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Ma.k Walker - Swamp Donkey/Sumpfesel


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Given the interest in my completed builds I thought

that maybe someone out there might want to see

just how I come up with these things.

This one will be a small walker built using whatever

I can find amongst my redundant kits & bits boxes.

No prizes for guessing the origin of any of those bits!

I can tell you I started with a SMER 1/48th Swordfish

that I bought years ago just for the floats. I chopped

off the tail section and added a Wessex nose to the

front. Engine unit goes on the back and tank bits on

the side along with (I think) Buccaneer drop tank halves?

DSCN0426_zpsblmybv1t.jpg

The grey part on the right will go under the main body and was tank mudguards. The odd bit in the foreground is ex 1/24th Fw190.

Next we move to a rear shot. You can see that I'd used an Otaki? Fw190 cowl to cover the Swordfish cockpit and the cowling now contains that 190 gearbox piece inside an oval ring which was part of the air intake from a muscle car. You should also make out the

cupola with it's ring of vision slots and some grey tank bits along the sides.

DSCN0433_zpseqftpnjf.jpg

At the front I added a kubelwagen engine bay and binoculars with a crashbar. And a grey hatch has

appeared on top of the nose.

DSCN0434_zpshvppxuvm.jpg

DSCN0432_zpsyppk1jcj.jpg

next up is a side view showing another tank bit added to the side. One either side actually, and at the rear

bits of Sherman suspension have gone on to add interest. On the extreme right you might make out a

chrome wheel which will be the pivot point for the main body and which fits into the cutout that you may

just see under the body. In the foreground, meanwhile, is what I think is an Airfix Boeing Vertol cockpit

floor. I have two of these which will be modified to become the feet. (I've had these for over 40 years!).

DSCN0436_zpsablplea0.jpg

And finally for now you get a better view of that wheel (From an ancient drive by wire remote control car)

That and the grey bit will go on top of the white box you can see. In the foreground are what will become

the upper pivot points for the legs which will go either side of the white box.

DSCN0435_zps2fyunt0a.jpg

The pictures aren't the best, I only have a little Nikon (fnar!) but my fumblings may inspire someone else

to have a go at this subject. It keeps me going, and there aren't any rivet counters to criticize you!

More soon (I hope) thanks for looking.

Pete

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In the foreground, meanwhile, is what I think is an Airfix Boeing Vertol cockpit

floor. I have two of these which will be modified to become the feet. (I've had these for over 40 years!).

DSCN0436_zpsablplea0.jpg

The pictures aren't the best, I only have a little Nikon (fnar!) but my fumblings may inspire someone else

to have a go at this subject. It keeps me going, and there aren't any rivet counters to criticize you!

Well now, the feet of a Ma,k Walker have traditionally been modelled with the cockpit bulkhead of a 1/72 C-47 so for the benefit of other readers I should point out that this is a significant departure from tradition.

But in all seriousness, good work and thank you for sharing as I am interested in seeing how you build one of these Krieger machines.

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Thanks for the kind words, Guys.

I'm out of stock on C-47's so these will have to do for feet.

Way back in the last century when I was but about 15 (Lordy!)

my mates Dad ran a pub. Said mate & another pal used to build

kits and often have a massacre of them using air rifles. I was

an impoverished youth and used to pick up some of the bits

afterwards. Hence the proposed feet you see above.

Never throw ANYTHING away!

Instruction sheet? Hah! Strictly brain - eye co-ordination.

I pick bits out of the spares boxes 'cos they look like they

might fit (or look good) and lo and behold, they do!

If you check out the original builds online they were

well laden with filler but I try to use as little as possible

(saves rubbing down!) between the disparate parts.

This may be Sci fi stuff but the basics still apply.

There needs to be room for crew, kit, engine(s), fuel,

ventilation, weapons, ammunition etc. Then you need

access panels to all that. Add some fripperies that may

be sensors etc, and the sort of stuff you see hanging on

the outside of WW2 tanks. And, of course, what is the function

of this mechanical device? what weapons will it need?, how

are they mounted?, how does it move? See, easy.

Cheers

Pete

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Latest update.

Not a lot done but it may be

of interest to someone out there.

Hell, it may inspire you to have a go!

DSCN0437_zpsha7czpr0.jpg

Here you can see what I've done with the pieces I found. A tank drive sprocket trunnion, a backing piece from a 1/24th scale

American car kit and a wheel from a Panzer IV (I think) all go together to make the pivot for a leg.

The dark oblong thing is a Jumo engine from a Ju88? from 40 odd years ago.

DSCN0439_zpsjejqyhlr.jpg

Put them all together and you get the basics of the leg drive system (when it's the other way up). Other bits are yet to be

added to 'tech it up' a bit. The axle seen here is just temporary.

DSCN0438_zpsgddvsuli.jpg

Here's another shot of the same parts.

DSCN0441_zpshe5reydj.jpg

And a shot of the body showing turret baskets added, and a couple of rocket tubes cut down from 88mm guns and yet to

be tidied up and have mounting brackets and greeblies added. You may just see a radio mast on the forward left.

Hope you found something you like.

Thanks for looking.

Pete

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Filler is Milliput and Humbrol.

Yellow submarine? Me too,

but once it's on legs that

might not apply?

My excuse is that it's probably

pressurized so needs to be that shape

for use in swamps etc. (maybe)

Thanks for looking.

Pete

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Not much of an update,

More of a newsflash.

Home decorating is happening.

DANGER WILL ROBINSON!

So work on the walker has slowed

to almost non existent.

It's still happening in my head though,

so I'll be back when I get time to get

something done on it & pics taken!

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Sorry. This is major stuff.

Upstairs & downstairs hallways.

The stairs, all walls and ceilings.

Laminate flooring in the lower hall

and new stair and upper hall carpets.

Oh, plus the skirting boards had to come

off to fit the flooring and they will need to

be replaced as they didn't want to give

up their 60 year old grip on the walls.

Plus today was 11 hours at work and

and hour for travelling.

So. I may get a few minutes at the weekend,

but if I can, I will do at least something to

keep you all happy!

Oh, and thanks for the interest.

Pete

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  • 3 weeks later...

Her indoors excused me from the paintbrush

for an hour or so this afternoon so I actually

got down to the modeling shed and modelled!

I only got a little done but ah! the smell of Tamiya extra thin!

How I've missed you.

I'll see if I can find time for more pic's tomorrow.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well despite having to work this morning,

I managed to get something done this afternoon.

Remember those vertol cockpits?

DSCN0446_zpsghgiyv7o.jpg

Obviously the white bits are plastic card, Other parts include tank track links, tow hooks and small

plastic 'pips' cut from between parts. Just enough to busy up the underside of the feet.

DSCN0449_zpsemkdbjzy.jpg

Here you can see something I managed to sneak in last weekend. Inspired by the gas bottles on the

back of the forklifts at work. Cut down pylons, large WW2 bombs, guitar wire, the yellow bit is radiator

hose from an old car kit and the 'shields' are false nails (thumb) donated by a certain female person.

Below is another view of the gas tanks. I hope the pictures explain what is going on here.

I hope to make a start on the legs soon. Pete.

DSCN0450_zpsm8hofzrc.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

I finally got around to sorting pictures, photobucket etc.

FYI the plastic card is 1mm thick. The leg 'lollypop sticks' are 12mm wide.

Short ones are 40mm long, the lower legs are about 60mm long.

The strip in the first & second pic's is thin & wraps around to cover the balsa.

The balsa is 10mm x 3mm.

superglue sticks the balsa to the card.

The 'sandwich' goes, card, balsa, card, card.

Hopefully the pictures will explain all...

Leg%201_zpsbyczhp3w.jpg

Leg%202_zpsmpdsheeo.jpg

Leg%203_zpsufbeepe9.jpg

Leg%205_zpshhozcn2y.jpg

I think maybe the legs are on backwards in this one but you get the idea, I hope.

The actuators were motorcycle front forks and aren't finished yet.

They will hook up with other (modified) motorcycle parts on the lower legs. More detail yet to be added.

I wanted something different for the hatch on the cupola, so, take one mg mounting, add

another bit and some filler. This is mounted onto a rod which would be operated hydraulically. (maybe).

Cupola%201_zpse0opcmwv.jpg

Cupola%202_zpsqixywvtm.jpg

Ta daa!

Next stage, finish the legs and start the painting process.

Cheers

Pete

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