Lend/Lease Seep (Ford GPA) PE round 2 28.5

[dierk]

In an effort to rekindle my mojo I picked something out of my stash that should be relatively straight-forward. As references I'm using the pretty excellent Squadron Walkaround of the DUKW and GPA and this pic (for discussion purposes only):



The Tammy kit is the one with the ICM Russian soldiers, the 12.7mm Dushka is by TANK and I'm still waiting for the Voyager PE set.

Here's a dry-fit mock-up to show you where I'm heading with this:



The main problem with the kit is that the screws on the deck look like rivets, so I've started slicing their tops of and putting a slot in with a #11 blade



Paintjob will be based on a technique developed by Michael Rinaldi

[Leon]

Cool looking project Dierk!

[TRM]

Very interesting!! Off to a great start Dierk!

[panzerjager2]

 Welcome back my friend...VERY cool subject for a build...... 
PJ2
I've got a couple of these babies in my stash

[sturmbird]

I never knew anybody did this one. The idea of Russian use is fantastic.
gary

[dierk]

Well, that's the front row full - hope you brought plenty of snacks and beverages: with the way things are around mine at the moment I may be some time
Thanks for the interest and I'll hope to keep you entertained for the duration.
I'm particularly looking forward to the paintjob as it'll be terra incognita for me, not having done OD since I was a kid and still painted everything with enamels using hairy sticks. With OD having been baked on in the factory it'll be something totally new to me doing a paintjob that isn't chipped, but worn.

That Academy kit looks interesting - never seen it before.

[S e r z h]

Dierk - interesting idea! Good luck!

[panzerjager2]

Dierk you know me, if there's a 1/25th scale military kit out there I have it............

Keep up the good work... 
PJ2

[dierk]

The order I placed with Lucky Model before last Xmas finally arrived today! And this was one of the three items I had ordered:



It is very comprehensive, and I hope it doesn't kill off my mojo.
Currently I'm painting and assembling the DShK - pics when it's done.

[dierk]

Some progress with the DShK:

[Leon]

That looks good Dierk!

[dierk]

Cheers Leon!

That's it, no going back: I've started cutting and sanding off plastic details to be replaced by PE. As mentioned previously, the Voyager set is very comprehensive: you get seven A4 pages of instructions as well as all this:

[jsteinman]

[dierk]

Round one of PEage:



Despite the extreme care taken when removing the various levers from the sprue, the knob of the gearlever went West as did part of one of the levers for the transfer box. Comparing them to photo's the ones for the transfer box were wrong anyway, so a bit of scratching was called for. My first attempt at making the rubber boot from 2 component putty was a failure, so I made one from a 2mm length of styrene rod, added levers from 3.2mm wire with knobs made from Bondic.

Thanks for taking the time to have a look, and ACW

[joelsmith]

Great recovery on the knobs!

[panzerjager2]

As always my friend FAN-DANG-TASTIC work....the heavy MG looks awesome. 
PJ2

[Leon]

PE work looks good and nice bit of scratch work to boot!

[k1w1]

Pleased to hear that your knob problem is now resolved.

[wbill76]

Right up your alley there Dierk! Looking forward to seeing you bring this one together.

[dierk]

Getting little time for modelling at the moment.
But a bit of progress: I made some seat cushions from Tamiya 2 part putty:



Got to add three press studs to the top edge of both the driver's and passenger's seat.
Also ordered the Archer dry transfer set.

[joelsmith]

You're really kicking it in to shape Dierk!

[Leon]

Nice work on the cushions Dierk!

[dierk]

Managed to get the right side inside wall finished - only nine parts In the process I popped another cherry: I'd never done seat cushions made of two part putty before, and now I've done handles made of styrene rod for the first time. Everything's just dry-fitted at the mo - I'll have to paint it in sub-assemblies:





Unfortunately, the Voyager instructions are open to interpretation at times, so I'm really glad I invested in the Squadron walkaround. Despite being somewhat on the comprehensive side, the PE set is by no means complete. For instance: on the left inside wall (see next installment) there's a really nice operating mechanism for the engine breather/air-supply, even has a choice of two mounting brackets, but the linkeage that operates the flap coving the air-intake grill is not only missing, but there's no mention of it either - but the hole for the linkeage is there.

[Leon]

Fine looking work there Dierk!

[panzerjager2]

AWESOME update my friend...... 
PJ2

[wbill76]

Sounds about right for Voyager sets Dierk, sometimes they tend to leave a lot to the 'you can figure it out on your own if we give you enough clues' approach. Looking shiny in that interior!