Custom Built 1/18 M-26 Dragon Wagon

[yt]

I have a large 1/18 scale military toy collection. This is actually more like 1/20th scale. I wish my photography skills were half as good as my modeling skills. Everything looks so washed out. I am fairly pleased with the end result. If anyone is interested I can post more pictures of the build process.

I started with this:



And ended up with this:







Kilroy was here.












Removable tie downs for the tank.




A little black & white action.

 

[MooCriket]

Great work and attention to detail on the weathering! I'd love to see the wip:cool

 

[yt]

Sure, I am glad to see someone interested.


I finally got around to starting on my True Heroes Dragon Wagon conversion. I am setting out to see how much of this I can do with found aka free stuff. The styrene sheet I am using is from hotel key cards and gift cards. The styrene bits and copper tube are leftovers from other projects. I have some cool chain left over from plumbing repairs and I plan on scratching new headlights out of some pen parts and syringe plungers for the lenses. I made the cover over the hatch in front of the turret out of a sheet magnet so I can remove it for figure placement. It will have a camo net strapped over it. Although under scale, I think this can look pretty cool with some detail work and a nice paint job.

 

[yt]

Some more work tonight:

Added lights on the cab back, handles and levers for the winch system, and the crane. Lenses will be added to the lights after painting.


Closeup of the levers and handles and what will become the gas cylinders.


Added headlights and brush guards. The driverside guard looks bad and will have to be re-worked.


Had to see how it was coming together.

 

[yt]

A little more work this past weekend:

Dremeled off the terrible molded on cable and hook and filled. I also worked up a cover to add actual shovel and ax to cover up the molded on versions. The cover is just sitting on, it will not be attached until after the painting. I also decided to use brass tubing for the muffler, I will drill out some vent holes.


Reworked the driver brushguard and added another light. Removed the hedge chopper thingie and filled. Added I-beams and worked on the headlight mounts.



Added some more detail on the boom and filled in the dinosaur claw marks on the door, yes I said dino claw marks. Also added some more control handles.



I am thinking about removing the molded on "jugs" on the bottom of the cab and adding a few detail plates and then I am ready for paint.

 

[yt]

I got most of the detail work done on the cab including removing the molded on fire extinguishers, adding side view mirrors and a dash. Also got the pre-shade/primer coat done. I am going to have to order the diamond plate for the trailer online, so I went ahead with the cab painting.

 

[yt]

I got the OD base coat on today. I debated on Tamiya or Model Master and ended up going with the Modelmaster. The brightness should get cut down with washes and weathering. I also got started on the trailer but that should go pretty fast.

 

[yt]

I got the detail work and the base coat done on the trailer. Next is glossy coat and decals followed by weathering.

 

[yt]

Quick and dirty low quality pic in the midst of the decal process.