The Duke Completes Four Vehicles in April

[Duke Maddog]

Even though it's May, I did complete these last month. It's just been a while before I could post these. They are not the best and yes, wheels and tracks are floating but that's because of the pad I was placing them on to shoot these picks. Anyway, without further ado; here's my latest round of military vehicles:

First up is this IBG 1/72 scale Canadian CWT60 Ambulance. The fit was tough, so it's not the best:







Next up is this Master Box 1/72 scale Austin Armored Car Mk. III. Easier build, despite some very delicate parts:







Next up after this is the UM Models 1/72 scale M4 Sherman with the Dozer Blade. UM engineers their German vehicles much better than their Shermans and this one was no exception, fighting me all the way. Out of the six UM Shermans I had started, only two were ever completed. This is one:







And a detail shot of the dozer blade itself:



Finally the Trumpeter 1/72 scale M1135 Squad Engineer Vehicle that was an interesting build and a tough fight to get that dozer blade correct:








And that is the last of these so far. Stay tuned, there's more coming to the finish line; meanwhile comments are welcome. Thanks to those who looked in.

[Stuart]

All looking good Mark - I can see where that blade would be a bugger to fit on the Stryker.

[LyleW]

Good work! These are ones you do not see often.

[Duke Maddog]

Thank you Stuart! Yeah, that Stryker blade was a bear.

Thank you Lyle! Having built so many "mainstream" vehicles, I have to look for a lot of the ones not seen often.

[speedgraflex]

Duke! Duke! Duke!

Again, bravo! Those look great. It’s a pity that the kit designs are difficult to assemble. I’m not familiar with UM Models. What do you know about them?

[BlackSheep214]

Oh my…go big or go home on that Stryker

[Impisi]

Building snowplows in April is perhaps a bit late, isn't it? They all look good

[Duke Maddog]

Thank you Bruce! I agree, you'd think in this day and age, they'd be able to improve on that. UM models is an Eastern European model company that makes a considerable number of 1/72 scale armor and vehicle kits, a few 1/35th kits and aircraft kits. They are not quite short run, but they are old school molding. Interestingly enough, all their 1/72 scale German vehicle kits are far better molded with much better fit than any of their Sherman kits. I've started six UM Sherman kits; and only completed two because of major issues with the kits themselves. Still, when it comes to some variants of the Sherman, I have no choice but to engage these kits if I want something like a Sherman with a dozer blade on it.

Thank you Tom! Yeah, that's true. I also think that variant of the Stryker is the last one I need, but I'm not sure. I may still need to build the NBC version to have the full family line.

Thank you Martin! Yeah, but I can always play in the sand with that too! LOL!