DUKW, Korea circa early 1951

Cheers guys,

Al, there's light water marks already added but the camera doesn't pick them up, I'll be adding some extra heavier tide marks etc when the decals are added in the next step.

As for the experiment.... I wouldn't like to be in that at speed.!!

Hi Colin,

WOW, Sir, just WOW, so sorry for my lateness...

Andy...

No worries Andy, just slow down on the KFC, theres still a bit to do on this yet.

Some Kimchi pots....

A Korean side-dish (Kimchi) is eaten at almost every meal, Its like a spicy coleslaw, you can eat it fresh or after its been placed in a pot and buried for a week or two to ferment.

The traditional pot is natural clay and quite rotund but some soldiers chose to take some terracotta type (as these are) to villages as a gift and had them filled and prepared by the villagers.
As this DUKW is delivering i chose this style to add to the model

WoW !!!

Nice work Colin.

I remember seeing these being burried in MASH.

You certainly did Al, poor old Frank thought they were burying bombs lol.

Got a bit ,more stowage and cargo done and in place



The decals were a PITA to get bedded down with just water so i made a solution of acetic acid and mild detergent (that's vinegar and a dab of fairy liquid to us in the UK) and that bedded them down nicely (basically thats all you're buying when you spend good money on microsol etc)


The first stage of weathering has been applied to the decals and need toning down a bit now to blend in.

Colin, nice tip on the decal solution. I didn't know that. What percentages do you use on making this from vinegar and mild detergent?

Decal placement looks great on the heavily contoured surface!

I just thin the vinegar (white) by about 25% and add a drop of washing up liquid, seems to work anyway no matter how vague the percentages in the mix.

I got the idea when someone once said that the decal solutions smelled of vinegar, trawled the Web for more info (found the COSHH site) and found that the solution was acetic based with an emulsifier.... Job done!

I can't be doing with paying silly money for any commercial doodahs when all they are is simple mixtures. :-)

Colin, that stowage looks terrific. What did you use for/how did you do the lanels.?

Interesting about the decals solution. Just went and sniffed Microsol and it onnly vaguely smells of vinegar.... HOWEVER....icrosol smells strongly of it.

You mention a cut ratio of 25%.... what do you use to dilute it? Tap water?

Thanks Al,

Did you mean labels? If so I have a white paint pen that I create a backing then a very fine black pen to "dot/dash" some text in it.

I just water it down a tad with tap water, I found that too strong a solution wrinkled the decal.
It is, after all, just a simple chemical reaction between an acid and a polymer (of a type)

If you look at most commercial products, Microsol and the like, weathering powders, texture washes etc.... All they are is simple chemicals / materials with an expensive label and price on them.
I would imagine that they're easier to get and use but 1) I'm a tight bugger and 2) I prefer to make my own stuff and have a fuller sense of achievement.

A confession. I thought the colour was too olive green rather than olive drab.

I recant. It looks perfect, once weathered & decaled. Thanks for the tips re the home made
decal solution too. How about a tutorial on it?

When I was a boy in New Guinea, about '66-'67 two "Army Ducks" as we called them were
rediscovered. Sitting where they'd been left at  the war's end. Not far from the road either.

Never been in a DUKW but I've ridden in its sucesssor the LARC (Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo)
A great experience, going from beach to river & back again without pause!

Just keep on adding stuff as and when.



Got her named, have added the rest of the decals and have toned back the weathering

Looking really good Colin. Unusual subject and very interesting. love the cargo.

Hi Colin,

This is STUNNING Sir, love the ladders, very nice touch, are they lollie sticks or balsa...

Andy...

Balsa Andy,

Thanks for the comments both.

After a short break it's done
Teaser image



Finished thread here
https://skidsplace.forumotion.com/t2259-dukw-korea-circa-early-1951

Really nice work on a well detailed kit. I'm always interested in the little extras added to military and civilian "work vehicles." The cable/winch idea is great. I've seen a few on Jeep models and they enhance the look. Thanks for your well researched and well built projects.