Converting a Hasbro M8 Greyhound to an M20 Command Car

Dave,

With regards to the tyres I will use matt Black and weather them so it should look ok.

Miguel,

:biggrin:

Regards
Tom

 

Gave the M20 a spray coat of correct Olive Drab and left it drying in the garden sunshine. (Makes a Change after all the rain)

Slowly getting there.



Regards
Tom

 

That's looking rather good, and the tyres turned out alright. What's next?

 

Dave I blew a bit of the Olive Drab on the tyres, so they are really not yet finished, but will be muddied up.

I have just started cutting up some material for groundsheets etc, which will be used for clutter.

The large Groundsheet Tarpauline that both the M8/M20 carried, was 12feet square and covered most of the vehicle.
Smaller Tarpaulins and Blankets were also carried internally and externally.

A shovel will be on the front right Hand side on the top decking which has a Piece shaped like the front of a spade to insert the blade.

The Ariels are Standard R/C Heng Long products and look realistic enough.

I have extra .50 Cal Boxes and Camo netting, so it should end up well cluttered just like the real thing.

The Greyhound was considred very cramped by the Crews, hence the amount of items strapped to most places.

When it is finished (If a model is ever finished), then I plan on making a start with my Sherman 105 kit, but not sure If I will put the 75mm on to go with it's older brother!

Regards
Tom

 

Just finished making up quite a few tarpaulins this afternoon.

The Olive Cotton material Looks quite good when folded and rolled up with Cotton ties.

Places a bit of Equipment on it to give an idea of what it will look like when finished.



Regards
Tom

 

Looking fantastic Tom, looking forward to seeing it with the Sherman.

 

Mike,

Here you go.

Comparison sizes with a Sherman, but unfortunately rain stopped play in the garden so I had to take them indoors.




Regards
Tom

 

I like it, but I imagine very difficult to get away from something that looks like an Action Man vehicle?

The bolting and welding are super, and I like very much that finish of the bracket holding the .50. It has that look of painted metal straight from the factory. On something this scale, I guess you can replicate wear and tear exactly as it would occur on a real vehicle, so you would have to make sure scratches and rubbing are in the correct direction. Very interesting, but how do you get the fabric bags and rolls, etc to look worn? Send it through the washing machine, put in the sun to fade, gentle dyeing? All very interesting, well it is to me as a small scale modeller!

Do you only do American subjects? I reckon a Universal Carrier would look great at this scale.

 

Dave,

I picked up the Hasbro Action Man vehicle on a flea market and it was only when I measured it that I found that several scales had been used.

An exercise in kit bashing and attempting to make something reasonable from the original vehicle that would pass with my true 1/6 th scale vehicles.

I do have have a kit in the waiting, an SAS NW European Theatre Jeep with Double Vickers, but mostly are German and US.

Aging the material is not something that I have undertaken before, but I believe cold tea works wonders!

Regards
Tom

 

Getting there Tom, but use only the cheap tea and keep the good stuff for yourself

 

Tea does work, I remember using it as a boy to stain a net bandage for use as a camo net.

 

I ended up using tea and Tamiya camo powders.

The results are quite good and all look pretty well worn.

I have also really muddied up the lower Body work and wheels and it now Looks like it has gone through a muddy ploughed up field.

I will take some photos and post them when I have a Minute ot two spare.

Regards
Tom

 

But then what colour would you paint Grey Panzers? Or are you implying they were made of rubber?

 

The netting on the rear covering the tarpaulins and clutter is an ex Bundeswehr Mosquito net head Piece.

I am still on a learning curve with regards to weathering.

Whilst looking at many photographs of American WW2 M8's and M20's, it is apparent that some were not marked with White stars, but with the normal Serial numbers and carrying a High Visibility Strip on the rear decking.

Can anyone say if this was a deliberate act of leaving off or removing as it provided an aiming Point?

I know that this was the case with the German White Balken cross during the Polish Campaign and wondered if this was a similar case?



Regards
Tom

 

I took Advantage of a Little sunshine this afternoon and took a few snaps of the vehicle in daylight to show the heavy weathering I have applied.

Comments appreciated as this is my first serious attempt at heavy weathering.











Regards
Tom

 

Looking really great Tom, you're absolutely on the right track

How big is that thing, by the way?

And not the slightest trace of black on those tyres after all, if there is it's buried under all that dust!

 

Miguel,

Take a look at post No 27 and you will see how it compares with a Sherman!

I got carried away with the mud after looking at many reference photographs, both before and around the time of the Ardenne offensive.

There was so much mud about that a lot of Crews took off the large Fenders (only bolted on) as they clogged up with mud.

Regards
Tom

 

That is a wonderful job Tom.....in that scale the detail just has to be there and be right and you have nailed it....an absolute top-notch build and paint job!

Cheers,

Neil

 

Thank you all for the Kind comments.

Just a few bits to finish her off, mostly internal and then I can screw her back together.

Sometimes frustrating with the different scales involved, but the aim was to make this GIJoe vehicle a Little more realistic and I believe that I have achieved that Goal and had a lot of fun along the way.

Regards
Tom