URAL APA-5D Airfield starter 1:35

[splinter]

Hi everyone!

This is my latest finished model. I made it in 8 months.

I started with old Alanger URAL 4320 kit + Eduard PE + NeOmega wheels + HAD models resin conversion but I had some bad luck with Alanger kit so I changed to new Trumpeter mold and added a few more details from scratch. Eduard PE and Neomega wheels were not used.

I counted +600 parts...

I used walkarounds photos from Chelyabinsk (Shagol AFB) in Russia.

My intention was never a 1:1 copy of that particular airfield starter - those photos were more like an inspiration, a guideline for me ..

http://walkarounds.scalemodels.ru/v/walkarounds/autos/APA-5D+Shagol/

Starter was painted with Russian 4BO set + white and weathering was made with rust track, dark steel and black pigments, and washed with Africa Dust - all from AK Interactive.

Chassis is Model Master 1749 Flat black + washed Africa Dust later. For cabin interior I used 15-20 paints.

There are around 700 WIP photos on my home forum, so I will dig some up for you in my next post during weekend.... Stay tuned...

[fredben]

That looks a fantastic build, it looks huge, colour and weathering are brilliant. Needs a driver or something next to it to compare size. The dusting on the wheels make it that extra special.

[Mr Grumpylee]

I'm with Colin on this one, that's fantastic! Well done

Lee

[batcode]

very nice work , great job on the paint and weathering looks great, something don't see much, ive got the 1/72 offering to build at some point

[splinter]

Where to start?

With Alanger kit, which was only one available for many years... Full of sink marks, soft plastic, lack of details...

Only APA-5D in 1/35 scale I saw was from HADman himself... You can find his work here:

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/234921022-ural-apa-5d-conversion-with-the-had-set-135/

He built his APA with one big mistake: space between mudguards on the generator and wheels on Alanger kit were not equal on 2nd and 3rd axle. This way he had no space for fuel tank on Alanger kit, so he shortened it for 6 mm! He also wrote in his instructions that modelers should do the same.

I did opposite... I cut the chassis frame on 2 places. Cutted piece of frame was then moved forward. This way I virtually moved 2nd and 3rd axle back for 6 mm, leaving space for fuel tank.

This way I got needed simetry

Becaus of many issues I had with Alanger kit, I moved to Trumpeter kit in the end. THis was last photo with Alanger kit.

This is Trumpeter cabin dryfit with complete chassis and wheels on.

Here you can see that same problem with mudguards is present on Trumpeter kit.

This time I cut again, but only for 4 mm plug.

I also had to lengthen universal joint axle for 4 mm, between cardan reductor (gearbox) and 2nd axle. You can see the white plug here.

This is final result after cutting: there is enough space for complete fuel tank, spare wheel frame, ladders, and mudguards.

I also had to cut front starboard mudguard, to accommodate air brakes tank. This solution can also be found on real APA.

Only thing I took from Alanger is muffler... Trumpeter provided toy-like muffler - this is biggest issue with URAL kit.

Here is power generator with some details... Back board I made from scratch, because the one I got in HAD box was totally bend (thin resin).

Soldered arms...

Here are arms with full detail...

Here are arms dryfitted with the generator

MM Flat Black

Generator painted with Russian 4BO shades: shadow and dark base. As 3rd layer 4BO Dark Base was mixed with white.

Lower side: 4BO Shadow and Dark base only.

Front bumper: yellow stripes were brushed with Revell 15.

Wheels details: photos of real APA from Shagol AFB show this turquise isolation tape all around the wheel.

Cabin roof with selfmade sun covers. I forgot to make roof light. Roof cover was painted with thick paint and paintbrush to simulate wornout effect, after many years in service.

Front dashboard with instruments and control panel for generator on the right side. Notice that dashboard is shown as made of wood: this was achieved with several shades of brown and 10/0 paintbrush.

Chassis with dust wash (AK Interactive Africa Dust Effects + AK White spirit)

Muffler with rust paint and pigments

Cabin interior: seats were weathered with various shades of brown to simulate wornout effect. Seats were wrinkled with kitchen foil and wood glue.

Another view. Notice scratchbuilt fire extinguisher in the right corner.

Cabin got same colors as the generator. I started with weathering on the generator.

Power cables being built.

Weathering detail on front bumper.

And finally... Silver medal I got today on local modeling cup.

[fredben]

:clap2: :clap2:

[HADman]

Very nice work, Tomislav! Congrate to our APA-5D set building and the Silver medal!

Sincerely: Feri

[Carius]

Excellent work indeed!