Below are some photos of the latest project I just finished. It is a conversion of Trumpeter MTVR Mk23 truck kit (two of them in fact) into long bed Mk28 version. The container comes from Italeri.

My project was inspired by this photo:



The only aftermarket parts used are excellent DEF.Model wheels and a couple of PE parts (not all used) from Hauler set for the Italeri container.

The truck frame and cargo bed were extended using parts from two Mk23 kits. Cargo bed had to be also narrowed, as Trumpeter made it a couple of mms too wide and correctly scaled Italeri container did not fit properly. A lot of additional changes were required to correctly represent Mk28 (for example the winch and related hardware had to be added) and they were mostly scratch built using conventional techniques. Only a few parts were 3D printed at Shapeways, from my own CAD designs.

One of Trumpeter mistakes in the Mk23 kit actually helped me a litlle with my converion, as they included hydraulic fluid tank behind the truck cab, which is only present on winch equipped versions (like Mk25 and Mk28) and should not be present in Mk23. But its inclusion made my work a bit easier (although I had to add missing filler cap and pipes).

US Navy Seabees markings were also designed by me in Corel Draw and printed by http://www.mf-zone.pl.

















































Full size photos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHskYcg8R5

I hope you like it. Any comments are welcome

Man I love that truck Pawel. Beautiful work! Did the container markings come with the kit or did you have to custom print them?

Aside from a few small stencils and placards, all markings on the truck and container were custom printed.

dang.. sweet build !

Beautiful work Pawel. WOW! Amazingly perfect.

Love the low angle rear shot showing the winch and all the brake hoses!

Thanks again for the frame stiffeners.

Question: what paint are you using for the USMC green?

Wow, very nice job.

Nice work Pawel! I especially like the brake lines you added on the rear axle, very nice!

It is my standard mix for CARC 383 Green with Tamiya acrylics:
approx. 9x NATO Green + 9x Field Grey + 2x Flat White.

Yet, another high quality build Pawel. Had you not specified, I would have asked where this kit could be bought.

Thank you Pawel for your quick answer on the paint.

Indeed, I too think this variant should be available in a 1/35th scale plastic model. And perhaps with a new model they could offer an engine and a hinged hood!

Now someone has built it, it will be kitted. Now someone build a MTVR wrecker and the M800 series trucks.

That's how it works a kit is scratch built and companies pick up on it.

Beautiful work. I thought the pictures were of a real truck for a moment.

Out of curiosity, are the containers secured to the truck or held on by their weight?

Not generally into trucks but Pawel's work is always superb and nicely rendered with attention to detail and superior workmanship. Well done sir.

The containers are secured to the cargo bed with so called ISO locks / twistlocks.

That is beautiful! What fabulous work!

talk about fantastic work ! the model could easily pass for the 1:1 truck, the weathering is just right.

Now someone build a MTVR wrecker...I scratchbuilt the AMK 36 MTVR a couple yrs ago, figuring the big resin caster would've offered us a conversion right after !! heres my mtvr wrecker affectionately called Medusa

Absolutely amazing!




So does this mean that the Trumpeter 20'/40' containers are a bit too wide? I'd assume then that the M915 and upcoming M1120 LHS will also be "too wide" for an Italeri container?

Is there a reason you didn't use a Trumpeter container? You wouldn't have had to narrow the bed (or is the fact that the container wasn't properly sized enough of a reason to reject it?)

I'm asking because I'd like to get several containers but I'm not sure which ones are "best".

Best Regards,

Brad.

If we had a "Like" button, I'd give you a thousand!!!!

Holy hel,..cow! Took me a second to realize that top one was a model!

Black dog needs to make the wrecker

Another incredible build Pawel! It's tough to tell that model isn't 1:1 scale. Super details and finish.

Such beautiful workmanship, well done.

'Black dog' kits can be real dogs, maybe Legends' to make the wrecker?

I simply bought the Italeri container first, before the Trumpeter ones were even announced. Trumpeter container is only slightly wider than the Italeri one, less than 1 mm, so it is OK too. It is the cargo bed in the MTVR kit that is too wide - Trumpeter simply made a mistake as they probably never intended for anyone to put a 20' container on it. After all it is not possible out of the box - Mk23 is much too short for that. Mk23 can only carry shorter mini-containers, but these are not available in 1/35 (I think?...).

Well, the top one - with a trailer - is not a model

What color did you paint the container? I can't tell if it's a khaki or a pale green.