Panzershop MAZ-543 com guindaste.

Me lembrei desta estupenda conversão que o Mr. Dave Foster está fazendo em scratch:

Not strictly a military vehicle, but the donor kit, Dragons Scud launcher, is well known so maybe someone will be interested in what I am doing to it.

The AA60 is an airport fire tender based on the MAZ543 chassis.

I chose not to tackle the major issues with the undercarriage as the model will be 'kerbside', and the work involved to correct Dragons effort would amount to a complete scratchbuild of the chassis and suspension.

First I had to fix warpage of the chassis rails, which fortunately was resolved simply by plating the rails with some 30 thou sheet and applying some weight while the cement dried. I then shortened the pannier boxes.
[img]?1[/img]

The drivers compartment is supplied with just a seat, steering wheel and brake lever so I tackled some extra detailing.
[img]?1[/img]

I then started work on the bridging bodywork between the pannier boxes.
[img]?1[/img]

After painting the insides of the crew compartment they were fitted ready for work to start on the tanker body. At this stage I made and fitted the coolant tank between the front left hand wheels.
[img][/img]

I made a crude jig to assist with building the tank.The tank structure is from 30 thou formers on a couple of 1/4" tubes.
[img][/img]

The skin of the tank is 20 thou sheet, here being held with cable ties while the cement dries.
[img][/img]

Tank fitted!
[img][/img]

With the tank fitted I added additional detail to the body panels between the panniers.
[img][/img]

Then it was bodybuilding.
[img][/img]
[img][/img]

So thats all the major construction work out the way. now its lots of detailing and construction of the manually operated foam monitor which mounts above the engine compartment. Should keep me quiet for a few months.

Been making steady progress on this, although I seem to be spending almost as much time making jigs and tools as I am on the actual build!

Scabbed 5 thou sheet styrene onto the body to represent the locker doors, added walkways from 30 thou square. Detailed the two storage bins on the rear deck and made the tank filler caps.
[img][/img]
[img][/img]
[img][/img]

Added the steps to the rear...not finished yet, there are up-locks for the centre folding steps to be added, and the rear lights which I had half made then decided I did not like them so will have to have another try.
[img][/img]

Started building the foam monitor that dominates the front. Firstly made the A frame and feed pipe.
[img][/img]
[img][/img]

Then started making the components for the monitor.
[img]