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A Scratchbuilt Frog Prince


RichO

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Hey Everyone,

 

  I thought I would start this WIP with a little back info.  I came to the decision about this scratch project when I was working on the Maz build about a year ago or so.  I tend to work quite a ways ahead of myself.  I have spent that time now, gathering everything I need for this build and I'm almost ready to give this a timid start.  I say timid because this will be my secondary build for a bit while I finish my DIO. build, so not as much time devoted to this project just now, but slow and steady to start.

 

 

 

MAZ 543/Scud B

 

 

GwvrnR.jpg

 

  I have very good references for scratching this large Russian launcher.  There seems to be a number of good kits available on this subject. 

 

Taehgd.jpg

 

 

  I really like all the body panels on this beast.  I thought I could stretch myself a bit with these body panels and I like the overall big feel of this.  You know me, big Russian trucks with many tires.  However after getting most of the materials together to the point that I have everything for this build, and really started looking at what I had for a scratch project, and I realized that underneath the body work is the same Straight Rail Ladder Frame with the same Suspension and Drive System that I just built in the MAZ project.  I didn't want to build another Maz.

 

  This will be a great project later on, but I want to build something not a MAZ.

 

 

M25 DRAGON WAGON

 

cUEKSN.jpg

 

wtxvXs.jpg

 

  My second choice to scratch was the huge American M25 Dragon Wagon.  I like this monster large tractor very much, with so many possibilities to work with.  And for me, the single thing that really makes me want to attempt this project is the idea of scratching a Quad Chain Double Axle !!  Oh! the chains of bondage and torture we model builders put ourselves through.

 

fifGfG.jpg

 

  I was a bit worked up to start this project when everything stalled.  I need to find clearer, cleaner references for the engine and transmission components.  So for now that is where this project is.

 

FROG-7

 

  Now it brings me to this. 

 

SVzaq3.jpg 

 

  A,  Zill- 135 carrier, with a Luna-M Tactical Missile, and a 9P113 Launcher.  That's a bad boy!  That can be nuclear armed.  The 9M21 missile is the very one pointed at my back yard during the Cuban Missile Crisis when I was a kid.

 

  jI0m89.jpg

 

  I finally chose this for a lot of reasons, that I know are just going to hurt me.  The main thing that grabbed me about this, is the idea of these rounded body panels and how molded they appear.  In fact, they are molded.  Sprayed into a mold, fiberglass body panels.  All the body panels on the launcher are fiberglass with the main chassis and drive line iron and steel.  I have no clue how I'm going to do that.

 

   Thinking back, I could just kick myself for not thinking of how to do a lot of things on the Maz build.  So keeping that in mind I have a list of things that I want to accomplish with this build.  The very first thing with this build is the scale.  I'm so used to building in 1/16 and 1/20 scale, that anything smaller is getting to hard to see and work with.  I had considered building this ugly Frog prince project the same scale as the Maz so I could put it in the same  junkyard.  But when I looked at how big this is, even at my build scale, 1/25, the frame is just about as big as the Maz was at 1/20 scale.  I also considered that at 1/25 scale I have a new world open up to me with all the aftermarket details.  Just about anything I need to accomplish the details I want to try.  I have recently discovered something that i'm sure that all you guys already know.  In that, it is a hobby unto itself just collecting items for our hobby. 

 

I would like to articulate the doors and panels.  I tried this with limited success during the Maz build.  But also the suspension, the steering, the windows, the launcher and the crane...  I also need a good stretching in the detail department with hose fittings and wiring and such.

 

vJTGIy.jpg

 

Look at all that junk to detail.  This going to be a real royal pain!

 

  I've been here a few years now and have seen some great builders with great techniques and materials usage, and I'm looking forward to stealing everything I can from everybody to help me work in a smaller scale with more details.

 

  The last thing I do in my personal build style is , after I get all the patterns and references together.  I gather the build materials.  I have all of the basic styrene material, and I'm looking for the 3rd party details as their need arise. 

 

  The first part of the build is the main, Straight Rail X-Frame.  I'll be back, Thanks All.

 

 

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19 hours ago, RichO said:

I have no clue how I'm going to do that.

But I'll wager that you'll figure out a method in no time.

Hammock, sleeping bag and ration packs on standby for this one.

Oh, and I'm digging a nuclear shelter just in case.

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I suspect my knowledge will be far too small to be of any help, in more ways than one, but I'll be watching with much interest.  ;)

 

PS - That Black Duncan fella's been pushing highly addictive Modelcollect kits on me, so I'm getting MAZ cravings of my own these days!  :P

 

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On 6/13/2018 at 5:50 PM, Bandsaw Steve said:

This is going to be Awesome! 

Lots to learn from watching this one I think! 🤔 

 

 

Thanks Steve, This will be fun!

 

On 6/13/2018 at 11:43 PM, Bullbasket said:

See you in RFI in three years time:). Good luck with the build.

 

John.

Good one John!

 

On 6/14/2018 at 10:24 AM, longshanks said:

Pulling up my reclining chair, in for the long term  …………………………..

 

:popcorn:

 

Kev

Thanks Kev,  Plenty to see here as always.

 

On 6/14/2018 at 11:55 AM, Pete in Lincs said:

But I'll wager that you'll figure out a method in no time.

Hammock, sleeping bag and ration packs on standby for this one.

Oh, and I'm digging a nuclear shelter just in case.

Got the concrete bunker built,  if I can get all my model supplies in there.

 

On 6/14/2018 at 1:40 PM, Sgt.Squarehead said:

I suspect my knowledge will be far too small to be of any help, in more ways than one, but I'll be watching with much interest.  ;)

 

PS - That Black Duncan fella's been pushing highly addictive Modelcollect kits on me, so I'm getting MAZ cravings of my own these days!  :P

 

Hey Sarge!  Long time no read.  Maz cravings can be addicting.  Great video, thanks.

 

 

I have started cutting parts.  I'll be back shortly with the first installment of the build.  Thanks All.

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Hey All, and to Hewy

 

  I thought I would post this quick size comparison for you.   The parts for the Frog frame.

iamerm.jpg

 

Rough cut of the side rails...

 

BJfLbO.jpg

 

 

You can see that the frog prince is huge!  The MAZ is at 1/20 scale, The frog is 1/25 scale.  A 25% difference, but the frog frame is as big as the Maz.

Ita9vo.jpg

 

If I was going to build the frog at 1/20 scale I would have to add another 10cm to the length of the side rails.

A much bigger truck than the Maz, with much smaller parts to build.

 

The first parts have been cut and are ready for cleanup.  I'll be back.

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  OOOH Sarge!  You have a couple of great choices there.  I think 1/72 is just to much for me tho!!  I have a stash of 1/35, and I'm not so sure why.  I love the subjects I have collected, but at 1/35 I can't even see the things without strong lenses.

 

  A fellow Maz nut is always nice to find, at any scale.  More people to ask questions of.

 

Thanks Sarge!

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  OMG!  That's a lot of tires!!  Really cool stuff tho.  Seems to me that while building the Maz,  Activexp aka Steve,  sent me a photo of a Russian truck that must have had 20 tires on it.  I'm not so sure what is up with the Russians and their multitudinous tired vehicles, but what a challenge to build!

 

  GET ONE NOW!

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On 19/06/2018 at 02:13, RichO said:

  OMG!  That's a lot of tires!!  Really cool stuff tho.  Seems to me that while building the Maz,  Activexp aka Steve,  sent me a photo of a Russian truck that must have had 20 tires on it.  I'm not so sure what is up with the Russians and their multitudinous tired vehicles, but what a challenge to build!

 

  GET ONE NOW!

I think Putin has shares in Michelin...

This is going to be another classic.

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On ‎6‎/‎19‎/‎2018 at 2:13 AM, RichO said:

GET ONE NOW!

I will be accepting none of the blame when my new Topol (& the credit card bill) turns up.....Not my fault, @RichO made me do it!  :whistle:

 

To be fair, at the price (£18.99 posted), it would have been rude not to (this is my second line of defence once the first one implodes).  ;)

 

PS - Just discovered this, looks a bit daunting to me:  https://www.modelimex.com/1-72-zil-135-9t29-frog-luna-transporter

 

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I have seen photos of these transporters with three missiles on board, escorting the launcher.  I have not built a full resin kit, so not so sure how that would go, but could be fun.

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Thanks everyone for the nice comments!

 

  Hey Guys,

 

  So I sort of knew that this WIP would be a slow one to start.  I have managed to put some time into this new build, but only about an hour at a time.

 

  The cutting of the frame components is on going and tedious.  Working on this project in small amounts of time, it's hard to see any progress.  Only when I get things together dose it look like I'm making progress.

 

The first step is to release the patterns from the sheet styrene.

 

  eXRLMx.jpg

 

 

Then the rough cuts...

 

043kop.jpg

 

 

Then clean up the parts...I take a bit more time and get my cuts closer to the mark...

CQdDlZ.jpg

 

 

Then I get everything close to install finish...

 

wrAhZC.jpg

 

The last step is to the final install cleaning.

 

I'll be back with the final cleaning and some details that are put on to the frame components before assembly.

 

Thanks for looking!

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Ooh mama this is what you call proper model building so as with the rest of my fellow lurking chums I will now get settled in for the long haul. :popcorn:

 

beefy 

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Hey All,

 

  I have started assembling the frame for this project.  I know I'm building rather slow on this WIP for now, but everything is going according to plan...so far.

 

I have all the parts cleaned for install...

 

saMtlI.jpg

 

Some parts of the frame are quit thick for this scale.  The main frame is 1mm thick.  That seems to be a bit much, but the measurements work out at this scale.

 

  Instead of trying to cut the frame parts out of 1mm thick styrene, (thicker styrene always gives me a really hard time of it), I cut two patterns at 0.5mm to bond together to get the thickness I was after.  I had better control over the cutting and keeping the cuts clean.

 

RBw2Hi.jpg

 

Once I got the two parts bonded together, I just had to clean up my cuts and get ready for install.  The small clamps I use for the frame work are from a sewing supply store.

 

bTnlcM.jpg

 

The cleanup looks a lot uglier at this close viewing range.  Just a bit of sanding and I'm ready for install.

 

YikJ93.jpg

 

This is it!!  The first two parts to be joined on this monster build.

 

  Almost every one of the references I have for this build is a clean military version of the vehicle.  However I do have references for an old beat up version that has been repainted a somewhat blue/turquoise color, an old copper green, and is starting to rust out.

 

  I'm not going to rust this up as much as the Maz, but I would like to build this as a used abused repainted machine.  The colors I chose are, the faded Russian military green under, with a top coat of the blue/turquoise.  You will see plenty of reference photos of the colors as I build.

 

  The frame needs to be closed up to support all the junk that fits onto it.  However I would like to add some details before I close up the frame.

 

  I'll be back to show how I have added the details and the colors next time.

  Thanks All for watching and following along.....

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You are correct Sarge!  Yemen used this during the Yemen Civil War, 1979. The South had these.  As for the Houthi operated example, I hadn't thought of it at the time, but good idea!

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