Scammell tractor/trailer with M3 Grant

[FG2Si]

I've been working on a Thunder Models Scammell tractor trailer and Miniart M3 Grant for the last little while. 

 

The Scammell is a great kit and I've really enjoyed it so far. Same goes for the Grant which was a last minute addition to this build. I had planned to use a Firefly VC as the cargo based on a photo I'd seen but the changed my mind. 

 

Anyways, I started with the undertray basket on the Scammell. I tend to build out of order so it just seemed to make sense. 

 

This is the PE replacement made by LZ Model.

 

 

I also have their resin wheels for the Scammell and the Yahu IP.

 

 

I was fortunate enough to have my kit come with the corrected radiator from Thunder.

 

 

 

Carl

[FG2Si]

I then started on the trailer. 

 

 

 

 

There were a couple light sink marks on the upper side that I filled in. 

 

 

 

I then assembled the trailer bogies and ramps. At this point, I started putting on a coat of paint. I figured that with all the books and crannies, it would be easier to paint in subassemblies.

 

 

 

 

 

[FG2Si]

Here's the ramps as a separate unit along with the bogies. 

 

 

 

 

I was able to not get glue on any of the pivots so the suspension has full articulation still.

 

I then assembled the engine. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[FG2Si]

I decided to try the working steering mod that was posted on Perth Military Modeling. Mostly this involves carefully drilling various holes in the front suspension parts. 

 

 

 

 

And success!

 

 

 

One thing I dread is getting frame rails square. Thankfully this went ok and I didn't end up with a warped frame. 

 

 

 

Next up was the winch assembly. Here, I actually followed the instructions in terms of the order as many parts need to be in place for other bits to go on.

 

 

 

 

 

[FG2Si]

While this was going on, I started work on the Grant. The first bit I tried was the tracks. I wanted to see how Elle they would go together and how much hassle they would be. 

 

 

It turned out that with a good set of sprue nippers, assembly was reasonably quick and  stress free. 

 

 

I ended up building sections of track while other parts dried. Breaking it up this way further helped with the monotony.

 

The Miniart lower hull is made up of several flat plates glued together.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A couple clamps to keep joints tight. 

 

 

 

The upper hull is also multiple flat panels joined together.

 

 

 

[clive_t]

I can never resist a Grant build, so I'm in! The MiniArt offering looks to be nicely detailed.

 

I recall in the course of my own 'Grant' research a couple of years ago that I had seen a photo on the Imperial War Museum website, of a Grant on a Scammell transporter, albeit not a great view of the tractor unit:

 

 

There's a better, frontal shot of the tractor (but with a Matilda as its 'client') here:

 

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205203558

 

The Third image of the sequence is a scan of the description of the photo, which makes for interesting reading!

[SimonT]

Superb project, I’ll enjoy watching you go through it all.

[M3talpig]

Gonna follow along if i may ...looks very good so far

[FG2Si]

Thanks folks! 

On 9/20/2020 at 5:50 AM, clive_t said:

I can never resist a Grant build, so I'm in! The MiniArt offering looks to be nicely detailed.

 

I wasn't really a fan of the Grant. You can blame my two sons constantly watching Girls und Panzer and the Miniart kit for changing my viewpoint. 

[FG2Si]

As an FYI, here's the replacement rad next to the original kit one. 

 

 

 

I painted the LZ tires and gave them a quick weathering. 

 

 

 

They were then installed onto the trailer bogies.

 

 

I was careful with the glue application so the bogies still have their full articulation.

 

 

At the same time I painted the wheels, I did the tractor chassis. In following @robw_uk's build, I have found out the chassis colour is most likely wrong. There's not much I can do at this point so I'm just leaving it. 

 

 

 

Here's the rear half of the chassis.

 

 

 

 

[FG2Si]

I assembled the tractor's bogies.

 

 

I then went back to the rest of the chassis while they dried and started installing the drivetrain. 

 

 

 

I'm building this completely out of order which is a bad habit of mine. Sometimes it bits me in the rear but I can't help it. 

 

 

With the rear tires on.

 

 

 

At this point I was really impressed by how the Scammell's suspension worked. 

 

 

 

 

 

[FG2Si]

Back to the Grant, I painted the road wheels using my circle template for masking.  I paint them rubber black first...

 

 

 

...then paint the centre. 

 

 

The engine deck comes with some PE grilles. They get installed from underneath.

 

 

 

I then started painting the hull.

 

 

I accidentally removed too much from the upper part of one of the hull panels. I replaced with a bit of styrene sheet and sanded it to fit.

 

 

 

I've been trying different things with the paint on the Grant. Hopefully it's doesn't end up with a monotone look.

 

 

 

 

 

[FG2Si]

I finally got the tracks done. 

 

 

 

What I hadn't realized is that the track pads are rubber and not metal like I thought they were. Had I known that earlier, I would have painted them prior to assembly. 

 

I added more of the hull details to the Grant and then painted them.

 

 

Back to the tracks, I painted the finished tracks rubber black. 

 

 

 

Rather than paint the end links, I decided to try dry brushing them instead. 

 

 

 

 

I then gave them a wash.

 

 

 

Once dry, I installed the first run. 

 

 

 

 

[FG2Si]

On the Scammell, I installed the winch assembly. 

 

 

 

 

 

I then attached the string they give you for the towing cable. 

 

 

I found it much too short if you're going to fasten it to a load on the trailer. I looked around for some suitable replacement wire and ended up having to order it from the US.  

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 24, 2020 by FG2Si

[SimonT]

Wow, loads done, it doesn’t seem a kit for a beginner. Great work all the way through.

[APA]

Looking really really good there. Yes I suggest you leave lots of cable hanging out the back as it has a long way to go through the trailer. One point - I wouldn't paint the rollers and cogs shiny. Judging by modern stuff they would all be caked in thick grease including the cable. The big advantage of modelling lorries etc is there are plenty of civvy equivalents around as reference 😉

 

A

[Black Knight]

Have you seen this film on how to load up a Scammell?

 

[clive_t]

Great progress! I have no idea what 'girls und panzer' is, and to be honest I'm too scared to try searching for it

 

Incidentally, on the matter of the towing cable, one of the other videos from that guy who published the Y-T clip linked to above by Mr Knight (thanks very much for that, by the way ), mentions that the towing cable length was 430 feet! In 1:35 scale your replacement wire would need to be 12 feet long - definitely some modellers' licence to be used there!

[robw_uk]

Very very nice. Further on than me so will be keeping tabs for tips and tricks. I need to look at the tow cable on mine, don't think I have room to permanently have the trailer hitches which is a pain and probably means fake cable (ie splits somewhere between chassis and trailer)

[Longbow]

This looks like a Superb project.... 

Can't wait to see it together !!

[Hewy]

Looks great , and well done for getting all those wheels and  tires on  in the same direction, apparently  either direction was done , can't  remember fully from when i built the pioneer ,but it was found to reduce tire wear on tarmac for one direction in particular 

[FG2Si]

9 hours ago, clive_t said:

Great progress! I have no idea what 'girls und panzer' is, and to be honest I'm too scared to try searching for it

Girls und Panzer is a Japanese anime where tank combat is taught much like any other high school sport. They're only allowed to use WWII era armoured vehicles. The main premise is about a girls' high school team trying to save their school from closing by winning the annual varsity championship. Lots of liberties with realism of course but still lots of fun seeing a Tiger do a Scandinavian flick. 😆

[FG2Si]

10 hours ago, Black Knight said:

Have you seen this film on how to load up a Scammell?

I have seen it and it's been very helpful in sorting some details out. 

11 hours ago, APA said:

One point - I wouldn't paint the rollers and cogs shiny. Judging by modern stuff they would all be caked in thick grease including the cable

Thanks for the tip. I'll have a go at getting it greasy.

[FG2Si]

9 hours ago, robw_uk said:

Very very nice. Further on than me so will be keeping tabs for tips and tricks. I need to look at the tow cable on mine, don't think I have room to permanently have the trailer hitches which is a pain and probably means fake cable (ie splits somewhere between chassis and trailer)

Thanks Rob! It was your build that got me inspired to start on mine over the summer. 

 

As for space, I was running out as well. My summer project was this modified Ikea Detolf display case. 

 

 

I should be able to fit the Scammell where the Hind is at the bottom. 

[robw_uk]

20 hours ago, FG2Si said:

Thanks Rob! It was your build that got me inspired to start on mine over the summer. 

 

As for space, I was running out as well. My summer project was this modified Ikea Detolf display case. 

 

 

I should be able to fit the Scammell where the Hind is at the bottom. 

very nice.. my better half doesn't allow kits on display 😉 have limited room in the man cave..