Another weird one. AEC Matador REME.

1
August 10, 2024
The photo which started it all.
2
August 10, 2024
Thinned the front wheel arches as scaling it up to full size the thickness would have been 99mm (4”). In fact the kit part is probably not far off the actual thickness of the real Matador wheel arch.
3
August 10, 2024
The cab detail is very sparse so I busied it up. It may not be 100% accurate as you probably won’t be able to see much when it’s all buttoned up….and it turns out I forgot to take a photo of the interior painted.
4
August 10, 2024
It probably would have been better to chose a four wheel Matador kit rather than the six wheel refueller, but that’s the only Matador kit I have so I shortened the chassis and altered the suspension. The leaf springs are resin copies from the Bedford QL.
5
August 10, 2024
I’m also trying to make the front window frame look less chunky. Incidentally I add tabs to the window masks to make the masks easier to remove.
6
August 10, 2024
Starting on the jib.
7
August 10, 2024
And the craney bit. The cable is from a set of old in-ear headphones which had a very slender cable. Wasn’t easy stripping the plastic off but it’s perfect for the job.
From the photos it’s very difficult to see what the back of the vehicle actually looked like.
8
August 10, 2024
9
August 11, 2024
Now, this might need some explaining…. As you can see from the rear cargo thing (at the back of the photo) there is a space between the two storage lockers. At first I thought it was for the spare wheel….turns out it isn’t big enough. It must have been there for a reason and the photos aren’t clear enough to give any clues. A rummage though my drawers 😳 came up with a mysterious object which I cut into three parts and glued two of them in place (the grey bits) to give the impression there was something important going on down there, rather than a big empty space.
10
August 11, 2024
Jib now attached.
11
August 11, 2024
As with my last build I needed a jig to bend hoops for the cargo area. They aren’t the same as the Dromedary so I had to make a new jig. 55 is the length of the wire I needed in mm.
Incidentally, this isn’t my NUS (National Union of Students) card, it’s my daughters. If it was mine it would probably be made of Bakelite. 😄
12
August 11, 2024
The result.
13
August 11, 2024
The original photo shows a couple of fragile looking read mud guards. Remember when you were little more than a toddler and how you twirled bits of paper into curls using a ruler? That’s what I did on a strip of 0.25mm plastic. It worked okayish but the bend wasn’t tight enough so I wrapped it to be a much smaller diameter than I needed and dipped it in my tea – which is why the colour looks a bit jaundiced. Being British, all problems are solved by tea 😄 . When it cooled it opened a little to be more or less the correct radius. 🙂
14
August 11, 2024
A crane needs a hook. I haven’t got a hook so I played around with a candle and piece of sprue and finally ended up with something I could use.
15
August 11, 2024
Then I wrapped it around a bar so now you can’t see it. 😄
Oh, also notice the rear mud guards.
16
August 11, 2024
From my extensive research (which translates as five minuets looking at photos on Google) wartime refuelling Matadors had only one headlight and there aren’t any in the kit. The one I’m building has two. Fortunately I had this in my spares box, the ends of which are ideal. 🙂
I fight against my inherited hoarding gene, but sometimes it works in my favour.
17
August 11, 2024
Headlights fitted. I painted them silver on the outside so when the primer goes on the silver will be in the inside of the headlights.
18
August 14, 2024
I chickened out fitting a cover to the cargo area on the Dromedary, I was determined I wasn’t going to on this. The original photo shows the tarp was fitted with straps, so I used Tamiya tape for those. Previously I’ve used tissue for covers/tarps etc. Being a one-trick pony I tried it again. My first mistake was using only a single ply tissue.
Here I’ve glued one side in place with superglue.
19
August 14, 2024
The other side didn’t go quite as well as a bit stuck to my thumb. Never fear, I repaired it with this patch. It’s important to tear around the edges which are supposed to blend in which it did perfectly when I swamped it with dilute PVA.
You’ll have to take my word for that because I forgot to take a photo.
What a plonker.
20
August 14, 2024
The next step was to drench the whole cover in dilute PVA to seal the paper.
The tissue got a bit baggier than I’d hoped it would.
What a plonker.
21
August 14, 2024
Then primed.
22
August 14, 2024
Painted.
23
August 14, 2024
Fitted.
Actually I quite like the baggy look, it gives it more character.
(Well, that’s what I tell myself when I look in the mirror 😳 ).
24
August 14, 2024
Incidentally, none of the photos I have show any sign of controls for the craney thing so I’m assuming it may have been controlled from the cab. The original photo I showed at the start is the only pic I have of it with the crane in operation and there is someone in the cab looking back, perhaps he’s taking instructions.
25
August 17, 2024
26
August 17, 2024
27
August 17, 2024
28
August 17, 2024
29
August 17, 2024
30
August 17, 2024
31
August 17, 2024
32
August 17, 2024

Kommentare

26 10 August, 14:12

Alex K
Another Gorby-licious small-scale "weird" (we wouldn't want you any other way) creation... Definitely in! 👍

10 August, 15:13

gorby
Welcome to the show Alex and thanks very much. 🙂
The buildy bit is nearly complete so, as usual I'm playing catch-up with the report. Hopefully another update tomorrow. 🙂

10 August, 16:35

David Taylor
Back in.

10 August, 20:05

Robert Podkoński
Another talent-show from gorby! Definitely in!

10 August, 20:28

Jay Dubya
Front row seat, on the bleachers, please Gorby. I wouldn't want to crane my neck to see!

11 August, 01:47

Ben M
🪑

11 August, 02:23

gorby
Thanks for your interest mates. I hope not to disappoint. 🙂

11 August, 05:13

John Hughes
Another build in the series "What's gorby up to now?" Be honest, though. The only reason you didn't have orange flares was that you couldn't get over the fence at the local airfield to steal a couple of windsocks!

11 August, 08:28

Kesa Tiho
I dont understand anything thats going on but i hope your build turns out absolutely stunning

11 August, 08:41

gorby
That made me laugh John. 😄
Kesa: I like to buildodd looking vehicles some of which are converted from standard kits. I looooove scratch building.
Thanks both for tagging along. 🙂

11 August, 09:00

Kesa Tiho
Scale models can be converted? So like a F111 model could be fitted with a nuke even though the original model didnt have one?

11 August, 09:03

gorby
Definitely Kesa, there is a whole range of aftermarket conversions you can buy or if you are feeling adventurous, some conversions are reasonably easy to scratch build yourself. I have a couple of drawers full of plastic sheet of various thickness and plastic and metal rods, tubes, strips etc. I once saw a fantastic large scale scratch build of a B17 build that used the plastic from yogurt pots as the skin.

11 August, 10:56

Kesa Tiho
Woahhhhh

11 August, 11:19

Kesa Tiho
I think i now have something to do over the summer now >:]

11 August, 11:22

gorby
Excellent!
I found a link to the B17 I mentioned. It shows what is possible:
forum.largescaleplan..le-b17g-fuddy-duddy/

11 August, 11:28

Kesa Tiho
Holy flying fudge that looks lovely

11 August, 11:33

David Taylor
Hi Gorby.On the real truck there is a winch as a standard fit in the middle.

12 August, 18:27

Spanjaard
amazing job my friend. not tobe missed, certainly
thanks for the link to that 1:20 B17, it is out of this world.....

12 August, 19:14

gorby
Thanks David, that might have been the reason. 👍
Thanks Spanjaard. That B17 is one of the best scratch-builds I've ever seen - well beyond my ability. I think he sold it to a museum in the US.

13 August, 06:42

Sy Bar
🍿, loving the progress s far 👍

13 August, 07:32

gorby
Thanks Sy, hopefully another update soon. 🙂

13 August, 08:25

Spanjaard
that B17 is certainly where it belongs!

13 August, 14:26

gorby
New photos start at number 18.
I hope to complete the build today and hopefully take some photos in the next couple of days.
Thanks for tagging along. 👍

14 August, 09:37

Spanjaard
lovely work on the tarp!

14 August, 10:11

gorby
Thanks mate. 🙂

14 August, 12:54

David Taylor
Looking at the pic Gorby the driver is reversing the truck back to install the engine.Probably a hand winch with a ratchet.

14 August, 14:39

Jun Chung
very small but attractive vehicle ^^

15 August, 01:38

gorby
Thanks mates. 🙂
You could be right David. In the photo the load isn't attached to the crane hook but a hoop on the jib, as you say, probably using a hand winch. I have three photos of the back of various versions of this vehicle and none of them shows anything which might be used to control the crane, so obviously I can't add what I don't see. Thanks for your comment. 👍

15 August, 07:17

gorby
Charging ahead with my next build I nearly forgot to post the completed pics of this thing. Hope you like how it's turned out. 🙂

17 August, 13:31

Robert Podkoński
Great! Fantastic job, Gorby!

17 August, 15:06

Alex K
Congrats! 👍

17 August, 15:17

CaptGPF
Wow Gorby! Your attention to detail + interesting subject matters are always a joy to watch! I love how you stepped us through the scratch build process and you approach to modeling - very much appreciated!

17 August, 15:36

Spanjaard
superb job gorby!

17 August, 15:49

David Taylor
Another Gorby wonder.

17 August, 15:53

John Hughes
Another little gem. What are you getting the itch to scratchbuild next?

17 August, 16:05

gorby
Wow I'm really taken aback by the response to this one. Lovely comments, thank you all. 🙂
John: My next build is well advanced and hopefully I'll be putting it on here next week. This time it's a full scratchbuild, although not on the scale of my last traction engine. 👍

18 August, 05:55

Martin Oostrom
Another fine addition to Gorby's house of haunted vehicles. Great job!

18 August, 06:52

gorby
😄 😄 😄
That made me laugh Martin. Thanks for your comment. Perhaps 'deranged vehicles' might be more fitting. 😄

18 August, 07:20

Martin Oostrom
Mansion of Misunderstood Machines?

18 August, 07:21

gorby
😄
Chamber of crazy contraptions. 🙂

18 August, 07:25

John Hughes
House of Frankenkits

18 August, 08:01

gorby
😄 😄 😄

18 August, 08:03

Neuling
Very good small scale build!

18 August, 08:45

gorby
Thanks Neuling. 👍

18 August, 09:27

George Williams
Looks great. That must have been a tricky machine to drive.

18 August, 11:48

gorby
Thanks for your comment George. 🙂

18 August, 12:55

bughunter
You're away for a moment and gorby has already finished a new model - wonderful! I think it's great that you've realised a cover this time!

19 August, 16:51

gorby
Thank you very much Frank. I was determined not to chicken out with the cover (I'm told it's called a 'tilt') and quite enjoyed doing it. Always plenty to learn with this modelling lark. 🙂

20 August, 07:18

bughunter
My dictionary do not suggest tilt but tarpaulin, but you are the native speaker 🙂

20 August, 11:01

gorby
Apparently 'tiltl is a British army term.

20 August, 14:31

Album info

AEC Matador REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers)

Having done the Bedford QL from the 1/76 Airfix refuelling set I was left with an AEC Matador so after a short Googlalisation I saw a photo and the decision was made. 🙂
I found a few other photos of similar vehicles (some post war civvies) although the one thing all the photos had in common is that they are all a bit crap, so some the build will have to be ‘best guess’ AGAIN! The kit is from the dark ages when simple humans thought orange checked flares actually looked cool. As such, the kit is a bit simplified. Fortunately I’ll only be using the cab, chassis and wheels.
I first built the refuelling set only a few years after it was first released (although I wasn’t cool enough for the orange flares 🙁 ) and I suspect I’d have built and painted it on the day it was bought. This time it’s taken me three months. My younger self wouldn’t have been impressed. 😄

AEC Matador REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers)

32 Bilder

1:76

In Bearbeitung

1:76 R.A.F. Refuelling Set (Airfix 03302-2)

Alle Alben

Alle Alben anzeigen »