HIMARS

Kesa Tiho
Following with interest

Steven Van Dyck 著者
Thanks. The frame is now assembled after removing of sinkmarks on both beams. These were not present on the four wheel truck frame that is still included. The first set of three SKP lights is added to the rear.

Steven Van Dyck 著者
The axles are now added to the frame. Because Trumpeter wanted the springs to be workable, the shock absorbers are cut down. This will be repaired later. The cardans are drilled and softened with glue.

Steven Van Dyck 著者
The Tetra Modelworks set is now applied to the frame, with the resin bumper, toolbox and PE container replacing kit parts. In the rear bumper the non-clearpart lights are used so I can combine them with the SKP lights later on. I painted the DEF wheels black. Some parts like the large container with the grates and the cover plate under the launcher need to remain dry-fit to be able to paint the drive train.

Ben M
👀

Villiers de Vos
Impressive work on the photoetch. I would like to follow your build.

Steven Van Dyck 著者
Everybody welcome, today the fenders and the cabin bottom are built. Most of the Tetra PE is thereby used, with 80 small bolts added that all have location holes. Also a comparison is done between the kit and the Kelik replacement 3d-decals. I found these to lokk very much the part of what I can see in the Abram's Squad edition.

Goldman
Great PE work. Except DEF, I have never tried any of the AM companies you are using. Looks like great products.

Steven Van Dyck 著者
Thanks, I now tried out the Voyager PE for the launcher that was designed for the Dragon MLRS. It's not very much off for this kit. It might be a bit overkill for the detailed Trumpeter rocket loader parts, but like this the four large profiles are not split on the seams. I might transfer parts of the kit launcher to the PE parts, like the loading hooks that seem crudely done in this old Voyaver design. Because of the embossing at the top plate you get some deformation.

Steven Van Dyck 著者
The launcher for MLRS is now built. It's an easy construction, if you don't take into account the changes I did to the rocket tube assembly. You have to choose if you remove the locks or not, because if they remain you can't move the launcher from stowed to elevated position. A thing you sadly can't perform with it, is rolling out the telescopic arms, so a new tube rack can't be loaded without scratching. The old Dragon MLRS could do that. But all operational angles of the launcher can be achieved if you fix the elevation cylinder, that is workable, and the turntable that allows for removal of the launcher. Now I'm stuck with that incorrect cabin design, so until I figure out how to solve that, it will be M1070 in the next updates.