-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-jgpkc4w/0/4d239f6a/X2/DSCN7820-X2.jpg)
Plus a couple with the base of the "appliance" fitted;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-tDDMXB3/0/bc878869/X2/DSCN7821-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-3HvXq2K/0/e8ce4758/X2/DSCN7822-X2.jpg)
Thanks for your patience! :icon_alabanza:
Guy
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Oh, this is just seven flavors of awesome! That hull screams to me "HOVERTANK" of some sort.
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I found myself playing with it for several hours, when I first put it together, mentally converting it into numerous different types of spaceship, ground vehicle, hover vehicle & shuttle. I think every sci-fi modeller should have at least one of these in their stash! ;)
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From the WIP images that looks like an easy + fun build so far. :smiley:
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Man, those tracks! I have this kit in 1/35 as well as 1/72. It's a great shape for many other whif designs!
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I have to say that the tracks were less hassle than I thought they'd be, probably because they're not "workable".
The hard part was rummaging through the parts bin for the various greeblies added externally to make it "not the Object 279". ;)
More to come, of course, but so far I'm happy. :smiley:
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Looks very cool just like that. 8)
If you don't feel like building the excavator parts, all it needs now is a clear plastic dome and some NASA decals. :smiley:
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Thanks, Moritz, but I'd like to get something done for the GB it's being built for ... I am moderating, after all, so I should at least try. ;)
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Thats looking really cool.
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Thanks, mate! :smiley:
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Looking good and I'm looking forward to the excavator parts.
Still ... looking at that 3/4 front view, this hull just screams low-slung, super-fast armoured riverine warfare craft! Maybe next time?
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Certainly taking shape.
Like others, what a shape, so versatile. My mind's eye saw a Planetary exploration vehicle with those side shots.
Now eagerly awaiting the main event, the Multi arm business
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Thanks, guys! :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza:
Start of the arm unit has been delayed due to work but, maybe, tonight. ;)
Only had the one kit of this, probably will be the only one I have. So, unless I have an extremely spare $60-$70 floating around next time they become available, it's not likely there'll be a "next time" for me & the Object 279.
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There's the Takom Object 279 (https://www.scalemates.com/kits/takom-5005-object-279--1220432) in 1/72. There are two tanks in the box, although the tracks are link and length.
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Too small for me. ;)
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Oh, this is just seven flavors of awesome! That hull screams to me "HOVERTANK" of some sort.
I am definitely getting one for a hovertank !!! :-* :-*
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Oh, this is just seven flavors of awesome! That hull screams to me "HOVERTANK" of some sort.
I am definitely getting one for a hovertank !!! :-* :-*
Upside-down, without the tracks, gives a very hovertank vibe. ;)
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There's the Takom Object 279 (https://www.scalemates.com/kits/takom-5005-object-279--1220432) in 1/72. There are two tanks in the box, although the tracks are link and length.
I keep thinking about getting the 1/72 kit. To me, the hull is ideal for a spider, (or crab, if you like ;)) set of legs, ala some 'anime' mecha' designs. And there is an old board game design that the tracks would ideally suit.
The build looks like it's coming along nicely!
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Thanks, Doc! :icon_alabanza:
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Work in Progress:
The arm operator's cabin, so far;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-hJ4BhKc/0/bf50e064/X2/DSCN7825-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-PRTcPzX/0/c3de2357/X2/DSCN7827-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-p8KWcGM/0/3b98cb4f/X2/DSCN7823-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-m4mGzRn/0/76a20608/X2/DSCN7828-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-gBBT475/0/1a6a0c18/X2/DSCN7829-X2.jpg)
Strangely the wrinkled look of the paint on the seat isn't visible (to me) except in these photo's. ???
Meh! "Onward & Upward", as The Bloke on the Range would say. ;)
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Hoping you name this "Zoidberg" after the character from Futurama :smiley:
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I was wondering how you made the leatherette effect on the operator's seat.
I agree, it should be called the Zoidberg.
(https://i.imgur.com/IC1sa.png)
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I'm just glad you're only doing the one or else the thread title might be "Old Wombat's Crabs"... ;D
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Looking great mate.
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Thank you, gentlemen! :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza:
Unfortunately, as I'm not a fan of Futurama, "Zoidberg" ain't happening, sorry. ::)
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No photo's but a quick update.
Construction is paused while I get most of the paint work done, as painting afterwards would be almost impossible. Of course, I've had a little hiccup with this which needs fixing but I don't really have the space to do the fix right now, so the whole thing is paused. Hopefully not for too long. I have a few days off from Monday, so I should be able to get the airbrush fired up & work on the fix.
Mind you, the AstraZenica gods could have something to say in that regard, too (having had my 1st jab today). The way my luck usually runs, I'll probably be one of the 3-or-4 in a million who gets the blood clot side effect. ::)
So far, though, just feeling a little achy 14 hours after receiving the vax.
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No photo's but a quick update.
Construction is paused while I get most of the paint work done, as painting afterwards would be almost impossible. Of course, I've had a little hiccup with this which needs fixing but I don't really have the space to do the fix right now, so the whole thing is paused. Hopefully not for too long. I have a few days off from Monday, so I should be able to get the airbrush fired up & work on the fix.
Mind you, the AstraZenica gods could have something to say in that regard, too (having had my 1st jab today). The way my luck usually runs, I'll probably be one of the 3-or-4 in a million who gets the blood clot side effect. ::)
So far, though, just feeling a little achy 14 hours after receiving the vax.
Great you got your first dose vaccine.
I got my first Pfizer vaccine on March 17 at 1:30PM. I only had a very sore arm later at around 7PM and then all day the next day. I got my second dose on April 7 at 1:30PM and later that day around 5PM I got the sore arm again but not as bad but I had a really bad headache. By 2AM I had the chills, sweats, entire body aches including headache and stomach pain. I was like that for 4 days. I was also very fatigued and couldn't eat anything but I could drink water. I drank a lot of water because I was extremely dehydrated even after drinking a lot of water to stay hydrated. For two days I could barely walk from the body aches. On the fifth day I was fine.
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Thanks, Ramba! :smiley:
Felt achy, headachy (low-level dull ache) & lethargic all day today.
Called in & took this evening off work but there's no chance of modelling being done, unfortunately. :icon_crap:
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but there's no chance of modelling being done, unfortunately. :icon_crap:
So it's serious?
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Thanks, Ramba! :smiley:
Felt achy, headachy (low-level dull ache) & lethargic all day today.
Called in & took this evening off work but there's no chance of modelling being done, unfortunately. :icon_crap:
Sounds similar to what I had, best described as a head cold cold crossed with a hangover. I was fine the next day, but, my arm hurt at the injection site for three or four days following . . .
No modelling . . . that IS serious . . . :o ;D :-X
cheers,
Robin.
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... Felt achy, headachy (low-level dull ache) & lethargic all day today...
Well, that sucks! None of the above sounds conducive to good modelling :P
Hope you bounce back quickly :smiley:
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but there's no chance of modelling being done, unfortunately. :icon_crap:
So it's serious?
Physically ... No.
Emotionally ... YES! :o
PS: All symptoms pretty much cleared by about 2230hrs last night. :smiley:
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Ooh, look! A photo update! :icon_surprised:
Here's a glimpse at things to come. Some stuff is glued in place, some is just fitted for the photo, & painting & decals have yet to be completed.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-SfRTGtG/0/9a08db90/X2/DSCN7834-X2.jpg)
Has been a while! Sorry! :icon_crap:
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The 'Zoidberg' is looking good! :smiley:
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Looks like the right tool to harvest trees in swampy Siberia!
I have the same Microsoft keyboard/mouse combo. It's great, except for the keycap lettering wearing away.
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Thats looking amazing mate.
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Yup, that is looking seriously cool :smiley:
Looks like the right tool to harvest trees in swampy Siberia!...
Perfect! Makes use of the Zoidberg clamper/slicer arms and that boaty hull :smiley: ;D
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Thanks, gents! :icon_alabanza:
Suppose I should admit that the circular saw blade is ... well ... a (Dremel-ish) circular saw blade, weirdly exactly the same diameter as the styrene sheet version I made first. ;)
Zoidberg, oh dear. :icon_crap: :icon_zombie:
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(https://64.media.tumblr.com/03a775544ba3379bc76edcf253554361/tumblr_o2n9pu8YGF1tpri36o1_400.jpg)
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;D ;D ;D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJOtLKBh1iQ (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJOtLKBh1iQ)
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Really starting to look the business.
Good to see I am not the only one using actual saw blades on models. Making the damn things is nigh in impossible.
(https://www.modelblokez.org.au/bthpix/misc/fallout-4-codsworth_2.jpg)
3d Printed Codsworth Mr Handy Robot from Fallout 4... with real saw blade
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Ah, good ol' reliable Codsworth! :D
I really should try to find time to play some Fallout games, again. ;)
And, yes, virtually impossible to build styrene circular saw blades. I tried. It wasn't pretty! :o
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Slowly! Slowly! But, finally, almost there!
OK, it'll be at the "done for now" stage (I still have some tools to fit & a base to make) but, for all practical purposes, she'll be finished tonight.
Photo's soon! :smiley:
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Anything circular, serrated, and symmetrical should be banned from modelling. Harrumph.( Sez a man who saved his old razor saw blades for a decade thinking..."these would look wicked on...something."
Great work - a diorama base for this thing would be ideal, but world enough and time?
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...Photo's soon! :smiley:
Yay! :smiley: :smiley:
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You know the saying about "The best laid plans of mice & men"? Yeah, well, it bit me! :icon_crap:
Not big time, so I have FINISHED! ;D
I have also taken photo's but I can't download, edit or post them until I get access to the study computer, which SWMBO is using for work. So, I'm looking around the modelling room being overwhelmed by the tidying & cleaning task ahead. :o
Pic's tonight! 8)
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With serious Bush Fires becoming more & more common the South Australian government, in a rare moment of cooperation with the Victorian & New South Wales governments, looked at acquiring a specialist vehicle for managing containment lines. Not wanting to deal with China, which was becoming even more belligerent towards Australia, they approached Hitachi Heavy Industries in Japan to design & build the vehicle.
Hitachi began with the cabin & arm set-up of their pre-existing Double Arm Astaco* Neo but needed to find a lightly armoured (&, therefore, fireproof) hull to fit it to. Specifications from Australia included a low ground pressure, road transportability, metal tracks (as rubber would melt/burn in the expected environments) & a self-defensive fire-fighting capability.
One of their engineers, a military history enthusiast focussed on experimental vehicles of the Cold War era, remember reading about the Soviet “Object 279” designed to operate in the snow & mud of Russian Winters & Autumns. This became the basis for the design of the hull of the vehicle.
Obviously it did not need to be as heavily armoured as a battle tank, so the outer shell was limited to a maximum of 30mm of steel at its thickest & insulation layers behind that. Two Cummins V6 diesel engines replaced the single massive engine used in the Soviet design. Eight integrated water jets were fitted around the vehicle (later models would get remote-controlled nozzles fitted to the arms, so that water could be directed more actively at the fire) supplied from a large central tank below the double-arm unit. The double-arm unit was given increased internal fire protection, & fireproof & heat resistant glazing was used throughout. The smaller arm was fitted with a circular saw cutting blade, so trees could at least be cut & laid down (if they couldn’t be removed), reducing the chance of them becoming torches of flame 100s of metres tall. The four sets of tracks, although something of a maintenance nightmare, gave the vehicle an extremely low ground pressure, unless the central water tank was full, when it was merely “low”. This was a requirement specifically for the South East of South Australia & South Western Victoria, which were a large limestone region with a high potential for sinkholes.
The pictured vehicle is based in the small township of Kalangadoo in the South East of South Australia as part of the SA Country Fire Service’s regional immediate response unit.
Many, many thanks to Kit “PR19_Kit” Spackman for the CFS specific decals (Kit’s Dekals)! :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza:
Enjoy the pictures! :smiley:
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(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-x4XGhNb/0/2bcae86a/X2/DSCN7840-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-D4SDMLh/0/16f510bf/X2/DSCN7835-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-FZghqgT/0/a039c3ce/X2/DSCN7846-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-CvMTZSJ/0/f6dc5475/X2/DSCN7847-X2.jpg)
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(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-SXjrkFT/0/b4f93655/X3/DSCN7848-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-PjmvPnj/0/7459d1c8/X2/DSCN7849-X2.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-xFgD8cG/0/454d456a/X3/DSCN7841-X3.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/SA-CFS-Crab-FFV/i-6RXfGRC/0/7383af8d/X2/DSCN7836-X2.jpg)
Cheers! :icon_beer:
Guy
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Yippeee ! Finished and most well done.
Very practical design
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Thanks, BT! :smiley:
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COOL !! Very unique for sure, nice kit bash. It looks like a real world design that could be very useful in forest fire fighting. :smiley: :smiley:
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That turned out great!
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Thank you, gentlemen! :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza:
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Me Likey . . . :smiley:
Though I must admit, I was expecting 'International Rescue' markings, rather than a Australian Fire Department . . . ;D
cheers,
Robin.
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@ Old Wombat/Guy - Excellent back story to match your great model and mad skills. :smiley:
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That came out great! The grabber and saw hands look fantastic.
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Superb finish. I would love to seebmore of your build ( I've looked I can't findbthem
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Me Likey . . . :smiley:
Though I must admit, I was expecting 'International Rescue' markings, rather than a Australian Fire Department . . . ;D
cheers
Robin.
Def has a Thunderbirds vibe about it beautiful build tell the designer chappie :-* :-* :-* :-*
,
Mog
>^-.-^<
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Thank you all, very much, gentlemen! :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza:
Superb finish. I would love to seebmore of your build ( I've looked I can't findbthem
If you mean "WIP" photo's, I'm afraid there weren't that many done. Started off as a GB build & a lack of time meant I had to focus on trying to build it, not photograph it.
Didn't get it finished for the GB, either, & I was one of the moderators! :o
The build is, however, fairly basic; follow the instructions for the tank hull & Astaco Neo cabin & arms. LED spotlight units (2 x front, 1 x rear, with little black dots for cameras) were just vision ports from the spares box, water spray units (red rectangular-ish boxes) are some other vision blocks from something, headlights from one of the several Stryker carcasses I have in the spares box, the sirens are just some odd bits of Stryker (I have lots of Stryker bits in the spares box), clear sprue shaped & polished & painted for the red & blue light bars & the flashers on the rear of the arm unit, the LED light bar above the double-arm cabin mesh & the tiny front indicators, the rear light units are just rectangular styrene tube filled with Aves Apoxy sculpt & shaped to fit & under-painted silver so the lights would stand out a bit.
It's really just a case of build the main bits & stick bits on where they look right. :-[
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Well, that is awesome ... in all senses :D
Beautifully realized and a great backstory :smiley:
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Beautiful model and great backstory!
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Thank you, both, very much! :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza:
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Absolutely masterful reproduction of an incredible machine, great plausible back story too.
Truly outstanding.
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Thanks, mate! Highly appreciated from a modeller such as yourself! :icon_alabanza:
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Nice,,, neato combination configured to get job done. Liking backstory too. :smiley:
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Thanks, Bill! :smiley: :icon_alabanza:
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That came out great! When I first looked at the first finished picture, I misread the name as Kalangadoq, wheich seemed like both a great name, and the sound it makes. ;)
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Thanks, Craig! :smiley:
Kalangadoq certainly sounds like the noise it'd make ;) .... Not sure I could get Kalangadoo to change its name, though. ::)
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Just catching up and came across your beastie-boy. What a great concept and beautifully executed! 8) :smiley:
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Thanks, Claymore! Great praise indeed! :icon_alabanza: :icon_alabanza: