NWarty 1330 Posted January 24, 2014 Hey Guys! Well, finishing my 58002 build, it was time for something new. I found an incredible deal on Craigslist, just north of Seattle, WA that I couldn't pass up. A gentleman was selling his Wild Willy 2 with Tower Hobbies 2TXP radio, battery and charger for a very fair price. I had always wanted a Willy, but could never afford an original M38. So, I went up today this evening and bought the WW2 from him. He's also a Tamiya enthusiast but not on TC (hope he joins). So, this WW2 has NEVER been run outside. Only indoors several times and the body and chassis are PRISTINE. The previous owner did not paint the fiddly bits or Willy, so that gives me a good jumping off point. It also has the original MSC but that'll be upgraded to a Tamiya ESC soon. Here's the plan: I'm a US Army guy, so I love military paint schemes. But I want something different. This WW2 is going to be modeled after the M151 Mutt Jeeps of the early 1980's. This includes the old late 1970's/early 80's US camoflauge paint scheme, and Willy wearing the "wash-and-wear" Olive Drab uniform of the US Army cold-war era. But most importantly, it's a US Army, 8th Army, S. Korea Jeep. Which means that Willy gets patches from the 2nd Infantry Division, Sun/Dust/Wind goggles for his helmet, "Whoopie Light" which is a Convoy light and rotating orange beacon, PRC-77 radios (have to scratchbuild), axes and shovel, 1/6 M-16A1 for the front seat (or M1911 with a cavalry holster which I already have), canvas bags, LED lighting for the headlights and rollbar, turn signal indicators and taillights. I'm replacing the kit headlights with the Hilux clear P Parts headlight lenses. And I'm researching on how to build the canvas top. So here we go, years of dust are starting to be cleaned off and readied for paint. Parts are on order. And away we go! How he sits on my table now: Willy's patches. I already own a set for my 1/6 Korean War figure Orange, rotating beacon, aka the "Whoopie Light" LED light set, 4 white, 2 orange, 2 red LED's. And here's the inspiration: 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vrdetailing 1241 Posted January 24, 2014 Look forward to watching this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Quandry 382 Posted January 24, 2014 Wahoo! lets see some detailing then Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
InsaneJim69 1587 Posted January 24, 2014 This will look fantastic. Hope you intend on doing a tarp style roof cover for it too ? James Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shodog 1845 Posted January 24, 2014 This should turnout really cool. Several years ago I believe Simensays made a canvas top for one of his creations. You might check his showroom to see how he did it. On my WW1 figure that Fabrizio painted for me, he added patches to the sleeves that appear to be made from sheet styrene. I don't want to hijack your thread by posting a pic but they can be found in my gallery link below Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Grastens 2819 Posted January 24, 2014 If your Porsche restoration is anything to go by, this should be a phenomenal build! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWarty 1330 Posted January 24, 2014 Shodog, That is a fantastic figure! Don't worry about thread hijacks either James, Yep, that's the intent, to build a canvas top. I PM'd Nugget from his thread "All weather Willy": http://www.tamiyaclub.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=71872&hl=%2Ball+%2Bweather+%2Bwilly I'm trying to get the exact dimensions and template to make it using an old Army pup tent that I can source locally here. Hopefully I'll hear back from him soon. Grastens, Many thanks bud Just ordered his goggles and off to the hobby shop after work to pick up some paint for Le-Airbrushing-Time. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SRB Bloke 237 Posted January 24, 2014 Sounds like a great project.. If you get really stuck there are canvas look hoods available in shapeways from simensays... With all this scale effort, are you still keeping the monster wheels and tyres I'll be watching till the end and hoping for a video.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWarty 1330 Posted January 24, 2014 I love the hard top that Simensays is producing, but definitely going for the canvas soft top look. Still undecided on the tires and wheels. There was a WW2 on here that had a smaller set of Ansmann Crawler wheels that looked absolutely fantastic. For those wondering what the heck this camo scheme is. It's the MERDC Winter Verdant camo pattern from the 1970's. Forest Green, Sand, Black and Field Drab. This project is going to take a little longer since there is no, "by-the-book" instructions for what I want to accomplish. Things like fitting the Hilux lenses, light reflector housings, LED's in the turn signals and tails, canvas top and overall paint application is going to be tough Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CoolJetta3 39 Posted January 24, 2014 This is going to be sweet! Can't wait to see how it goes Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wood5tock 864 Posted January 24, 2014 Looking forward to this project, can't wait Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWarty 1330 Posted January 25, 2014 So begins the tear-down of the WW2. The rear jerry can and spare tire had the seams fully sanded down along with the wench, shift knob and NOS canister. Removed all burrs and sanded down. Willy himself had any imperfections puttied and his helmet sanded like crazy and three coats of Olive Drab laid down. Many thanks to Toykid for his tutorial on opening the headlight mounting in the front grill. The LED lightset should be here tomorrow, so I can start work mounting them up before gluing the grill on (have to due to the mounting bolts being removed to accomodate the housings). Pilledged my 1/6 stash and found two suitable OD Green Vietnam era kit bags. One for the straps to tie on the "Pioneer Kit" (axe and shovel) and the other to utilize for a map bag mounted behind the passenger seat. Tomorrow, I have to get some WD-40 to remove some decal residue, scrub the body in soapy water, then onto the first coat of Model Master Light Earth. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SRB Bloke 237 Posted January 25, 2014 That's what I like to see, another dining table builder like myself... Is your wife behind you making sure the dining table is ok all the time As for wheels and tyres, I do think something different, not necessarily scale, would go better with all the details you're doing ... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteveU30 1011 Posted January 25, 2014 Am liking this a lot, Subscribed! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toykid 599 Posted January 25, 2014 So begins the tear-down of the WW2. Many thanks to Toykid for his tutorial on opening the headlight mounting in the front grill. You're welcome, this build looks great, subscribed! James. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWarty 1330 Posted January 25, 2014 SRB Bloke, yeah she's cool with it, but my man cave work table is under construction. She put up with me building 40 aircraft for my 1/350 USS Nimitz build while parked next to our dining room Agreed on the wheels and I do think the Ansmann wheels are the way to go. I'm going to do a couple of things like a painting on the spare tire housing similar to this. It's from 1-15 Field Artillery on Camp Casey in Donducheon, S. Korea. Also, the 2ID's motto is "Second to None!" So that'll get worked in somewhere, possibly Willy's helmet, ie using the decal #2 and chalking in "nd to none!" beside it. I'm also working on a yellow "Convoy Follows" sign for the front of the windscreen Got to pick up some black acrylic tube paint today from the store to do the wash on his racing suit Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SRB Bloke 237 Posted January 25, 2014 You've got a lot of details planned, and they sound great.... I'll be watching this the way to the end ... Keep those updates coming.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWarty 1330 Posted January 25, 2014 Will do SRB, not much happening today other than shooting the base coat. Model Master Light Earth. Came out exactly how I wanted it. Shooting another coat here shortly. Going to be utilizing some techniques that I used on my Heng Long 1/16 Tiger I. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWarty 1330 Posted January 26, 2014 Got to fix some niggles around the #2 decal, but happy. I used the number 2 for two reasons, black and gold are the colors of the US Army and secondly, the #2 is also for the 2nd Infantry Division, hence the 2ID's motto added to the 2, "2nd to None!" Model Master and Games Workshop colors. Acrylic wash, dullcoat and patches from "Soldier Story" line of 1/6 figures. Patches are oversized so I cut them down from E-8 Master Sergeant to E-5 buck Sergeant. I love the fact they are fabric though. Now just awaiting his Sun/Dust/Wind goggles from an Ebay vendor 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SRB Bloke 237 Posted January 26, 2014 Very cool, good work !!!! I still struggle with wash coats..... All this detail, would it be worth painting some on the chassis parts etc...... ?? Check out Rob's (IBIFTKH) desert Willy.... http://www.tamiyaclub.com/showroom_model.asp?cid=117487&sid=34614 I know its not a WW chassis but you probably get what Im saying.. just a thought.. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWarty 1330 Posted January 26, 2014 Thank you SRB! That's why I use acrylics as I find them much easier to work with. Don't know if I'll do the chassis. But Rob's work is phenomenal. The "chocolate chip" desert pattern is a pain in the ******* to do. I'm not too worried about the vinyl decal flash around the #2, I'm starting to clean it up as we speak and the strap from the goggles should hide most of the imperfections. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wood5tock 864 Posted January 26, 2014 Really awesome work there fella that paint job is immaculate 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Toykid 599 Posted January 26, 2014 Just awesome, and a great build thread to boot. Wow those No. 2 decals look good against that green. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
NWarty 1330 Posted January 26, 2014 Thanks fellas, His .45 M1911 holster is a little oversized, but fits nicely. Ironically, the .45 fits perfect in his hand though Yeah, E-5's don't carry sidearms, but he's also the Commander's Driver, so there Couple of other things on order too like a pack of Marlboro cigarettes and crook neck flashlight (don't want to Bogart my 1/6 figure stash too badly). 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
InsaneJim69 1587 Posted January 26, 2014 Wow, wow, wow !! Very high detail so far, love the small satchel bags further up with the jerry can James 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
