Italeri M6 Gun motor Carriage WC-55

A pile of parts. Let's see if I can find a truck in here somewhere. 

This kit is riddled with sink marks. 

Even the surface features of the parts have sunk. 

A quick test fit of the main sub assemblies. It's been fill, sand, repeat all the way! 

 

A test fit including wheels. All four touch the ground at the same time! 

 

Assembling the gun cradle - oh, what a mess! There are four dimensions which are relevant.
1 - The spacing of the two notches on 103B
2 - The separation of the gun pivots
3 - The bar on 100B which has a peg that fits into a hole on 101B
4 - The length of part 104B.
No two of these dimensions tally at all. I considered the distance across the gun pivot points the critical dimension. If that was too great, not only would the gun droop, but the end of the gun would be able to move in a circle. To begin with, I had to deepen the notches on 103B to bring 100B and 101B a little closer together. The rod on 100B still only covers around 2/3 of the gap to 101B. There is no way to get that to fit as it is cast. Assembling 100B, 101B, 97B and 103B correctly is next to impossible due to the very poor design of the parts. I had to have three attempts before I ended up with something I could (barely) live with. I actually fitted the gunshield (106B) before assembling the gun cradle so that I would have the gun barrel mounted facing forward, rather than at an angle.
When fitting 104B, I found that the end of 100B was not only malformed, but the locating hole was in completely the wrong place. 104B was also around 4mm too long.
Both parts 107B are a bit too short too. What i've ended up with is a bit of a hack, I'm afraid. If I was doing this again, I would be resorting to a few lengths of brass tubing to act as the gun pivot, the too-short rod on 100B and 104B 

Urgh! I drilled out the holes in the plate as it only had some sucker-like reliefs on it. 

This is the best angle due to the enormous gun shield. At least drilling out the end of the barrel worked out okay. 

Primed and black based. 

 

The main bodywork is now attached to the chassis. I had to remove the running boards as they were mounted too high to locate the bodywork correctly, then reattach afterwards. 

I also managed to break one of the rails on the flatbed off. Twice. Next step, semi-gloss coat. 

Various bits of detail painting are underway at the moment. Slow, but steady progress. Note the leather seat covers are painted in AK Interactive Real Colours Olive Drab, whereas the bulk is AK's Real Colours Olive Drab spray can. They are distinctly different colours, which seems to be the general case with this paint range, so be warned! 

Decals on. I had hoped to use the white star with the circle around it.All went okay at first, but when I tried to apply microset to it (by delicately touching a brush to the decal), the decal grabbed the brush and wrapped around it like a facehugger. End of decal. 

The decals have been sealed in place with a clear coat. Next up, shading, filtering and weathering! 

Shading, filter & chipping done. I'm quite happy with the way the windshield had come out. The wipers are moulded as part of the transparent part, which is flat backed, despite being a split screen. It had lots of porential to look awful but I think I've got away with it. 

The winch needs a cable. Looks like I'll have to raid the sewing kit! I'll also have to find out what's supposed to be at the end of the cable. 

Lots of sand wash applied. Most of it will be staying as this vehicle was used in Tunisia. 

 

Wheels on, windscreen on (without breaking it!) & most accessories painted. The rifle holsters are going to be a real pain to fit as the windscreen pivot doesn't allow them to be fitted to the side of the vehicle, just behind the front wheel arches as the instructions (vaguely) indicate. I might try fixing them to the jerry cans first, then fixing them to the running board. 

 

Getting very close to finished. The tools & wing mirror have to be fitted, a bit more sand wash added, then sand pigment. A bit of spilled fuel, too. Finally a matt coat all over. I'm not going to fit the driver figure as it's not a great casting and it's way too chunky to slide into the seat anyway! Oh, and the winch cable, of course. 

I mounted the rifle holsters to the fuel cans, then added the assembly to the vehicle, which just about allows the windscreen to be raised, not that they'll see much through that without cleaning it first. 

Weathering is finished, just the matt coat and winch cable to do. I've ordered a braided copper tow cable as cotton thread was far too thin to be convincing. 

 

 

All done but the winch cable. 

 

 

 

 

 

No, I hadn't forgotten this one. I just hadn't got back around to doing the winch. It's a slow and awkward process winding the cable on a nearly finished model. In future, I'll do it before putting the winch together. I'm having to wind a bit, stick it down, wait, repeat. Should look okay when it's done. There's another three of the WC series in the stash. Glutton for punishment, me.
What does surprise me is that no enterprising 3rd party manufacturer hasn't done a winch set for these vehicles! 

One improvised winch cable. Luckily, the cable was just the right length and I left exactly the right length off the drum to wind around the hooks. Beginners luck, never happen again. 

I'm calling it finished.