Not by Strength, but by Guile: Revell (Matchbox) LRDG Jeep and Chevrolet truck

[danbuoy]

1 hour ago, modelling minion said:

They're both looking really good and very close to having the main assembly completed.

Good job on the Jerry cans, it might have been tedious but it was worth it and now the crew will know which cans to drink from.

I was surprised with the colour for the jerrycans as I thought they'd just be the same colour as the vehicles but it adds a bit more interest.

[danbuoy]

Painted the weapons last night.

 

First up, two tiny Thompsons;

 

 

And the rest of the arsenal;

 

 

Have also made a start on all the various boxes and bags that both vehicles will be festooned with. 

[modelling minion]

That is very neat painting on what must be very small weapons, well done.

[danbuoy]

Having finally managed to get my Spooky gunship finished in The Italian Job GB, I can now turn my attention back to this. Spent last night sorting out all the accessories, touching them up where they'd been attached to the sprue.

 

 

I was never entirely happy with the colour I'd used for the seats. Using both Matchbox and Revell sets of instructions, I think I must have got mixed up at some point. Repainted them khaki, and much happier with them now.

 

 

Also made a start on the base. I don't have many Revell paints, but luckily I do have a tin of 16 Desert Sand which is what is mentioned in the instructions (the Matchbox instructions don't mention paint colours for the base at all as far as I could see). Was slightly shocked at how yellow the paint looked, but once applied, I don't think it looks too bad. Further work to do on this base though of course. 

 

 

[modelling minion]

Cleaning up the attachment points can take a while, especially when there are as many pieces involved as you have removed from the sprue there. One of the best things about these Matchbox kits is the bases, a great way to display the models and they often had quite a bit of detail moulded into them, this one is no exception.

[danbuoy]

Started to kit out both vehicles tonight;

 

 

 

Few more bits to add, then it's time to finish off the weapons and crew.

[Troy Smith]

On 07/09/2023 at 22:55, danbuoy said:

I see that they say to use Humbrol 71 Satin Oak for the main colour of both vehicles. Now, I like the actual colour but surely the real vehicles wouldn't have had a satin finish?

Having done a few Matchbox vehicles a couple or years ago,  as I just got on with building them,  but i did do some colour hunting.

I also picked up this set, AFAIK 71 satin oak is meant to be 61 Light Stone

https://mafva.co.uk/?p=2607

Light Stone BS.61  (MESCC.23).

Mix: 8 x Humbrol 74 + 1 x Humbrol 26.

Tamiya: 7 x XF2 + 2 x XF59 + 2 x XF3.

In use: 1938-42 as basic colour in Middle East.

Description: A light, very yellow sand.  NOT the same colour as post war BS.361 of this name.

 

Obviously a bit late for you, the re-enactors jeep look a reasonable match AFAIK, and maybe of use for others, or just you for British Armour colours.

 

HTH

[danbuoy]

7 hours ago, Troy Smith said:

Having done a few Matchbox vehicles a couple or years ago,  as I just got on with building them,  but i did do some colour hunting.

I also picked up this set, AFAIK 71 satin oak is meant to be 61 Light Stone

https://mafva.co.uk/?p=2607

Light Stone BS.61  (MESCC.23).

Mix: 8 x Humbrol 74 + 1 x Humbrol 26.

Tamiya: 7 x XF2 + 2 x XF59 + 2 x XF3.

In use: 1938-42 as basic colour in Middle East.

Description: A light, very yellow sand.  NOT the same colour as post war BS.361 of this name.

 

Obviously a bit late for you, the re-enactors jeep look a reasonable match AFAIK, and maybe of use for others, or just you for British Armour colours.

 

HTH

Thanks for that. I'm quite happy with how these have ended up looking, but its good to know for future projects.

[modelling minion]

These are both coming on very nicely and looking suitably loaded for for a long patrol in the endless desert.

[81-er]

I think these look great and I'm looking forward to seeing them on the base

 

James

[danbuoy]

Almost there with the Chevy now. Bumper, sand channels and condenser fitted, and decals applied. Also fitted the passenger side machine gun. This isn't glued, so can be moved up and down. 

 

 

 

 

Also ended up fitting the driver. I only intended seeing how well he would fit round the steering wheel, but it was such a faff I just ended up fixing him in place, with the steering wheel attached afterwards. It's not perfect as it was really awkward, plus I lost a gear lever in the process, though this won't really be visible. Just got to fit the other figure, plus the pedestal mounted machine gun in the back.

 

Jeep also almost done. The twin Vickers were a faff to get in their mountings, as they kept pinging off, so they are glued in place. Just need to attach the mount to the Jeep, as well as the .50 machine gun, both crew, and the steering wheel. No decals for this one.

 

 

[modelling minion]

These are both looking really good, I particularly like how the Chevrolet is looking and think you have done a great job on the figure.

[stevehnz]

Those have come up really well. Fwiw, I think the Humbrol 103 does decent service as a colour here, especially for vehicles as sun faded as this would have got. it certainly doesn't look out of place to my eye.

@bootneck Mike, my Dad served in North Africa in the British army as a doctor but being a Kiwi, kept in touch with Kiwi forces there & was particularly proud of the Kiwi's involvement with the LRDG. He told me one day when I was a little guy that their motto was Non Vi Sed Arte, to which my reaction, to his great amusement, was, who was Non Vi & what does Arte mean? Literal or what, still am a bit.   I do wonder though if the fact that the LRDG used the Latin & the SBS used the English version of the same thing is significant.

Steve.

[danbuoy]

On 12/22/2023 at 2:57 AM, stevehnz said:

Those have come up really well. Fwiw, I think the Humbrol 103 does decent service as a colour here, especially for vehicles as sun faded as this would have got. it certainly doesn't look out of place to my eye.

Thanks, yes, I'm pleased with how the colour has worked out. It doesn't sound like it would be an appropriate colour but, looking at the tin, I thought it was worth giving it a go. 

 

Got both vehicles finished last night. The Chevy was straightforward, but when I installed the .50 machine gun on the Jeep, it was way too low, so low in fact it would have taken the drivers head off if traversed to the left. There was a slight panic when I thought I'd mixed up the pedestal mounts for both vehicles, but I definitely haven't, so I guess all the kits must have this issue. Anyway, a quick rummage through the spares box came up trumps with an appropriate looking piece which was glued to the bottom of the mount and painted;

 

 

Looks much better now, though could still probably be a touch higher. 

 

So, here they both are;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just need to work on the base. This is where it's currently up to;

 

 

 

Edited April 22, 2024 by danbuoy

[Wings unlevel]

Both look fantastic, and ready for business. 👍

[81-er]

Those really are looking good  The base is also coming along very nicely

 

James

[modelling minion]

Both of the vehicles, and the figures in them, look really good and to my eyes capture what they would look like when ready for a patrol with the LRDG. The base is coming on very nicely too and will set the models off a treat.

[danbuoy]

Finishing line in sight now. Spent tonight working on the base and weathering both vehicles. Just need to fix the wall in place, add the oil drum signpost, do a few touch ups and more weathering on the base and that's it.

 

 

 

 

 

[Troy Smith]

1 hour ago, danbuoy said:

and more weathering on the base

I'd suggest a light oil wash, makes detail 'pop',  and then drybrush and/or some ground pastel chalk, which is what i used here

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235095700-matchbox-176-morris-c8-mk-ii-17pdr-gun-willys-jeep-set/

which maybe of use.    

Also makes me wish I'd paid more attention to this GB and done my LRDG set,  as it looks great here,   by not getting bogged down in my detail obsession,  I got on with the finishing of the set I link and was pleased with the result.   And, it was erm, actually finished as well.....

Also, when i did some reading up on the LRDG I found this article on vehicle camo i forgot to post before

https://lrdg.hegewisch.net/camo.html

Seems they used some pretty outlandish colour schemes apart from the basic sand!  

 

Hope of interest,  good progress on the build

 

[IanC]

They look great. Nicely finished, and the figures and the kit stowed aboard makes them come alive.

 

I now have to hunt down one of these sets for my own Matchbox collection!

[danbuoy]

7 hours ago, Troy Smith said:

I'd suggest a light oil wash, makes detail 'pop',  and then drybrush and/or some ground pastel chalk, which is what i used here

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235095700-matchbox-176-morris-c8-mk-ii-17pdr-gun-willys-jeep-set/

which maybe of use.    

 

Thanks, yes I've got some Citadel Nuln oil and Agrax Earthshade which I might try, then will drybrush over the top. Had a look at your Morris C8/17pdr/Jeep thread, some great tips in there, plus I have that kit in my stash so may well be referring to it again when I eventually get round to starting it. I really like these Matchbox kits. Also need to do the base for the Matchbox M16 I built earlier this year.

[Troy Smith]

1 hour ago, danbuoy said:

Also need to do the base for the Matchbox M16 I built earlier this year.

I had some luck with mine

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235104634-pk-78-m16-half-tracknow-with-an-added-p5002-american-infantry-figure/#elControls_4310763_menu

 

 

Also a neat kit.... gosh darn it... I've been a bit mojoless and forgot i had the LRGD set..  

1 hour ago, danbuoy said:

yes I've got some Citadel Nuln oil and Agrax Earthshade which I might try, then will drybrush over the top.

Worth trying on a tester, but can really add depth to the moulding.  The lighter fuel as solvent makes the wash  incredibly thin and seeking compared to water that is quite thick in comparison,  but it matters not if it was woad applied naked under a full moon if gets a result you find pleasing...

the woad technique didn't work BTW

Cheers

T

[danbuoy]

8 minutes ago, Troy Smith said:

I had some luck with mine

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235104634-pk-78-m16-half-tracknow-with-an-added-p5002-american-infantry-figure/#elControls_4310763_menu

That base for your M16 looks great. I'd also thought about trying to add some texture so I'll see what I can find when I decide to finish it off. 

[danbuoy]

9 hours ago, Troy Smith said:

Also, when i did some reading up on the LRDG I found this article on vehicle camo i forgot to post before

https://lrdg.hegewisch.net/camo.html

Seems they used some pretty outlandish colour schemes apart from the basic sand

 

Some real variation in schemes there, and like you say, some are quite unusual!

[modelling minion]

Your base is taking shape very nicely @danbuoy, @Troy Smith's suggestions for it are very good ones and looking at his superb M16 they work very well indeed. The vehicles both look very good, some nice weathering on them.