Revell Unimog U1300L Dakar
![Album image #1 Album image #1](/albums/img/6/4/9/759649-53519-25-720.jpg)
Aaagghhh! It's finally here, but it has to sit on the mail quarantine table for three days first!
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Welp, I checked the entire internet and there are precisely 3 photographs of this rig in existence, and one of its sister truck from the same race.
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Revell's decals seems to be based more on the replica that Mercedes Benz built a few years ago.
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Chassis is assembled, with lots of air, electrical, and hydraulic lines in place. Engine mounts have been modified and I added a bit of treadplate on the cab steps.
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Ditched the phony plastic springs from the kit
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Bullbar, bumper, and gaurds ready for paint. Added reflectors for the front headlights, as well as gaurds for the trail lights to match the #614 truck
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Can't have all these rally lights and not add LEDs.... installing an array of hobby-ready SMDs from Evan Designs
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This isn't even the smallest one they sell!
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Tailights - Check! These will be under the lenses form the kit.
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Had the bullbar installed for mocking up the LED positions and broke one of the leads while removing it... I was somehow able to save it with my cheap soldering iron.
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I cut the hood away from the cab shell. Not sure how I'll hinge it yet, or if it even needs a hinge.
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Redid some of the details on the OM352A power plant, including the fuel injection lines, fuel pump oil drain, and exhaust manifold. Also added the breather cap, separator drain line, fuel filter, and air compressor.
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Engine bay mocked up with more scratchbuilt parts - added the radiator, air cleaner and intake pipes, expansion tank, and brake cylinder. Still to come are the brake fluid reservoir, windshield washer bottle, and hydraulic oil tank (?)
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Hmm... that's a pretty familiar looking green....
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That'll work. I'll tone it down with some dullcoat next.
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Now for the decals. Step 1, look online for filter label designs and part numbers.
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...Or just cheat
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Step 2, draw the design out.
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Step 3, scale them down and lay them out for the decal paper.
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Step 4, test prints. Maybe I should use my color printer more than once every six years.
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Step 5, check the scaling against the parts in the kit.
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Step 6, lay it down on some waterslide paper and clear coat it.
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I'll take the sharpest copy of each one... really just a roll of the dice how well each copy lines up with the printer, hence the extras.
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Rainy Sunday? Sounds like a good time to try out the new airbrush and compressor!
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Some additional parts that didn't fit on the first block.
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Finally laid color on the chassis too... busy day!
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Just a little bit of rust starting to show on the exhaust manifold and turbine housing.
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Heat oxide effect for the exhaust.
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Windshield washer bottle, hydraulic oil tank, and expansion tank. Subtle color change under a gloss clear coat for a polyethylene effect.
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Finished paint the filters, belts, and compressor, and applied the decals. Dullcoat is next!
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Looks good. But I've since decided to do an acrylic wash... back to gloss I guess...
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All glossed up again. Masked the compressor, alternator, and filters to retain the matte look.
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Engine assembled!
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Dull grey wash and some oil staining
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The LEDs from my hood make the air intake and compressor housing look kind of harsh. In natural light, it's much softer cast aluminum look
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Lights all in their sockets now, and all of the soldering is done until final assembly. Starting to look like something finally!
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Taillights too!
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Gonna call this motor complete for now. Added some fuel drips and some countershading.
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Interior complete as well!
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Added carpets and some light mud effect.
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Another moc kup, now in technicolor
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I've forgone the yellow accent paint and some of the decals to better match the '85 rig. Wondering if I should've made a set of #614 decals too...
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The doors fit... pretty ok
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The rear platform will house the batteries for the LEDs
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Two switches, one for the headlights and taillights, one for the trail lights, are located on the underside of the platform
![Album image #60 Album image #60](/albums/img/9/7/1/880971-53519-50-720.jpg)
The canvas and platform walls will remain separate, so that I can have access to change the batteries, or inevitably troubleshoot the soldered connections
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Cage is nearly finished too. Soon I'll be able to add the mud and dust spray to all of these subassemblies and finally bring it all together!
![Album image #63 Album image #63](/albums/img/5/7/8/885578-53519-89-720.jpg)
Holiday weekend? Sounds like it's time finally put the 'Mog together
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Studio Manager even came by for this momentous occasion.
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Red Brown for the base layer of dust
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Desert Yellow mixed with putty for the mud effect
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Desert Yellow for the top layer of dust
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Engine mounted!
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Fuel tank installed and connected
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Paint booth comes in handy as a fume hood too
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Wheels on!
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Time for my favorite game, called "why aren't the bullbar lights turning on??"
![Album image #78 Album image #78](/albums/img/5/6/0/885560-53519-83-720.jpg)
Ok, so for 5 of the six trail lights, the issue seems to be the platform mounted switch (bypassed with a jumper right now). No voltage making it past the switch. Perhaps some glue leaked in and is blocking one of the contacts?
![Album image #79 Album image #79](/albums/img/5/5/8/885558-53519-35-720.jpg)
Success! The final issue was a loose lead on the LED I had issues with before. Fingers crossed!
![Album image #80 Album image #80](/albums/img/5/5/7/885557-53519-24-720.jpg)
Shortly after this photo was taken, the center left bullbar light went out for good...
![Album image #81 Album image #81](/albums/img/5/5/6/885556-53519-26-720.jpg)
At least there was no drama from the taillights
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This is where I'll leave it for tonight - lots of progress!
![Album image #83 Album image #83](/albums/img/5/5/5/885555-53519-73-720.jpg)
Faulty switch was bypassed with a push-button. I won't be able to switch the trail lights on on off without opening the canopy now, but it's not too important. I didn't want to mount this kind of switch to the platform, sine the actuation force is high. Unfortunately the lead for the center left LED is too far gone to repair this late in the game. Had to snip the leads for the center right light to make it at least symmetrical :/
![Album image #84 Album image #84](/albums/img/5/5/4/885554-53519-43-720.jpg)
Fuel and electrical lines all hooked up
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Cab mounted... some finessing of the roll cage and engine bay components was required
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Final photoshoot time!
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Relieved that all of the extra parts mostly fit once assembled.
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Secondary switch activated to turn on the trail lights
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Bench is cleared off and ready for the next truck!
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Apparently, people can't get enough of this Unimog! Took home three awards from Autorama, for reasons I can't explain
Коментари
52 4 May 2020, 20:09
![](/profiles/img/53519-110-s.jpg)
Back at it, finally! This was supposed to be a quickie, but the scope of the project has expanded significantly, so I figured I better start documenting.
18 September 2020, 18:11
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Productive day! Got color on just about all of the chassis components.
5 October 2020, 00:37
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More progress this week - a few more details then the chassis components will be finished for a while.
8 October 2020, 23:41
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Thats awesome.
What colour did you use for the engine?
I'm abit obsessed with unlimited class trophy trucks atm, and would love to build one, but I can't seem to find any models of them. Looks like I'll just have to buy a £1000 rc car to scratch that itch...
9 October 2020, 08:27
![](/profiles/img/53519-110-s.jpg)
Thanks guys!
The engine color is actually a Duplicolor rattle can of Detroit Diesel Alpine Green, which turned out to be a decent enough match for the typical Mercedes diesel paint job. Goes on a little thicker than I'd prefer, but is manageable with light coats.
...I suppose scratchbuilding a trophy truck could always be an option!
9 October 2020, 12:42
![](/profiles/img/78199-918-s.jpg)
Perfect. Its the colour I've been looking for for my maxxpro/m1070/m911 engines!
10 October 2020, 09:59
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One more sub-assembly complete. Everything will get slathered in mud once the last three groups are done!
18 October 2020, 17:29
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Cab components are done now, minus the cage. I might just have this thing done this year haha...
6 November 2020, 01:33
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Excellent Brandon, it looks great. Maybe one day I will do it.
15 November 2020, 18:26
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Thanks guys! Highly recommend it if you can find it... by far the coolest of the Unimogs!
17 November 2020, 10:38
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Many thanks guys! I'm really happy with how the lights in particular turned out (I mean, besides the ones that I broke...)
30 November 2020, 11:57
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Thanks everyone! To be fair, it was one of the smaller categories at the show, but still a pleasant surprise to win something 🙂
7 March 2022, 12:01
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Thanks Nigel! Haha, at this point it would be quite a lonely cabinet if I did...
8 March 2022, 14:43
![](/profiles/img/53519-110-s.jpg)
Thank you!
And don't worry if they never make a tool for your 406... there's always 3D printing! 😉
14 March 2022, 22:55
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A successful outing at Autorama... Somehow this rig got Best in Show, Best Detail, and Best Finish. I'm deeply appreciative to the judges and to everyone who turned out to make for a great show!
1 March 2023, 19:47
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Congratulations again its a butiful build and a cool model I think all love a unimog
2 March 2023, 01:44