M41 Cargo Tractor (1/35)

[Buzzbomb]

Another great new release from Kits by Frank  or Frankenkits

[Kerick]

This is looking better and better!
The MLRS hull really looks good. I should think a Bradley hull would work too.

[Frank3k]

I didn't put enough resin in the vat, so the second cab didn't fully print. There were some other issues, but the cargo side panels came out nicely:



I accidentally pulled both of the tail light holders off their supports a bit too quickly and damaged them, but they still look good:



You can see sub-millimeter bolts on the original prints.

[Dr. YoKai]

 Iknow it's a real-world build, but I get a real SHADO Shado Mobile vibe. Great printing, Frank.

[Frank3k]

Craig, it's not really real world... it could easily be a "modern" version of a Shado mobile. Just need to add the "office" in back.

I reprinted the side panels, because I forgot about the hooks on the sides and accidentally tore them off when I was removing the supports.

The hooks are 0.5mm in diameter:



I doubt that they'll survive the build and paint stages; I knocked one off just by moving the panel - hit it with a stray finger. I was able to glue it back on. If they break off again, I'll just use thin copper wire.

I also printed some more copies of the Land Rover winch I made more than 6 years ago (part of the "I paid for the full build plate and I'm going to use it, dammit!" rule.). I accidentally crushed some of the guards around the tow cable drum, but they can be replaced. The tow cable itself is 0.3mm. It definitely won't survive anything stronger than a sneeze:



I think I'll start building and painting the interior of the cabs and get those out of the way.

[Frank3k]

I tried printing a paper instrument panel (based on the M1083) but it looked awful. So I 3D printed it instead, based on the M1083 Technical manual and some pictures. There are some mods and it's a bit smaller than it should be, but I didn't want it to interfere with the steering yoke.



Some of the details are hard to make out, so I ran an AK Olive drab pen over it:



I made about 20. Only need 2 Some of the instrument dials didn't quite print, so I have about 15 good ones.

[Frank3k]

I ended up reprinting the instrument panels to be closer to 1/35. I also started on the cab interior.

Instrument panel with decals (wet because they have decal setting solution on them):



The white dials with black squared corners were cut out from a kit decal. The other dials are from a 1/32 Airscale set.

Here are the seats, AC controls/vents and a purse equipment shelf, plus two fire extinguishers:



Hopefully I can close this up this week and move on to the rest of the vehicle.

[finsrin]

This whole build is great       

[Kerick]

Awesome job!

[raafif]

Neat build.  Looking forward to it being finished.  You may have to change those seats tho -they look too comfortable for such a vehicle

[Frank3k]

Maybe the comfy seats is what's making this build d r a g on for so long.

I added the clear windows, then gave them a clear blue coat, which inexplicably turned mat... so out they came and once clean and back in place, got another coat with heavily thinned Tamiya clear blue... which went on clear, but promptly attracted every cat hair in the house. I'll probably have to redo them again.

The interior, at least, is almost finished. I added a radio/radar/control box from the 3D printed Pantisr interior. The decals are from the Space:1999 nuclear waste kit. The large blue decal is one I printed for a computer display, but at this resolution, it looks like a speaker:



In place. Everything looks crooked - some parts are, others just look that way:



Seat side, with my patented radio, on a shelf:



view aft:



Maybe if I'm lucky, I'll be able to close the doors, put the cabin together, mask the windows and move on to the rest of the build. Next time I build something like this, I won't have so many windows.

[Kerick]

Now you’ll have to make them look frosted over except for the spots the crew keeps scraping from the inside! 

[finsrin]

Dang,,, is this good or what !

[Buzzbomb]

This is so good

[Frank3k]

This is where I am so far. The black foam will become cargo:



Every windshield window pooped in a bit. At least I can fix some of it through the weapons station plug. I cut out some styrene and added nuts & bolts and a couple of hooks to what had been the lower rear of the M41:



The tracks and rubber pads are painted, even though it doesn't look like it in these pictures. The exhaust location isn't the best, but it lust looked bad anywhere else:

[Old Wombat]

Coming together really nicely, Frank!

[Claymore]

Looking great!

I guess the only other obvious place for the exhaust is behind the cab but then it would be vulnerable to damage from the cargo, so I think where you have it is fine. 👍

[Frank3k]

Lower rear isn't ideal, but there's plenty of clearance. I tried it on the cab side going up and horizontal on the top of the cab, overhanging the cargo area. I also tried it vertically just inside the cargo area. I kept thinking of the poor goober burning his hand on the heat shield or slamming a box against the exhaust system. I could have increased the gap between the cab and cargo, but it gave the vehicle a very unbalanced look.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Other than where you have it now the only other possible location might be to place the engine exhaust under the fenders above the tracks.  Side benefit of that would be heat on tracks to remove ice from the treads. 

[Frank3k]

Added a painted tarp and straps and painted the rubber on the road wheels. I'm debating painting the return rollers as well, or let them be a casualty of the weathering:



With Steve and the motorcycle guy from DML:

[Claymore]

 

[Ramba]

Great job so far! The dapper Steve looks like he is ready to take it out for a Sunday drive along the PCH. The guy in the back looks like he is trying to sneak out a #2.

What sand did you use?

[Frank3k]

I used AK Interactive 3rd Gen MERDC Sand - Fs30277 (AKI 11343) and Pale Sand - Fs23722 (AKI 11032). I'll probably give it a thin coat of MERDC Sand again, from the bottom up.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

@Frank - what did you use for the cover over your load of foam in the back?  I can see some texture in the material but unable to recognize what it was before it became a cover on the load. 

[Frank3k]

Jeff, I used a civilian version of K.L.E.E.N.E.X. T.I.S.S.U.E.  (Kevlar Light Engagement Environment, Non-EXplosive Transportation Integration System for Single Use Enclosures)

Painted in shades of green.