Mercedes-Benz L 4500 R Maultier Construction

Frank Krause
Startet with the Mercedes-Benz L 4500 R today. So far I constructed the engine and painted the first layers. After paint has dried enough, corrections will have to be done, followed by washing and some dirt.

Holger Kranich
Its looking good! But why are you going to mix it?

Frank Krause
Hi Holger, quite simple.

I've got 2 Maultier, 2 4500S Einheitskabine and 1 4500A steel cab.

So I'll built one Maultier OOTB, another Maultier with the Einheitsfahrerhaus (does not exist as plastic kit), one 4500S Einheitsfahrerhaus OOTB and one 4500S with the steel cab (does not exist as plastic kit), which remains of the Maultier kit, which I'll built with Einheitsfahrerhaus. Last, but not least the 4500A OOTB. In the project are just 3. The other 2 OOTB will follow..sometime....

Holger Kranich
Be convinced, i´ll follow this build with interest! Will you apply the camos from the boxart?

Mike Kryza
Hi Frank - I have build the "first" kit last year. It was pure fun...:-D
The start looks good.

Frank Krause
@Mike: So far it's fun! The parts fit nicely, the kit has good details, but ask again, when I start the third one...😉

However, may be one of them might become a civilian version used by a logistics company that time. Who knows...

Mike Kryza
...the third one has not any(?) problems too...

Frank Krause
@Mike: ...well, since those kits share a lot of same parts, I fear, it could become a bit boring, when I reach the third one... I'll probably play a bit with the colours...

Holger Kranich
And it's never good to get bored😢!

Zimmermaniac
I'll be watching you, got that first kit in my stash..

Frank Krause
First steps on the frame (so far 56 frame parts assembled - another 21 to come)

Holger Kranich
56 parts for the frame only? How much parts in all?

Frank Krause
Only the frame without any add-on parts like suspension, axles, wheels has 71 pieces. The whole kit consists of only 426 parts...

Holger Kranich
Puh! A lot to glue! Btw, good morning!🙂

Malte D
Looks really great! But - you should stop counting those parts, otherwise this will avoid making any progress with the build. :-D

Frank Krause
🙂 🙂 🙂

Frank Krause
Some more pics added. Pics 5 and 6 show my progress last Sunday. Pic 7 is the trailer coupling, but... no bolt at all.

Malte D
Wow, that exhaust looks great!!!

Holger Kranich
Yeah, Malte is absolute right!

Christian Mundt
Anhängerkupplung?
Hier werden Sie geholfen:
etsy.com/listing/821..icle-rear-tow-pintle

Frank Krause
Danke, Christian! Dann bekommt das Maultier doch seinen Nippel für die Lasche...

Christian Mundt
🙂

Christian Mundt
Ich hab´ da vor einiger Zeit das Set für die 7,62cm Pak bestellt (pimp my Diana 😉 ), der Service war einwandfrei und die Qualität der Teile ist hervorragend.

Frank Krause
Hi Christian, mein Problem mit der Anhängerkupplung hat sich von alleine gelöst. Grad kommt der Radschlepper Ost rein, der den gleichen Typ hat. Ich brauche beim Maultier nur den Bolzen und den Griff zum Öffnen hinzufügen, dann ist die Kupplung "meiner" Wirklichkeit nah genug.

Aber nochmals danke für den Link. Da sind gute Sachen dabei, die man sich doch zulegen könnte... 🙂

Skoda RSO-Radschlepper Ost (Riich.Models RV35005, 1:35)

Frank Krause
Small update - I pimped the towing pintle with bolt and handle and glued the axles and suspension to the frame.

Holger Kranich
Frank, du baust ja fast in Lichtgeschwindigkeit! Bravo!😢

Frank Krause
Höhö, für meine Verhältnisse könnte man das so sagen. Hab grad 'nen guten Run... )

Holger Kranich
Dann lass den Kleber glühen!😢

Frank Krause
Followed Holger's recommendation. More pics of instrument panel and seats added.

The instrument panel of the Einheitsfahrerhaus is smaller than that of the steel cabin. So I had to modify some parts. Also the seats received a cover of silk paper and first paint. As per instructions the seats should be black, but I decided for leather brown, but will probably paint them a bit darker than they are now.

Holger Kranich
Yeah, i like it!!!

Mike Kryza
...feine Sache das bis jetzt - Frank. -- (ja... und ich lebe auch noch :-D). Aber seit Friedrichshafen habe ich mit den Tücken der modernen Kommunikation zu kämpfen gehabt... - sollte jetzt wieder (fast) alles funktionieren.🙂

Frank Krause
@Mike: Hatte mich schon gewundert, wo Du und Marina steckst. Schön, dass Du wieder online bist! 🙂

Ich kämpfe mit einer Erkältung, muss aber vor dem Zusammenbruch noch 2 Wochen durchhalten, damit wir unsere Schulungen durchbringen. Das Maultier hält mich dabei bei Laune. Das Ding macht einfach Spass. Ich warte noch auf das Masking Tape für die Scheiben. Solange muss eben die Ladefläche dran glauben...

Mike Kryza
...also ich habe die Scheibe nach der Lackierung eingeklebt!! - Müsste eigentlich bei deinem Kit auch gehen.

Frank Krause
Hmm, nicht bei dem! Die Scheibe und der Rahmen sind ein Teil inkl. der Scheibenwischermotoren... Auch wenn das innen ist, sieht man es doch.

Mike Kryza
ok - das hatte ich nicht mehr so in Erinnerung...😉

Frank Krause
Upps, ich vergass! Statt dem Original Stahlfahrerhaus baue ich ja das Einheitsfahrerhaus drauf. Die Scheiben sind unterschiedlich. Beim Stahlfahrerhaus wäre ich ohne Masking Tape ausgekommen....

Mike Kryza
...wir kommen doch so langsam in die Jahre...😉

Frank Krause
Some more pics added. My first trials ever with masking tape (thanks to Thomas for the extremely fast delivery) went satisfying well. For more info please refer to the captions.

Frank Krause
It's taking shape. With cargo bay and cabin dry-fitted it gives already an impression of the final thing...

Holger Kranich
Meine Herren, Frank! Du überholst Dich ja fast selbst! Sieht aber bis jetzt klasse aus Dein Einheitsfahrerhausaufkettengerätmitladeflächengedöns! Was sagtest Du noch, kommt da für ne Tarnung drauf?

Frank Krause
Quietschegelb... äh... Sandgelb. Habe keine buntigen Maultiere gefunden, auch wenn mich dafür eine Hinterhalttarnung reizen würde, nur... die gab's auf'nem Maultier wohl gar nie nicht... Das 2. Maultier mit dem Stahlfahrerhaus wird wohl 'ne Flecktarnung bekommen.

Holger Kranich
Und denn? Dreckig oder sauber?

Frank Krause
Benutzt, aber keine Rampensau. Die Frontfender lasse ich weg wie auf der Friulpackung...

Holger Kranich
Ja, siehr gut aus ohne!

Mike Kryza
Gib's doch zu - Frank - die Frontfender haste wohl wieder verschusselt...😉

Frank Krause
Hähä, dicht dran oder knapp vorbei. Ich hab sogar vier - die ursprünglichen gemäß Karton und die aus dem EInheitsfahrerhaus Kit...😉

Mike Kryza
ok - und jetzt haste das Problem alle vier(!) anzukleben...😉

Frank Krause
Ja, sieht so komisch aus...😉

Holger Kranich
Haha, LOL!

Mike Kryza
:-D:-D:-D

Frank Krause
Few pics added. Tracks are ready for paint.

Kim Branders
So paint it will be. Great job. Looking forward to the painting. 🙂 Grtz Kim

Frank Krause
Yeah, Kim! Still the old-fashioned way. I know there are special fluids for metall tracks, but... I'm not that far.

Fethi Isiksal
Dear Frank, the aging which you made is perfect. Especially the details in dashboard is super. Waiting new pictures.

Kim Branders
😢

Christian Lehmann
Nice progres 😉

Christian Meyerhoff
Very nice looking Maultier with great detail

Frank Krause
Slow progress is better than no progress! More pics added.

Acki
Hi Frank, nice job, great show. I´ll follow!

Philip De Keyser
Great progress Frank, looking very good so far, greetz Phil

Frank Krause
I pre-assembled hood, cabin and cargo bay on the frame, just to get an idea, how the Maultier will look like.

Gerald
schön schön Frank gefällt mir 🙂

Holger Kranich
Oh, jetzt kommt Leben in die Geschichte! Looks good, your Maultier!🙂

Mike Kryza
Feines Teil bis jetzt... 😉

Frank Krause
@Holger: Danke! Schau'n mer mal!
@Mike: Bis jetzt... ich werd ihn schon "versauen" und dann in die Ecke schmeissen, aber warten wir mal ab. Vielleicht kommt ja doch was raus am Ende...😉

Mike Kryza
Klar kommt was raus bei 😉 - sonst würde ich ja meinen Glauben an Dich verlieren... - :-D

Frank Krause
Autsch, jetzt wird's religiös. Ich "glaube", ich mach erst einmal Mittag!😉😉😉
Danke für Dein Vertrauen, Mike! 🙂

Holger Kranich
Mahlzeit!

Mike Kryza
...und so was bei einer harmlosen Bemerkung... 😉

Frank Krause
Update - cabin and hood fixed to the frame. Started with the driver. More info see captions...

Philip De Keyser
Great progress Frank, keep the pictures comming😉

Augie
🙂 Watchign with interest

Christian Lehmann
Maythe force be with you when you face the challenge of figure painting

Christian Meyerhoff
Nice looking driver!

Fethi Isiksal
Dear Frank, first of all i want to say that your work is excellent. May i ask you that how you did paint the driver? with airbrush or with brush only?

Frank Krause
Thanks, girls and guys! 🙂
@Fethi: All brush-painted. I don't even own an airbrush...😉

Jean Henri FILLIOL
Beautiful work, congratulation for the manipulation of the brush; I have the L 4500 A version, passably begun and which waits patiently for its tour in the list of "no finished " (and it is long... LOL)

Markus Kutsch The Plastic Bench
Ahhhhhh ,i knew there was someone besides Augie that dont use an Airbrush!!
It was you ,Mate.
Congrates to your result.Looking forward for the next steps :-D

Markus Kutsch The Plastic Bench
And yes i agree with you ..painting Figures is Horror 🙂
But we are still young and we can only get better!!

Fethi Isiksal
@Frank: incredibly beautiful nice work. There is no any brush traces.. no need to words 🙂

Frank Krause
Thanks, Fethi!😉 Photographing technic helps... There are enough brush traces, but for military vehicles still ok...!

Frank Krause
Driver took his seat.

Malte D
....and found his head! 🙂 Looking great Frank!

Jean Henri FILLIOL
Very beautiful work; it is in very good way.

Frank Krause
Scratchbuilt the cooler frame typical for the Einheitsfahrerhaus Maultier.

Christian Lehmann
Well done Frank. These small details make the difference 😉,

Christian Meyerhoff
Very well done so far. This model will be great when finished. Grear details so far. So keep it comming mate!

Augie
ok pass the popcorn.. i want to watch the master at work....

Acki
Sitting, watching, eating popcorn. Thanks for the show, Frank.

Philip De Keyser
Great scratchwork Frank, I want to see more of this nice work, greetz Phil

Malte D
"Candlelight-Scratchbuild", now you're going to become romantic, don't you? 🙂

Frank Krause
Just to please my wife...😉

Malte D
Oh weh! :-D
Sieht aber gut aus! Weitermachen! 🙂

Frank Krause
Ok, this is as far as I will get in 2012 - cooler frame, lights and cargo bay fixed. Actually only 10 parts are missing and the construction will be finished. In 2013 it'll get its final paint! See you all next year...!😉
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Philip De Keyser
This one comes nicely together, great job Frank, SU next year,
Happy New Year for you and your family
Greetz Phil

Frank Krause
Thanks Philip! Happy New Year!

Arne Greve
Hallo Frank,

nice work, but for the drivers face, I miss some shadows in his face. He more looks like an dummy, than a human. 😉

Happy new year
Arne

Frank Krause
Happy New Year, Arne! 🙂
Thanks for the advise! My first figure after years. Also the area around the eyes looked ok to me, but on the photos... 🙁 I'll have to work on figure painting. May be SCM meeting on Wangerooge will be a good chance...😉

Frank Krause
For me the Maultier is finished now.
Last pictures of the album show a walkaround. I took them with flash light, so the colours and shades appear somewhat different than they actually are.
During daylight I will take more pictures and publish them on whatever website is courageous enough to accept them.
Hope you liked following my progress. Another 1400++ kits to go to improve my skills...😉

Markus Kutsch The Plastic Bench
Hi Frank
How can a year start better !!!!
(Yes i know there are some other things but psssst)
Looks great but i want better pics. in daylight or so.
Very well done ,Mate.Looking forward for more Pics. 🙂

Acki
Frank Krause strikes again. Phantastic work.

Mike Kryza
Hi Frank - I agree with Markus -😉

Holger Kranich
Very, very cool model! Frank you still impress me, not to use an airbrush. This paintjob and the weathering ist superb, in my oppinion. And i like the driver. He looks as if he thinks: Uups, that wasnt a fart...

Great build, Frank (and quick)! Looking forward the other 2 models!🙂

Frank Krause
Thanks Holger! I'm just thinking off continuing with the L4500S, since the box is already open, because I took the Einheitsfahrerhaus for Maultier.
I would like to do it in civilian colours e.g. a truck of a forwarding company, but... I haven't found any colour plates of civilian trucks that time. Pale blue might be a choice. Any guess, what other colours could be ok?

[img1]

Holger Kranich
I have seen a restored car like yours in Jevergrün RAL 6005 formerly known as British Racing Green. That looked very cool!

Malte D
Ich wüde auch sagen - dunkelgrün mit schwarzen Kotflügeln, sowas habe ich auch schon gesehen. Oder Weinrot mit schwarzen Kotflügeln. Schwarz mit grauen Kotflügeln geht sicher auch ganz gut. 🙂

Christian Meyerhoff
@ Holger: "Jevergrün" Das war klar! 🙂
@ Frank: Top Modell Dein Muli! Wird der noch beladen?

Holger Kranich
@Christian: Na sicher!

Frank Krause
@Christian: Danke Christian! Freut mich, dass er Anklang findet.
Mein Projekt ist ja etwas grösser. Gemäß der geplanten Anhängelast (8,8 cm PaK 43/3 L/71 - ob die jemals an ein Maultier angehängt wurde, weiss ich nicht, ist mir aber Wurscht) werden wohl noch ein paar Munitionskisten folgen, aber das kommt später.