Jump to content
Model Cars Magazine Forum

Recommended Posts

I'm working on an Oshkosh army tractor. I'm not sure if military is allowed here, but it's a truck with a 5th wheel, so I guess it counts. This is a kit from Trumpeter, in 1/35 scale. It's very detailed, and has 521 pieces. I'm really happy with the kit so far. I'm used to building old Revell and AMT kits, so I'm really impressed with the quality of the parts. There's basically no flash, and no seams. The parts fit together as if they are actually supposed to go together. The fit is tight, with no gaps. I'm used to larger scale kits, with bigger parts. This kit has a lot of tiny pieces. It also has a few of PE parts, which I'm not good at. I have shakey hands, and my vision isn't what it used to be. This kit will be difficult for me, but I'm up for the challenge. I'm building mine in desert sand. I'm thinking of making a part or 2 in green, as if swapped from another truck, as surely happens.

20200410_090744.thumb.jpg.6c74fa77eabe4e7c544ed54619c6987c.jpg

I started with the frame. Most of the crossmembers are sub assemblies of 2 or 3 parts. Everything went together nicely without trouble.

20200411_101018.thumb.jpg.7c50ca9f59e897e0982252e7199d3c40.jpg

20200411_133428.thumb.jpg.6493d497104a7cc804e51f01316dc8db.jpg
 

Then I got to work on the suspension. There's a front assembly and a rear assembly. The steering knuckles pop into place, and are moveable. The tierods glue into place, and won't allow for steering once built. It seems that it could be assembled with the wheels turned one way or the other however. I'm building mine with the wheels straight. 

These are the steer axles

20200411_133500.thumb.jpg.36ac97c8fb4e111f4eb5575dd8189a02.jpg

20200411_152645.thumb.jpg.d96e3f89163690e01f460ff62d31e5af.jpg

20200411_154001.thumb.jpg.10657f62ddffc3587f52740ebafb2665.jpg

Rear axles. I'd call them drive axles, but this is 8 wheel drive

20200411_153951.thumb.jpg.91a43a01cf07e1d2ddc5f9e538b1dc45.jpg

And I got them put on the frame

20200411_155210.thumb.jpg.1bc9e641ff5eda998233f00b8b0988e7.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some more work on this. Some small details were added to the chassis. Shock absorbers, shackles, air tanks, battery box, steering box, small superstructure and hoist. I also put together and installed the engine. I put a wash on the frame to make the bolt heads stand out, but I didn't do a great job.

Here's the engine. The other half of the turbo is attached to the muffler, to be assembled later.

20200412_155519.thumb.jpg.1e805e0ca5dc2f9b4b6a508a118673b7.jpg

20200412_155509.thumb.jpg.6601fa2c831d3c1a235f58a23a89b75d.jpg

20200412_155658.thumb.jpg.3fb43e6eac7a416936613672fad7048f.jpg
 

Here's the frame with some small details added

20200412_160336.thumb.jpg.545c1034bfdcd28d229573d54fd6cee8.jpg

20200412_160345.thumb.jpg.7a9f7d83d7111a092b017ffb8293100b.jpg

and the engine dropped in place and battery box installed

20200412_161028.thumb.jpg.3b712ada40cfc239f26400836346eb6a.jpg


20200412_161047.thumb.jpg.41177057ecb06df6eb788bc33cea4763.jpg

I also put together the driver's side fender with air cleaner and hydraulic tank

20200412_161201.thumb.jpg.34d200282f2b4d4d7c211282967c57b2.jpg

20200412_161148.thumb.jpg.ad3cb740ae1b5ec8d86b1a31e141eb88.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Here's today's progress. I made a strap for the jerry can, and mounted it on the fender, then got the fenders on.

20200413_074618.thumb.jpg.9c15eb1a717a35bb668eeea016911a4c.jpg

20200413_094849.thumb.jpg.d22ddd7b14658819b79318cb3be6038a.jpg

I weathered the tires with dust, and mounted them.

20200413_113000.thumb.jpg.fb9b5ab2869dd335e4dcf89fdc964b7e.jpg

20200413_140959.thumb.jpg.2104be8a53f01dc858fa2130628d1be3.jpg

20200413_143948.thumb.jpg.43fd3c140d448542e12c08a8d14b4a16.jpg

I got going on the interior

20200413_094834.thumb.jpg.aaf090cc23d07641d0308410e100fe20.jpg

Some careful masking, and made the appropriate panels black

20200413_104113.thumb.jpg.119ddb3f7c42e7c1783300d8840910b4.jpg

20200413_110738.thumb.jpg.006aad56b2edb248ffb251e8dc59e4a6.jpg

20200413_141049.thumb.jpg.0f5921bfb096856831affd1d22a201f6.jpg

The seat bases were by far the hardest part. Very delicate, and the instuctions weren't crystal clear

20200413_094829.thumb.jpg.46450b666afe1ff40232151e14d72b79.jpg

20200413_143630.thumb.jpg.6161d698ff341fe3791566610b057bdb.jpg

20200413_143657.thumb.jpg.e5af4fd31f7395a67feead57a417b9e9.jpg

And I rested the interior on the frame to see how it will look. I'll probably work on the cab tomorrow.

20200413_144026.thumb.jpg.1c8dd2e6f96c7543ea2c7712a2edbc6f.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Looking really nice.  There seems to be a lot of detail in this kit, and I like your strap for the water can.

If I were to make one small critique, it would be that the 8V92T should be painted the same OD green that would be used on the exterior of the truck.  These trucks were painted all one color at the factory, then the black & brown was added.  When they were shipped to the desert, the 3-color camouflage was painted over in desert tan.  The windows & engine were generally masked off & the entire truck was painted.  Just thought you'd like to know.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

23 minutes ago, Jim B said:

Looking really nice.  There seems to be a lot of detail in this kit, and I like your strap for the water can.

If I were to make one small critique, it would be that the 8V92T should be painted the same OD green that would be used on the exterior of the truck.  These trucks were painted all one color at the factory, then the black & brown was added.  When they were shipped to the desert, the 3-color camouflage was painted over in desert tan.  The windows & engine were generally masked off & the entire truck was painted.  Just thought you'd like to know.

Cool, thanks for the info. I wasn't sure what color it should be. Maybe it was a crate motor replacement from DD? Luckily it won't really be visible under the hood.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Some more progress here. I got the cab put together. I painted the doors, and applied a gloss clear coat. I can then apply the decals without the "silvering." I let the decals set, then applied a clear dull coat. I'm happy with the results.

20200414_134529.thumb.jpg.0a4409389e1a385fb9215cde0eb5c27e.jpg

I also got the decals on the outside of the doors, and front of the cab

20200414_160916.thumb.jpg.4297cb214eb3432ba48133ab7beb5a7e.jpg20200414_151846.thumb.jpg.81f2c3eb3fa2f24808fb8ee1184433ec.jpg

I put together the muffler and heat shield

20200414_142547.thumb.jpg.6839bbee4fc2e5bc7bf5b8c695134d70.jpg

20200414_152933.thumb.jpg.97794389528936997ef90edbf47975ae.jpg

20200414_160043.thumb.jpg.715cfa1c6e1df17fe7161f97ccdd7ff0.jpg

A little more work on the cab and got it mounted. I made mirror lenses from metallic duct tape

20200414_120028.thumb.jpg.f4b31194f65ffa7852ac8a335a94d5f5.jpg

20200414_162003.thumb.jpg.177ee6f054284a65ab435b343a78790f.jpg20200415_110536.thumb.jpg.4334040b638b4acf874123d5b0dd07e2.jpg

20200415_110711.thumb.jpg.83bebaf0d3f2b79791a5b799916eec1e.jpg

I put the glad hands on the back for the pintle hitch

20200415_110723.thumb.jpg.da62503b53cdbe022622b4efb73957f8.jpg

Started work on the platform

20200415_122844.thumb.jpg.26fc1988a1240de20f1eef5067cb2a27.jpg

And put the engine cover together

20200415_131250.thumb.jpg.5537e83b773084fcfa80104e64c4346d.jpg

20200415_135000.thumb.jpg.e19af8e09cfb134a88cfd20d4797227e.jpg

Fuel tank and fenders on

20200415_164929.thumb.jpg.126b93052caa51de705149d1b4b5309f.jpg

20200415_165003.thumb.jpg.2414505708ffade46eb9ef4cd6fa7569.jpg

I just have the winch, 5th wheel, platforms and spare tire left

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for all the kind comments. I finished this puppy up today. I used some thread for the winch cable, and painted it metallic gray. I'm not sure if it was normally stowed at the rear of the tractor, or at the winch itself. I just left it on the winch. I made some more strap material for the spare tire. I also made the whip antenna, and the suzi coils. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I'll post it in the under glass section

20200416_094401.thumb.jpg.a83814f08191d3e2906a1a4c8ba54e50.jpg

20200416_103903.thumb.jpg.2514fdd310c3d59c5c46f3e48c074a36.jpg

20200416_113413.thumb.jpg.38835e08a47164a2061bc2946ec2d6bc.jpg

The kit came with a PE ratchet strap for the spare. I made some strap material from masking tape that I painted yellow. They may have had olive green straps or something, but I just wanted something to stand out a little.

20200416_122328.thumb.jpg.75419022eda6b226ce54c0af59e85336.jpg

20200416_173554.thumb.jpg.35b43780ce304b84359a1bbd6ba3b0f8.jpg

I also made some suzi coils from wire material that I had

20200416_145732.thumb.jpg.3e9e9a3fbf919dc32e63ec3c444fe69b.jpg

20200416_173559.thumb.jpg.3d45ca179105be638106033ad5c1f6a1.jpg

I'll post it in the under glass section

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...