Mercedes Unimog - DAKAR '86
1October 18, 2024Chassis now complete, with the wheels on first time
2October 18, 2024and the other side
3October 18, 2024taped together the cargo tent, then "capillary-action" glued with SMS Extra thin cement - aiming for a seamless finish...
However, there's no ZIP of flap moulded anywhere..................................nah, not me, not this time!!
4October 18, 2024cabin almost complete - painted with POSCA pens
5October 18, 2024working on the "Roo" bar (not that they saw many roos on the Dakar)
6October 18, 2024Then preparing the real mesh grills - very tricky - so tricky in fact that I had a complete fail on the 7mm x 5mm items for the underslung driving lights......they seem to have found themselves to the box of shame......they lost them on the first stage thru the dunes.
7October 18, 2024Components getting ready
8October 18, 2024built up the external roll cage - just coated the plastic with "FUTURE"
9October 18, 2024more random components, mud flaps, grill, undertrayu storage
10October 18, 2024there's the rear cargo tent - seamless - ready to get painted
11October 18, 2024had to do a major chassis repair - one of the forestays broke off - now back together with a 1mm brass rod dowel.
12October 18, 2024the roo bar without the underslung lights
13October 23, 2024Finally got brave and started some spray painting - everything got a coat of Tamiya White Primer.
Then Gloss White on the cabin, Canvas and roof
14October 23, 2024Then I sprayed some royal blue to simulate night sky on the wagon - my first attempt on spray fading
15October 23, 2024And final White coats on the cabin roof...
Time to put some more of this Unimog together!!!!
16October 25, 2024Now to paint up the roof lights - I guess they're lights - POSCA pen for the blue, Tamiya X7 for the red.
masking tape with 2 holes punched thru it as a mask.
17October 25, 2024Front of the cabin where I've carefgully picked out the "UNIMOG L1300" letters
18October 25, 2024Mounting of the Mercedes logo on the mesh grill - no set mounting for this, so had to count the vertical mesh strands....
19October 25, 2024Masking removed - lights look good, but need a "bottom"
20October 25, 2024more masking to allow a black bottom to the lights
21October 25, 2024Used one of these "long-necked" paint pens to get the necessary access - these are great for so many uses - marking holes thru something thicker than a pencil will go thru - etc etc etc....
22October 25, 2024Daggy molding on the wipers needed some attention....
23October 25, 2024kit called for stretched sprue to make the aerial, with no clue as to how to incorporate that.
Decided to use 0.5mm steel rod - so had to drill the 0.5mm hole thru the aerial base - BY HAND!!
Who needs a precision drill press?!?!?!?!?!? - I'M IMPRESSED!!!!
24November 1, 2024LHS Decals completed on the tarp
25November 1, 2024Aided by my trusty modelling mate, Siri (cos she's into everything, with her sister Alexa!)
26November 1, 2024Lots more details to do
27November 1, 2024Skinny decals applied to the external roll cage
28November 1, 2024First day of decalling done - LHS, Front, Bull Bar, Roll cage & Top
29November 1, 2024Next day - RHS complete
30November 1, 2024and the back too
31November 1, 2024The unassembled front components
32November 1, 2024LHS again - now to Matt Clear the lot, after masking windows etc...
33November 3, 2024Finals steps - fitting the external Roll Cage - I was not happy with the fitment engineering, which would have meant gluing to the paintwork/decals, so I added an extra "bolt" to each of the brackets, and used a 0.5mm pin as a secure fixing point, (circled) then secured all with CA.
34November 3, 2024Then coloured in the bolts heads to make it look good!!! (Circled)
The engineer in me is now happy!
Bull bar & side mirrors to go....
35November 4, 2024The final bit of clamping to ensure that the external roll-cage is firmly attached.
36November 4, 2024COMPLETED: Driver's seat & dash
37November 4, 2024COMPLETED: Front LHS quarter
38November 4, 2024COMPLETED: Passenger's seat
39November 4, 2024COMPLETED: Front RHS quarter
40November 4, 2024COMPLETED: RHS
41November 4, 2024COMPLETED: Frontal
42November 4, 2024COMPLETED: Rear
DONE!!
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13 November 2024, 16:08 -
Album info
Restarting this build, originally from Craig, who I knew during my time at Coles Myer Ltd - another lifetime ago!!
Most of the painting done......yay!
Can't help playing with the finer details - silly, I know!!
01Nov - this should be ready for the Nov ESSMC meeting!!
04Nov - completed!
