[Becco_UK]

Curved structures fitted each side of the cab. Made from 2mm acrylic and will be used to help form the curved sides, keeping the upper sheet of plastic parallel to the cab sides.

[Becco_UK]

The curved side parts now fitted in place. The mesh below those side parts is a base for automotive filler - not that neccessary but it will help keep the final weight of the model down a little.

[Becco_UK]

A bit more done with the 3d model. The 'box' structures at the front corners of the roof have been added. The profile of those parts was UV mapped and printed out to use as templates to help with making the real parts.

Also some rivet detail has been added - the rivet size is the same as some real dome head ones I've got.

[Becco_UK]

The real model I'm making gets some attention too

The curved side panels have been filled in and sanded to a shape I'm happy with. A seperate sheet of thin plastic was then fixed to the top of curved parts - I think this construction method is more representative of the original studio model and makes for a pleasing and accurate shape of the curved side panels.

The curved side panels turned out easier to form than I thought they would. The top corner 'box' structures probably took longer due to the model intentionally not being 100% symetrical.

[Becco_UK]

I've started to make the real model cab panels. Starting with the front section, a simple structure was made mainly from 2mm acrylic. The part was then given it's final shape with some automotive body filler. The part simply slides into position inbetween the cab sides.

[Becco_UK]

The 3d Explosives Truck has window frames and some tidying up of the overall cab mesh. Those frames will be replicated in some plastic for the real model.

[Becco_UK]

Still with the 3d Explosives Truck this is how a real part is being used to make the 3d equivalent a bit more accurate. There is distinctive text on the trucks' wheels. Modelling the 3d text would have been time consuming and I think not needed.

Instead, I have opted to use an image in the bump or displacement of the tyres 3d material.

Here, some weathering fluid has been brushed around the text.

[Becco_UK]

When dry, a paper towel was wiped over the text, This leaves a nice outline around the text all ready for scanning.

[Becco_UK]

The 3d wheel parts all connected into a single object, polygon selection tags created and UV mapped with BodyPaint.

[Becco_UK]

The earlier wheel text scan image tidied up and a larger version of this used to make the displacement map.

[Becco_UK]

The 3d 'Johnny Express/ExplosivesTruck' wheel with 3 material zones: rubber tyres, alloy rims, and 'black' plastic parts.

I added a displacement layer to the Maxwell Render material.

Grime and other weathering of the 3d wheels to be done another time.

[Becco_UK]

Still with the 3d model - it has it's new wheels, mirrors and a few other other bits and pieces.

[Becco_UK]

The rear got some attention too. The chevron textured plate has been UV mapped seperately - I'm going to see what it prints out like and if ok it will be used on the real model.

[Becco_UK]

The front of the real model gets another sub-assembly with this plastic plate and various model kit parts.

[Becco_UK]

Recent sub-assemblies fixed loosely with some masking tape. When these are properly fixed the plastic signal gantry ladder part wil hide most of the join between the lower and upper sub assemblies.