scratch building

[Nazgul]

Thanks for the kind comments.

After looking at Allen's web site and his products to convert the HEMTT to 5 axle and the PLS system (sweet work!), I started looking into what else could be done. I knew that there some armored cabs being done and came across the gun trucks being made for convoy protection. Several 1/35th kits are out and made good for reference material. I have to admit they look nice. The only problem is that the .50 cals are mounted on top of brass pins and I have to be more careful than normal.

Maybe GHQ might consider making HEMTTs with armored cabs (either A2 or A4 series) and some of the other vehicles with armored cabs. Looks like they will be the norm now.

whoa Mohamed, I looked at the LMTV . . . looks that that would be a complete cab replacement and a lot of work.

[whoa Mohamed]

I know Nas I was thinking of sculpting one in sculpey or a small block of styrene then adding detail after the shape and size was right or waiting for allen to do the cab on his 3D printer and selling that as a conversion kit along with the hemet kits he does !!!!

[AllenRockwell]

I know Nas I was thinking of sculpting one in sculpey or a small block of styrene then adding detail after the shape and size was right or waiting for allen to do the cab on his 3D printer and selling that as a conversion kit along with the hemet kits he does !!!!

3D Printing has not quite gotten to the point where you can print decent 285th scale models yet ... it will someday but It's not there yet. None of my HEMTT stuff was 3D printed (except the wheels, I needed them to match GHQ's as closely as possible). Attempts were made, but they were not successful. The level of detail and part thicknesses are still a real problem. Then, even if you get a decent part there is still a lot of cleanup and finishing ... usually it's just easier to start with traditional model making. 3D printing is pretty good for aircraft and scenery items in 285th but personally I don't it's quite there yet for 285th scale vehicles. I sent some my Patriot Launcher parts to Shapeways to be built, but even their highest quality, highest detail processes (what they call FUD) would not work ... their software looked at my models and said go away, your stuff is too small and too detailed. I have a friend with a very high resolution Stereolithography machine and he ran some Patriot parts for me and they came back a mess.

[Nazgul]

Here's the trucks painted. Decided on these colors after the photos I found. Looks like a lot of the added armor was not painted and was rusty. Please forgive the pix.

[chrisswim]

You have the 'rust coloration' just right from pics I have, Put some guys in the back.... make it come alive.

[Andy T]

I did these some time ago, long before GHQ did an Israeli 1/2 Track.

Communications and command vehicles based on the M3/5 etc and M113 - These are based as my Brigade BHQ for the rule set I use.



Some early Israeli M3 converted to carry the 90mm DERA A?T guns, again done before the availability of the new Israeli 1/2 track



And a couple of later varients with the SS11 ATGW



CH 53E backdated to Israeli CH53 Yasur





Andy

[chrisswim]

Those Israeli look very nice. The command and comunication vehicles, nice set up.
What AT gun did you use for the halftracks? Impressive.

[whoa Mohamed]

Superb Andy

[BattlerBritain]

Andy - that first picture - I thought it was a 1/35th when I first saw it.

Amazing! You could enter that into a 1/35th competition and win.

[shadowspears]

Great looking models. Well done.

[ferret701]

Andy,

Those are absolutely brilliant.

Pat Callahan
www.microarmormayhem.com

[Andy T]

Thanks for the comments folks.

I have done a TCM-20............however its not correct!
I used the M14 model and simply chopped two of the HMG's of the AA mounts to get a proxy, they should be built onto M3/M5 chassis.....I'll get around to re-doing them one day on the correct chassis.




The 90mm DEFA conversion, agian should be on an M3/M3A1 or M9 chassis, I'm not sure which base 'M3' I used at the time, they are up in the attic at present so will look later. The 90mm is IIRC a UK45 6lb AT gun. The actual 90mm used a modified 6lbr shield so I went for that look.



The command M3 with the command and comunications set-up is a scratch built item using bits of sprue/plastic. The same for the M113 with the stowage bin on the front, its made from evergreen strip.

Andy

[Paul B]

Andy,

Are you figs based for spearhead, 1 1/4" x 1 1/4"?

[Andy T]

Hi Paul,
no they are not based for Spearhead, I use the Cold War Commander rule set.

My stuff is based on whatever base suits the model!

The guys I game with all use the same system:
we have three vehicles on a base to represent the Battle Group HQ, two vehicles to represent a Battalion/Company command element, a couple of figures for FAO's and a couple of figures and a vehicle for an FAC. bases with a single vehicle are platoons....this is easliy transferred up the scale to 1:1 if required.

The bases are sized to the model, to be honest models interact better with scenery when not based, however basing gives them them that little extra protection.

Hers is a couple of examples:

Egyptian (1973) Brigade HQ


Egyptian individual infantry platoons


West German 1983 Brigade HQ


West German 1983 Marder (Inf) Battalion HQ


Israeli 1982+ FAC


Israeli 1982 + Individual Tank Platoons


Andy

[pmskaar]

Andy

All your work is excellent and inspiring. Thanks for sharing it with us. How did you make the tall palm trees?

Pete - Binpicker, Out!