Tracked HMMWV

[frank2056]

I like where this is going....What scale is this (sorry, if I missed that)?

Barry, It's in 1/35 - using the less than wonderful Italeri M998 and an old Italeri M113 (which was a good kit).

I haven't had much time in the last 2-3 weeks to work on my whiffs, but this is where this project is right now:



I'm not sure if I'm going to add the doors, or modify the rear and give it a flat rear wall. The roof is just on, so that's why it looks skewed. I still have a lot of PSR to do (not Sotoolslinger levels of PSR, but still a lot).

Frank

[frank2056]

Doesn't look like much, but I've made some progress on this. First, I removed the top from the rear roof and added support beams for the roof and what are now armor shields in the cargo section. I also did some work on the hood (or bonnet...):



I didn't like the original doors, so I made single, armored crew doors that'll swing up (and down) with hydraulics. I'll display them in the open position. They still need a lot of work:



Here's the heavily modified VIP from the Trumpeter PMC in Iraq set, next to the vehicle - "I'm not getting in that thing!"



The Trumpeter PMC figures aren't their worst, but they are very bad. Out of the box and with no properly proportioned figures from other makers nearby, they look OK, but they are too short for the scale and the feet are far too big for 1/35. The heads are poorly (embarrassingly so) sculpted and lumpy and the hands are deformed. The arms are too long in some of the figures.
My modifications include a roughly 1mm increase in height (at the waist) to make him look almost average height at 1/35 scale. I also slightly shortened the arms and trimmed and resculpted the shoes to make them look less like clown shoes. The head is a modified Warriors bald head. I added the hair with MagicSculp. It's not my best painting job, but it's OK.

[Doc Yo]

 people! Not a decent right-angle on 'em anywhere...

Figures are my least favorite part of any build, but you've definately put in the extra mile with this one.
The hair looks really good.

[frank2056]

people! Not a decent right-angle on 'em anywhere...

Figures are my least favorite part of any build, but you've definately put in the extra mile with this one.
The hair looks really good.

Thanks Craig - the concept behind the PMC figures is great... but the execution offended my sensibilities and I was just compelled to fix them up. Getting good skin tones is tough! The hair was fun, though. Not only did I give him a receding hairline, I gave him a bald spot, too.

[nev]

This is a cool idea, and I approve

[Swanny]

Great idea, an all terrain chopped top Hummer!

[Taiidantomcat]

Awesome concept!

[frank2056]

Which looks better?

Hard top:


or

Convertible:


The biggest advantage of the hardtop is much, much less interior (cargo, etc.) to build up.
I still have a lot to do to finish - add the interior, tracks, exterior doodads and the hardest part of all - figuring out a paint scheme.

[Taiidantomcat]

With the top looks good to me. I think it is more eye catching that way. 

[nev]

hardtop

[Doc Yo]

 Hardtop, definately. As to color scheme, I can't get the image of the old pink and white stripped "tourist
jeeps" of the 'sixties out of my head lately.

This is a great neat concept-wish I'd had a couple of these on that last trip to Pellucidar...

[cthulhu77]

Very nice work. Yeah, those figures are a bugger all.  I'd go with the hardtop as well.

[Army of One]

Hardtop....!! Lovely work as well.....

[sotoolslinger]

That is one effin cool vehicle right there oh and hardtop

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Which looks better?

Hard top: or Convertible:

Convertible of course!  Not that I was ever enamored with that version of the HMMWV to start with.  That extended cover over the cargo section always looked awkward and it restricted the field of fire for the cupola mounted gun at close range and depression angles.  If you opt for the convertible version it might not be a bad thing to cut down the side walls and make them even with the roof line over the main cab section.