Yeah, I’d never seen the color go that dark before! I was starting to consider just picking up a rattle can of red primer and using that but I’m glad this worked out. Onward and upward!
I’m going to seal this while I’m working on the tie-downs for the sides of the bed. .022mm solder, a pin vise bit and a little CA. How long could it take?! 
Hmm…is that the rumble of foreshadowing?! 
The cargo bed is progressing…
I made the new tie-down points out of the afore mentioned .022 mm solder. I think they look OK. They aren’t all perfectly uniform; but still.
I used Tamiya XF-67 NATO Green as the base color. I then put on a light coat of flat varnish and a hairspray coat.
The top coat is Taimya XF-78 Deck Tan.
Hopefully work won’t get in the way too much and I can start chipping and maybe touch up a couple areas. More to follow.
They shouldn’t be uniform after repeated use they bend, and some are missing I think it looks great
Thanks! I was thinking that there would be a fair amount of wear and tear; but you know how the rabid rivet counters get! 
Rivet counters are no match for the average private in military. I cannot count the amount of time as a maintainer that I have walked up to a group of soldiers and had a hard time figuring out how or why what they broke was broke.
A private can tear up a crowbar in ten minutes!
very true
Here’s how the scratching and chipping turned out on the bed too.
I didn’t want to get crazy with it since a lot of it is going to be covered up by the gun mounts and gear I’m working on.
Looking good. I like the tie-downs and how the bed turned out.
Thanks, Gino! Hairspray chipping is still something I’m pretty new at. It’s a fine line between realistic and overdone.
I guess in the end, it’s only paint!
Here are the sides of the cargo bed chipped and dry brushed. I still have to paint the reflectors and side lights.
Looking good Richard, I’m following along in the back ground being no expert but watching as I may try and convert the Academy 1/72 M977 into a guntruck. Not sure if anyone does a conversion set but doesn’t look too hard to scratch a conversion, suppose the hardest bit in 1/72 is finding the weapons.
Thanks! I try not to get too heavy handed with weathering. I wanted the tan to look like it was put on in the field. I’ve painted vehicles out in the wild a couple times so I know it shouldn’t be showroom perfect.
Good luck with yours! Feel free to ask any questions here. There are some pretty knowledgeable folks here. I know enough to be dangerous!
The bed has been assembled! 
After I get my chores done I’ll be allowed to play with my toys some more! Hopefully get the armor plating put together! 
The bed armor is finished! It was my first time using AK’s Rust Deposits set.
I don’t know how much work I’ll be able to do on it this week. I’m going to the lake next weekend so I’ve gotta start getting my gear ready.
After a fun weekend at the lake playing ham radio guy, I managed to find some time today to get the turret ring mounted to the cab.
I’ve got the Mark 19s and the Ma Deuces painted and dusted with some Mig Gun Metal pigment. I still have to paint the shields and ammo; but for being a dog of a kit I’m actually liking how it’s coming together.
It is coming along great. The old Italeri kits can still come out pretty nicely with a bit of work.
Thanks, Gino! I’ve still got the assemble the crane and do some detailing on it then it will just be a matter of putting the finishing touches on the whole thing. 
Don’t forget this great article for the crane:
Roger that! 
Already got it bookmarked!
