And so it begins. Tamiya’s venerable M577 with Eduard’s Exterior PE, SKP Model’s Lenses and Taillights, Legend’s resin Detailing Set, and AFV Club’s Workable Tracks (which really are NOT workable).
I’ve only just started removing some of the fixture points on the underside of the hull and ramp along with filling in the motorization holes on the bottom.
I’m probably going to do this one up as the Operations track for 2nd Bn, 75th FA (we were GS(?) to V Corps out of Hanau, Germany) - my first track as the driver way back in 1982 as a PFC.
More for my 1:300 diorama of Corps Main, from the wargaming firm Heroics & Ros - just arrived. Nearly every Staff complex that formed the HQ had Land Rovers (and trailers) so I felt I had to top-up a bit. Some will be utilised for a further HQ dio of a Divisional HQ.
Additional models are of a US truck, that somehow, I’ve got to convert to an office variant, ditto the Gama Goat; ‘not too sure how to achieve this as they are cast in quite a hard metal. There was nearly always a US presence on our exercises back then. Also, at the rear (top left) are 2 x Signals vehicles on the Bedford MK chassis; the MK had only just come into service back then so I may have to swap/modify these to model the earlier RL. I’ll also have to manufacture the respective masts:
Others are a VW Beetle as part of a German road will be depicted and I thought I needed an indication of civilian traffic; a motorcycle combination which I intend to modify as a singleton cycle to represent the Postal & Courier element of the Royal Engineers, who despatched some of our paperwork. In this scale it’s not much more than a blob so I may not bother. Amongst the Land Rovers is the half-ton air portable variant which I thought I’d try and modify to a Minerva Land Rover to portray the Belgian LO’s vehicle. I’m beginning to find that working in this scale is more demanding than I thought it would be.
Lastly, at the front is what is meant to be a Westland Wasp which I thought would be easy enough to convert into a Scout, the helicopter in use at the time. Looking at this very simplified casting I’m now not so sure(!)
I was going to do the hull and turret in flat black, but I’m having second thoughts now as it comes out pretty dull.
Bearing in mind this was a pretty important parade for the RTR, and Nomad was center stage for it, it would of been painted and looked after right up to the drive on during the parade so it wouldn’t have had chance to get dirty upto the drive on. It did rain during the parade so there is some colour variation, but I want to go for a pre drive on look.
Im thinking of going back to the Halfords Matt black spray I’ve used before, it gives a nice crisp coat, and it leaves a very very faint satin look, … Will give that some thought as I am waiting for my black panel liner and med grey wash to arrive from AMS…
You know John, the mr surfacer 1500 black primer leaves a really nice finish, especially if used with mr levelling thinner, could be a perfect base colour for this…
That looks very good like that Jim, I’d forgotten all about that primer you used on the Leo … The Mr S black primary is definitely going on the to get list when I do my next order from wherever… Good call I will give the Halfords rattle can a blast first though as I just want to get this one move along a bit…
I may give it one more quick overspray to catch a couple of areas that were thin, but will decide later as the wash and filter may take of that…
I also sprayed my old Tiger 1 in the black
so I can practice with the AK black cam panel liner / wash and the neutral grey wash as I want to keep Mr screwup at bay…
Oh, and the empty rear fuel drum carriers turned out ok as well
Lol… Yeah, it’s a tank tank in the water tank… SWMBO got it for me last Xmas as a joke pressie as she knows of my love of tanks lol… She also got me the mini aquarium at the same time…
I do like the Chally in black … looks mean…
Got all the bits on the big old back end …
A frame bar, butterfly, drum frames and now the lights are unmasked. Have to paint the T piece in the butterfly mount.
Bearing in mind this is neat, I think once it’s thinned down, I will definitely get the finish I want over the black as it’s only being applied in certain areas, and not all over…?
Certain areas are going to get a Tamiya flat black or rubber black hand brush to give them a dull / matt finish, and there will be some very very light dust to the running gear, very bottom of side plates and the rear hull plate.
when new, the actual rubber mud flaps do come with a very slight sheen to them, so there are not a normal matt to begin life … that comes in time and wear and tear.
Also, the greyer areas on Nomad are down to it being rainy on the actual parade day as it took place and leaving run off marks on it which acted with the dust already there from the drive to the parade itself.
I didn’t realize initially that this was Tamiya’s M113 with added M577 parts until it was mentioned. Cool thing is IF I can replicate it properly, is where the “extension” for the M577 along the sides and rear were added, there’s a weld line. I distinctly remember one or more of my M577’s had this. Way back 30 or 40 years I probably knew what this was from - now I’m remembering it. Heh.
