1/35 Renault AHN truck

[Frank3k]

After finishing my ball tank, I was having a hard time picking a new project. I had kits I wanted to build, but just wasn't quite ready, mentally. So I asked my trusty assistant, Felix, to help me pick one:



He's picked some good kits in the past, but this time he just wanted to sniff at the boxes, with no clear preference. So I enlisted his sisters Emma:



and Diziet:



Who also just sniffed at boxes indifferently.
Let down by my modelling buddies, I asked my wife Lisa, to pick. She went into the model closet, closed her eyes and pointed at a box:



The  ICM 1/35 Lastkraftwagen 3,5 t AHN WWII German Army Truck. I don't build German WWII subjects anymore, but luckily, this is a Renault AHN and has post-war headlights. Lisa also picked blue as the truck's color.

A quick searched showed that I was in for a difficult build.

I used Bengalensis outstanding build on Britmodeller as a reference. Piet van Hees has an excellent AHN site including a build of the same kit. I made many of the same mods to the kit that they did.

The chassis is a quick and easy build:



And I quickly got to this point, even with some of the mods and additions:



Now came the hardest part of the build, and it's been a slog. The first issue is with the wheels and tires. ICM made them too small and it's noticeable, especially when compared to the real thing. I ordered the Panzerart wheels and they do look better:



Another issue is with the cabin; it's made up of five sections. Making everything fit and square took a long time. I was hoping that the new tires wouldn't look bad, but the front mudguards are just wrong, so like in the builds mentioned above, I cut them off.



Moving the mudguard arches up wouldn't fix the issue, since they're too small. So I looked at the pictures of the real vehicle and printed mudguards that sort of looked right:



They're probably too wide now. i may leave them as is or cut them down size:



I also added fenders. Some AHNs have fenders of one kind or another. I'll fix the wobble:



This is where I am now. It has not been a fun build...

[Buzzbomb]

Neat build. Although this design does nothing for me, cannot reconcile the weird (to my eye) front.
It does however, offer a truck with a built in Zombie plow front, push them right over the cab and into the tray. 

[Frank3k]

The design is pretty basic, and for a French vehicle, not too bizarre.

[Old Wombat]

 

[Frank3k]

I thinned the mudguards a bit, removed the fenders and repainted all the spots that needed it. Now it's time to start weathering, which is always nerve-wracking. I want to make this either a yarn or sheep transport since Lisa is a knitter. I have to find a period appropriate (late 40's - 1960) sheep or yarn logo. There's a French yarn company (Bergère de France) that would do, but they don't really have a logo.

[Story]

Baa

Baa

Baa

https://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/tam/tam35385.htm?source=froogle&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwtdi_BhACEiwA97y8BGQVjA-FGFN_EY5FZqaIgS6r7ykZTBzllIyNdiVF0p5_B4neYBSgBxoCwWkQAvD_BwE

[apophenia]

Very nice! (Especially for a somewhat trying build!)

... I want to make this either a yarn or sheep transport since Lisa is a knitter...

With Wallace and Gromit in a sidecar in hot pursuit? 

... I have to find a period appropriate (late 40's - 1960) sheep or yarn logo. There's a French yarn company (Bergère de France) that would do, but they don't really have a logo.

-- https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/947381361/bergere-de-france-wool-shop-logo

And, not quite a logo but ...

[Buzzbomb]

I thinned the mudguards a bit, removed the fenders and repainted all the spots that needed it. Now it's time to start weathering, which is always nerve-wracking. I want to make this either a yarn or sheep transport since Lisa is a knitter. I have to find a period appropriate (late 40's - 1960) sheep or yarn logo. There's a French yarn company (Bergère de France) that would do, but they don't really have a logo.

Frank, I 3D printed a heap of sheep for this dio. Used my old FDM Printer and with a bit of filler worked in to make the wool better, they came out alright

[Frank3k]

Perfect! Thanks, Stephen! My wife has bought yarn from them and the logo is period appropriate.

Brian - those sheep look great! 

I'm procrastinating in starting the weathering, so instead I put together some Minart sheep that I got yesterday. The fit isn't good, but straightforward to correct. 15 sheep in the box (two sprues with 5 individual sheep, x 3).

I put together 6 sheep and 1 lamb. To make the 7th sheep distinct, I cut off and re-positioned its head.

I also added the stakes on the sides of the truck:



I used the old man with the rake from the Masterbox Civilians, Western region. The rake handle broke, so I replaced it with some styrene rod. You can imagine what he's going to be doing with the rake...



I added some definition to his hair and some features. This is a pretty well mastered Masterbox set:

[Story]

[apophenia]

Looking good, Frank! And glad that the logo works 

... I added some definition to his hair and some features. This is a pretty well mastered Masterbox set...

That looks great. The photo on the Masterbox website isn't very good (for comparison sake). I'm guessing that the particularly life-like eyebrows and mustache are your added definition?

Your growing sheep herd is looking good, too BTW 

[Frank3k]

The truck is mostly finished. I gave it some dirt but not much rust.

The license plate on the front could have been larger, but good enough. 2504 is the month and year I will hopefully finish this:



The company sign of the side of the truck is for Bergère de France, a wool company that's been around since 1946. Apophenia found it for me. Thanks!







I added the rear lights (made from ejector pins on the kit's clear sprue) and mud flaps/plate holders cut from styrene:



Closeup of the farmer/worker. Not great, not terrible. The sculpting is one of the best I've seen from Masterbox:



With one of the tools of his trade:



Now to work on the sheep...

[Buzzbomb]

For a farm truck that looks good to me.

I used the same guy in my Sheep dio, he has character. I changed arms and added a broken shotgun as the rake did not work in my scene

[Old Wombat]

Bravo, Frank! That's looking fantastic!

[Frank3k]

For a farm truck that looks good to me.

I used the same guy in my Sheep dio, he has character. I changed arms and added a broken shotgun as the rake did not work in my scene

Thanks, guys.

This figure has one of the best injection molded faces I've seen.

[Frank3k]

I'm calling this one finished.

In the afternoon sun:



I made 7 sheep. They didn't fit well. I put some liquid cement along the seams and used a stiff brass brush to pick at the plastic. I think that worked. Painting was more complicated than I expected... I just stopped when they looked sheep-ish... I also added a rolled up resin tarp from Value Gear:





Unlike most builds, where most of the work is in the paint prep and painting phase, this one was the opposite. I spent more time fixing issues, obtaining tires and building the cab than I did with the painting. This was not a fun build, with the cab being the most difficult part. The finished truck is surprisingly delicate as well; the cab has come loose in the front three times already.

[finsrin]

Realistic and perfectly weathered 

[Old Wombat]

Bravo, Frank! That's looking fantastic!

This still says it all!

[Frank3k]

Thanks, guys! It certainly wasn't a fun kit to build.

[Claymore]

Such an unusual subject but beautifully finished - a masterpiece of subtle weathering! 

[Dr. YoKai]

 Well, It's no Citroen H, but is is pretty stylish, and nicely finished. Sorry it wasn't a relaxing build, but I hear you-sometimes the subject is more important than the convenience.