As Doog pointed out, there have been a dearth of WIP threads here on the Armor forum, so to help liven this place up I’ll throw this one on here. It is not part of any GB on FSM, instead I am building it as part of our AMPS Chapter Group Build of HMMWVs. I actually did most of the construction last month at a “build night” that we had at IPMS last month. In hindsight I should have stopped construction and started my painting earlier in the process. The lightly painted areas where the airbrush had a hard time reaching due to spray angle that you can see in the flash photos are not, or not so visible in daylight with the Mk.I eyeball. I am building it OOB, with the exception of some mods I am making to the interior based on some photos I came across on Prime Portal
Anyways on to some in progress photos.
Basic construction and Flat Black painted on the undercarriage
the mods I made to the medical compartment interior: Lights w/mounts and wiring made from tube styrene, coiled copper wire, and the little nubs you cut off of parts; and the support straps for the upper stretcher racks that come down from the ceiling framework
with the ceiling in place (not glued) for an unpainted photo
and after I airbrushed on some Floquil NATO Green for the interior and some exterior areas
and with all the other parts that I have painted so far (and the roof placed, not glued, for a photo)
Another interesting subject, and thanks for posting it here Stik, we certainly could do with more armour threads. I take it its 35th scale, who makes the kit.
I’ve never seen a HMMV ambulance (I assume that’s what it is) will be nice to watch this one.
Yes it is the “Maxi” Ambulance version, the M997. There is also a low profile hard top M1035 ambulance that looks closer to the M998 soft top cargo/troop carrier. It is the Academy 1/35 kit.
I got bit by the modern armor bug when I was first assigned to a mech unit way back when. Only in the past 10 years or so when I retired from the Guard have I stopped keeping pace with it. I am most familiar with US, Soviet, and Bundeswehr stuff, but I know a bit of UK Cold War AFVs as well. Didn’t you crew on Warriors for a bit?
Ye, I was in an Armd Inf battalion for 12 years and spent 6 as a driver. I am ok with modern Brit stuff and when I was in the Anti tank platoon, I seemed to do well at AFV recognition. But when I left the AT role back in 98, I didn’t bother to keep up with it. And there wasn’t much in the way of enemy armour in Iraq to worry about. So I have let my knowledge of modern armour slip a lot.
The “Bandaid” looks good so far. I have built a couple of these over the years. They come out really nice. Legend has an update set labeled IDF HMMWV Ambulance, but it will also bring it up to current US standards. They have added a larger A/C unit that sticks out of the upper front plate more. The set goes for only about $10 too.
After building this one, I do want to do another. That Legends conversion with the AC unit looks like a great idea. And with the later mirrors? I will definitely be looking for it! Thanks for the heads up Gino!
Bish, I understand about not keeping current. I still have a passing interest in modern stuff though. And of course the stuff I served around will always be in my heart.
Thanks guys! This is a nice change from AFVs and my usual stuff.
Feldgrau, I helped run quite a few DZs over the years and we always had one nearby to hang out with. I even got to use their services (but never had to be evac’ed) on a few occasions from hard landings. Memories indeed!
During the past week I have been nickle and diming work in here I finished up the detail painting in the patient compartment area. Colors are based off of a walkaround in Prime Portal. I added some of my cheapy Hobby Lobby “bling” lenses into the roof lighting
Lookin’ good, Stick! The only time I got to ride in one of those was out at JRTC when it was still at Ft. Chaffee, AR. I was a PL with the 101st and we had some ‘enemy’ probing our lines…went out to my OP carrying a PRC-77 with a long whip antennae and linked up with my guys along a creek bed. The baddies called in arty and the fire markers came by and dropped some arty simulators. Everybody dove for cover, but unfortunately, my antennae got hung up in a tree over a gully. This left me hanging in the tree branch like a yo yo, completely at the mercy of the fire marker who quickly assessed me as a casualty with his God gun…
Pulling out my MILES casualty card, I found that I had a deep gash in my upper leg…So, my platoon packs me off to a casualty collection point, where I ‘died’ because the area was too hot for a MEDEVAC. Next thing I know, I’m in the back of a blacked out HMMWV ambulance (like this one), getting carted back to Graves Registration…that sucked! But at least it was just a war game!
Build is looking spot on, if my memory serves me right. I remember the corded work lights above my head…
