Italeri DUKW

[RangerNeil]

Whilst waiting for the decals etc to finish the OT-90 build I am cracking on with the second of the "lost kits" - the DUKW also by Italeri. You would not believe the two kits come from the same maker - the DUKW is a far better quality moulding and plastic.
When found the hull had been assembled and the decking started on - dashboard, transmission levers and I/P are in.



Tonight the deck was cemented to the hull and a start made on filling some of the bigger visible holes - i.e the winch platform on the stern. Some of the small hull details were painted on the sprue and the wheels assembled. They went together very well with only the most minimal of seam lines that was easily sanded down.

[Tomcat64]

After seeing what you did with the BMP I'm really looking forward to seeing what you do with this "barn find"

[RangerNeil]

After seeing what you did with the BMP I'm really looking forward to seeing what you do with this "barn find"

Thanks for the kind words sir!

The paint arrived today, Humbrol #155 Olive Drab, so I can now crack on now...

[Twokidsnosleep]

Cool project
Have seen these driving around Seattle as a tour attraction “Ride the Duck”

[digger303]

Cool be able to sit a other model in the back as well and won't take up as much shelf space....win win.

[RangerNeil]

Prior to getting the brushes out and whilst waiting for the Olive Drab to arrive I cleaned up the painted hull and gave both the spues and it a quick coat of acrylic primer to makes sure there would be no problems applying an acrylic colour coat. Thankfully there were no reactions (after the Tu-160 incident I am a tad paranoid about putting acrylic over enamel or vice versa!!).





The paint arrived just after mid-day so I got stuck in. As pictured below 2 thin coats have been applied and I think that will be enough now. Not a bad finish for a brush I think. Tomorow I can start looking at the instruction sheet again and go for some assembly work. The kit comes with three options of marking - 2 US Army in Europe (Normandy '44 and Germany '45) and 1 for US Marines at Iwo Jima in '45. Sadly no British or Soviet Army markings! Ah well. I don't feel inclined to go looking for alternative markings now so I'll for the Normandy 44 markings I think.

[RangerNeil]

Cool be able to sit a other model in the back as well and won't take up as much shelf space....win win.

Ooohhh - that is GOOD thinking Digger - one of the smaller helicopters may well fit nicely!!! Thanks

[digger303]

Cool be able to sit a other model in the back as well and won't take up as much shelf space....win win.

Ooohhh - that is GOOD thinking Digger - one of the smaller helicopters may well fit nicely!!! Thanks

Was thinking jeep or artillery piece...helicopter never ever entered my mind...you'v blown me away

[RangerNeil]

Got a bit more done today Mainly on the underside assembling the front and rear suspensions, persuading them to fit the chassis and then installing them, the drive shafts and the wheels. Everything "below the waterline" is now completed. This has been the biggest struggle thus far. Nothing fitted properly. The axles had to fit through holes in the spring assemblies - and put bluntly they did't. I had to spend a considerable amount of time on each side of the 3 axles scraping and sanding to reduce then to a point where the axle collars could be worked down to the stops. And then I found all three drive shafts were a millimetre or so too short.... I wound up cementing the end of the shaft to the axle and positioning the end that is meant to go through the hull roughly in line with the hole for it then waiting for the cement to set. Unless you are REALLY looking for it it doesn't notice - but it is an annoyance. Not what I expect from Italeri, esp. after the rest of the kit had gone together so well. But enough waffle - onto the photos

Front suspension and axle in place


Rear axles and suspension in place


Rear suspension up close


Front suspension up close


Sat on its wheels for the very first time!

[digger303]

[RangerNeil]

As of tonight the primary vehicle is completed. I have the decals to to apply and the rope fenders fore and aft and that will be it. Its not bee a bad build - straight out of the box, no mod. A couple of little niggles - like mounting holes being too small and needing opening out with the appropriate size drill, And the angle of the windscreen not matching that of the side frames, But nothing more than that.

[Hawkmoon]

As of tonight the primary vehicle is completed. I have the decals to to apply and the rope fenders fore and aft and that will be it. Its not bee a bad build - straight out of the box, no mod. A couple of little niggles - like mounting holes being too small and needing opening out with the appropriate size drill, And the angle of the windscreen not matching that of the side frames, But nothing more than that.

Typical Italeri then but she floats and looks the part nice work that man

[digger303]

Looking forward to the last bits of decoration so far so good

[RangerNeil]

I am calling this one done now. Decals and fender and minor parts are on. I opted to build it OOB with no extras or effects. I need the funds to get some matt varnish - I think silk would look wrong on this - but I am not sure at the moment when I can get that. Anyways - pictures:

As a reminder - this was how I found it after a few years...


And this is the DUKW now....

[digger303]

Finished and it still has it's mirrors
nice job

[RangerNeil]

Finished and it still has it's mirrors
nice job

Those were absolutely the very last pieces to go on!! I'll happily admit to a degree of stupidity when it comes to modelling - but I am not that dumb!!

[Tomcat64]

Really nice work knocking that into shape - that's a cracking result!