Stikpusher Posted October 12, 2022 Report Posted October 12, 2022 (edited) So this weekend I finally was able to attend a Phoenix AMPS meeting. During the meetings, the club also encourages working on a model to pass the time, so I started this one that I’ve had in my stash for awhile. Academy’s 1/35 M981 Fire Support Team Vehicle, aka FISTV. These things are extremely similar to the M901 ITVs that I served on once upon a time, although instead of TOW missiles, they are full of radios, a laser designator, observation gear, and other tools for the trade for artillery forward observers. Anyways, here is the kit box A photo of the real thing during Desert Shield/Desert Storm that I’ll be using for reference. Not many photos to be found of these things there. and how much I assembled during the meeting I’ll be taking this one slow for now, as I have several other higher priority projects to wrap up first. Edited December 28, 2024 by Stikpusher 3
Stikpusher Posted October 13, 2022 Author Report Posted October 13, 2022 8 hours ago, GeneralModel said: I can’t see the pics. Hmmmm, they show up just fine on my end. 1
Stikpusher Posted February 28, 2023 Author Report Posted February 28, 2023 After a few months of sitting on the sidelines, I pulled this one back out and resumed construction. During the So.Cal. AMPS monthly Zoom meeting I was able to get a LOT more built on this track. I’m going to build this with the hammerhead in the stowed position. I was able to get most of the basic construction completed, although the engine deck is not glued down, only fitted in p,ace for the moment. I want to build some sort of support base for a driver’s bust/torso since that’s the easiest way to place one in there. I have trimmed down the forward hammerhead support pads a bit too much since I took the photo, so I’ll need to go back and adjust those to get the proper stowed angle. Before I trimmed them, the front sat way too high. More to come soon… 1
Stikpusher Posted March 9, 2024 Author Report Posted March 9, 2024 Over the past year, I’ve done a little bit of work on this here and there, but no major progress until today. Recently I had completed the hammerhead turret by using the flexible portion of a bendable straw for the cover on the optical duct Then during the past few session when I had been working on this I had been working on the tracks, which I finally completed today… So now this is ready for final assembly then painting… my big decision will be to have the trim vane down as a cargo shelf or have it retracted like normal. Plus I need to improvise some antenna base guards… 1
Stikpusher Posted March 20, 2024 Author Report Posted March 20, 2024 Thanks JM! Im waiting on some antennas to come in the mail, and working on some crew figures for this, so no progress to post for awhile...
Stikpusher Posted June 19, 2024 Author Report Posted June 19, 2024 I guess I forgot to add my last update here. I added stowage using items from my spares collection and other items from Tamiya & Value Gear. I also scratch built some brush guards for the rear antennas using small drinking straws, and created some bases for the forward antennas, both of which items Academy neglected to include in this kit. And today, I was able to get this under a coat of primer… Mig Ammo One Shot Brown Next up… Sand base color… 1
Stikpusher Posted June 23, 2024 Author Report Posted June 23, 2024 Today I was able to airbrush on a coat of Polly Scale Desert Storm Sand, plus some Tamiya CARC/NATO Green in selected areas. It came out ok, but not quite as good as intended, since the polly Scale paint was not performing optimally, alternating between tip dry and splatter... we shall see how much free time that I get in the coming week to hopefully get this thing wrapped up soon... 1
Ron Bell Posted June 23, 2024 Report Posted June 23, 2024 It's looking good. As to your Polly S spraying woes, I wonder if using a retarder, such as Tamiya's, would keep the paint flowing evenly. I know that one paint's formula may not work with another's but it might be worth a test shot on some scrap or an old junker model. Just a thought.
Stikpusher Posted July 3, 2024 Author Report Posted July 3, 2024 Thanks for that Ron. More than likely, a retarder would help. Particularly here in this low humidity environment. I'll have to give some a try. although I will say that as my OOP acrylics go the way of the dinosaurs & dodos, I'll be replacing them with AK Real Colors which are a dream to airbrush. As for my most recent progress on this over the past weekend... I was able to get the basic colors onto the stowage, aside from the tow cable, spare track shoes, and the tie down straps... hopefully I should have more finished by the end of next weekend... 1
Stikpusher Posted July 29, 2024 Author Report Posted July 29, 2024 My only progress worth posting on this one is some crew figures for this using bits of Tamiya, Verlinden, and one from the kit. and a test fit of them into their respective hatches Not too much more to do on this one...
Stikpusher Posted September 29, 2024 Author Report Posted September 29, 2024 Today I did more work on this during our online AMPS Zoom meting… I finished adding stowage and did detail painting getting this one a few inches closer to the finish line I need to get this one ready for markings and weathering… 1
Stikpusher Posted October 25, 2024 Author Report Posted October 25, 2024 Now that I’m back home and have a few days off before getting back to work, I had some bench time. Yesterday I applied a gloss coat for decals, and today was application of decals. I just need to do a bit more detail painting, flat coat, then final weathering. 1
Stikpusher Posted October 27, 2024 Author Report Posted October 27, 2024 Well, today was more progress inching it ever closer and closer to the finish line. First up I airbrushed on a flat coat…. then I added the antennas, got most of the detail painting done, glued the drivers hatch in the open position, and added the antennas… I just need to detail paint a few more items, add some tie down cords to the forward antennas, then do the final weathering…. 1
Stikpusher Posted November 24, 2024 Author Report Posted November 24, 2024 Today I finished up painting the tracks and got a pin wash applied on the upper surfaces… I just need to do final weathering and add the antenna tie down cords 1
Stikpusher Posted December 2, 2024 Author Report Posted December 2, 2024 Ok, I’m calling this one done. I still need to finish up the crew figures, but the track itself is done I’ll get some full multi angle views up in a day or two 2
Christian Posted December 4, 2024 Report Posted December 4, 2024 Yea, this is great, really cool seeing the phases of progress.
Stikpusher Posted December 6, 2024 Author Report Posted December 6, 2024 Christian, thank you for looking in and your kind feedback!
Stikpusher Posted December 28, 2024 Author Report Posted December 28, 2024 So I finally finished up with the figures on Christmas Day and took the multi angle photos on Thursday… and with the rest of my 1/35 M113 family Thanks for looking, comments and critiques are welcome 😉 1
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