DUKW Scratch Builds 1/16 & 1/9.25

[sassgrunt]

I don't remember ever directly shooting against you. The only time I ever beat Dad was at a night match up at Indio. And, that must have been pure luck, because the gun I chose to take to the match was a .41 Mag revolver, which I had just had ported at the muzzle. My first shot of the night had these two giant jets of flame right in front of my eyes, and I was functionally night blind for the next several minutes. Live & learn.

[Ecam]

I know we shot together at one of the first End of Trail matches (have a picture of me on that stupid and HEAVY rocking horse with a Winchester and you standing just to the right and slightly behind, likely as a safety marshal). Were you at the second match when Bob Munden was there?

[Ecam]

Going to have to call it a day, the hand needs a break.
Trying to keep the hull accurate, but the Tamiya front axle pumpkin (or diff housing) is centered compared to the DUKW housing offset to the passenger side. Had to take creative license with driveshaft well up front.

[Ecam]

Finished the ribs in the center (still some trimming and sanding to do). Started the front end with the welding flanges. My rectangles are .080 tall and .180 wide. I experimented when I started the rear section with straight 080, glued up 020/060 and 040/040. The glued up attempts would split when bent or even formed over the gentile curve section on either side of the propeller well. 080 was just too tough to cut and bend. Ultimately I found starting with one layer of .040 it was easy enough to bend to shape and fit. Once dry a second 040 layer was applied to the first.

[HERMAN BIX]

That’s a demonstration of patience and dedication right there
And with a bung claw to boot !!

[Ecam]

That’s a demonstration of patience and dedication right there
And with a bung claw to boot !!

Thank you Mr. Bix.
Herman, it should be noted that you are often my inspiration to carry on.

[Ecam]

Perhaps I am cheap, or impatient to wait for the correct size Evergreen product be shipped to me, or I am a glutton for punishment. But I tend to do a bunch of this kind of work. The tape is only there to keep the straight edge on the marks. I still hold it down with my off hand.



I gutted the exterior hull in preparation of finishing the rails and details in hopes of getting a urethane sealant/primer and two layers of paint on the hull. I repositioned the steering bell crank as my pitman arm was limiting front axle travel (when the duck wasn't so heavy, it wasn't an issue).



95% finished with the front ribs. Still needs a bit of filler and two clevis hook points on the wide gaps just outside the center three ribs. At the bottom the ribs end in air right now, but the upper rail that surrounds the deck is still missing. It has a round profile and protrudes farther out than the rub rails. I have no documentation, but I think they are considerably stronger than the ribs. There are plenty of pictures of dents and damage to the ribs but rarely is the upper rail affected.

[Ecam]

Here is a close up of how far (or little) the pitman arm needed to be moved. The hole (now plugged) just above the nut was the original position.



And in the theme of version twos, while laying out the side ribs I found I goofed on the top of the wheel arches. I could blame it on the plans that Mike sent me when he shipped off the project to me, but I used my own plans...

[Ecam]

Weld flange and arch reinforcement? When I built the first one I thought this line was simply the back side of the weld where the inner wheel well met the hull. But more careful looking as I've been building this one it sure shows a plate the same thickness as the rub rail flange. Anyway it hides the fillers that I used to repair my goof on the wheel arches.



Side one has been glued up. Once set I will return and blend the layers together. On to the other side.....

[Ecam]

Finished the other side. So all rub rails are glued except the deck's half round profile which is what I'm trying to figure out. Still need to do some finishing on rub rails. Finished the lower clevis boxes. The side hook/lifting hoops reinforcements are also finished, but not very photogenic in stark white. I'm getting close to sealer through paint.