The Creative Explorer

I didn't know that something learned today ;-) I've been able to work a tiny bit again, progress is slow, as everything has to be measured and made to fit. So it is basically one part at a time and hope it will work later on. When dryfitting the engine, I noticed the Renault has a mid-engine as it is between the front and back axle. Where a Scania has the engine before the axle. As a result, the engine is still underneath the cabin. I had to think about it for a bit, as I could go curbside and leave it as is. But where is the fun in that? So I went on and go the extra mile, the engine is going to be placed in front of the front axle and the rest will be adjusted according so. First, I started with cutting off the oilpan and reversed it. Here are a few pictures of the old situation And the new situation

oops

Yes, appearantly so. I was quite amazed by that actually. I do not know much about trucks, but do know that V8's in European trucks are special. So when I was digging for info about the motor, I noted it was a V8, which I thought was peculiar. And after some searching, it appears that the Magnum was available with a Mack V8. Which actually suits this model just perfect.

Seen from the underside. And completely painted in a light grey (for now, the chassis will end up gloss black) It is new to me, to spray everything in the same color. But I think I will try a wash on it, when it has its final color. And a combined view with the cabin. I think I have the dimensions correct...

Thanks Tom! I know I am trying to make something out of a already weird truck, but I am so convinced I can pull it off. Maybe I am just overestimating myself... Progress is going slow, there is a lot to do around the house and so my attention isn't at modelbuilding much (again). But from time to time, I manage to find a lost hour and work a bit on the Renault. I have never built a truck before, so I don't know what the usual route is to build a truck, therefore I am mostly guessing on how to tackle a custom truck. My plan is to finish the chassis and start from there to build the cabin and when the cabin is on, I want to start working on making a hood. I am also starting on sanding and finishing the sidepanels, this will give me a better indication later on. working on the chassis, also means working on the engine. To my suprise, this Renault holds a American V8, actually, it is perfect for this build. Most of the rear-suspension is refurbished and placed on the chassis again.

Thanks guys for the comments! I am really not into the viewer statistics, but I thought it was a bit remarkable And I know for sure, that this project is what a lot of truck modelers would disgust. But hey, it is my pile of styrene . I think, with what is in my head, I can make something nice out of it. I just have to consider things along the way. I have a nice thought for the hood and probably will seal the look. I've worked today a bit more on the frame, when I had it next to the mockup, it seemed a bit short on the back end, and the rear wheel would be too far forward. So I cut the frame again and lengthened it with 6cm. That makes a total of 10cm or 4 inches of length extra. Working on a truck is so much different than working with on a car. When I want to customize a car, I have to finish the body before I can do the rest, with a truck I need to finish the frame and everything else, before I can customize the cabin Next to the mockup with the extra section And enough clearance to the back

The original fender next to the shortened I shortened the front Which compares as follows with the original

I extended the frame with roughly a inch and a half A rough idea of the truck, the back end is only for imaginative purposes. And I am going to lower the cabin, since it towers quite a lot. Together with the back, it would look silly

141 views and not a single reply, something tells me that the Magnum isn't yours favourite ;-) I've finished the Trabant and got myself another Renault Magnum build kit, an older version, but that is ok. A fellow modeller offered me the kit, since I have literally no truck parts, as this is my first truck I am going to build (besides the Krupp, but that was a review). I had some more thoughts on the 'Torpille', The nose is too long, as pictured above, so I studied the Scania Torpedo and tried to use those lines somewhat. I also decided to make a different back end, and it will have a modern racehauler look to it. A bit like this: This is how the Magnum originally should look like And somewhat of a crude rendering of what it is going to be In this rendering, I extended the nose, a bit too mucht, but to get the idea (don't pay attention to the headlights) And the work starts....

Thanks again guys! I am glad you all like it About the hitch, one needs to understand that in Europe, the use of the hitch is a lot different. My wife is American and thought it was ridiculous that normal passenger cars over here have a hitch, Whilst in the States, only the heavier vehicles have one. Over here we use it to tow small trailers, fold-up tent-trailers, bike racks and caravan's (campers). Even though the Trabant can not haul anything very heavy, a small trailer is absolutely possible and would be considered normal. Here is my car hauling a large small trailer And hauling somewhat bigger caravan

Thanks guys for the complements! Very much appreciated. @Geoff: nope, it flew together, very nice fit, although strong joint-lines that need clean up. But that's it. @Michael: The XDX decal came with the decalsheet, which has very nice decals, they are perfect! Extremely close trimmed and go to the car with so much ease and has a very nice gloss.

Well, I finished my review model of the Trabant Universal. It is a amazingly nice model, it flew together and the decals are great. There are some minor issues, but nothing not solvable. I tried to replicate the car that was shown in the Revell presentation at ROG HQ, it isn't exactly, but for me close enough. And I took some liberties, as I had only 1 photo. This is the original car: And this is my build of it:

Is it me, or do they don't show the roof of the Generaal Lee on purpose?

@Peekay, it started with the Enzo and SLS and they are for sure making good steps. I am emailing with herr Ulli (head of R&D) lately and just told him today that it is very close to Japanese kits nowadays. I am working on a review-kit of this Trabant Universal for the Dutch IPMS, and even though I wouldn't say that it is near Tamiya-quality, it is a huge step from their old products. When I was at Revell HQ 2 weeks ago, I could compare the old Trabant from the nineties with the latest ones and boy, there is a gap! Herr Ulli told us that the old Trabant was their worst kit ever made (and best sold too :-D). @Foxer; not very loved outside the DDR, but very loved within the DDR. It is a cult-car, just like the beetle.

Why bump it? Craving for attention?

These are the latest purchases, the new Revell kits come from the HQ in Germany and the rest are local finds. I seriously need to stop buying now and start build some more.

Dunno what it is yet, but I do kinda like it

When I went to Revell last friday, I got home with some of the Renault Magnum parts, I don't know how I got to it, but got me somewhere along the line of thinking a long nosed version. I had some time over last night, after working on the Trabant and made a dry-fit of my thoughts. It is clear that the cabin is too far back, but it has some nice lines to it and I think it might going to work out.

Nope, nothing but German and now and then a word of Dutch for the fun of it.

I'm glad I had the van with me, it doesn't like much in the pictures, but all those kits combined is a lot of space!

Well, I'm back I got back on friday already, but was busy on saturday, so didn't had time to post until now. Unfortunately, I have no pics whatsoever, we were asked if we already visited the Revell plant before and I did, so we were sent directly to the store and it was mayhem, shelfs got raided and parts were flying everywhere, no kidding. I came home with this bunch: I also got myself 3 bags of parts, mostly truck and car. And a whole lot of decals plenty of pinstriping there The Trabant was a gift from Revell to us, unfortunately/luckily, I received that very kit 1 day before my trip to Germany as a reviewmodel for the IPMS. So, now I got 2 of 'em and I can build one box-stock and have fun with the other one.

Order Tamiya tape at HLJ, costs are very low, just as shipping.