Revell Unimog U1300L Dakar

Aaagghhh! It's finally here, but it has to sit on the mail quarantine table for three days first! 

Welp, I checked the entire internet and there are precisely 3 photographs of this rig in existence, and one of its sister truck from the same race. 

Revell's decals seems to be based more on the replica that Mercedes Benz built a few years ago. 

Chassis is assembled, with lots of air, electrical, and hydraulic lines in place. Engine mounts have been modified and I added a bit of treadplate on the cab steps. 

Ditched the phony plastic springs from the kit 

Bullbar, bumper, and gaurds ready for paint. Added reflectors for the front headlights, as well as gaurds for the trail lights to match the #614 truck 

Can't have all these rally lights and not add LEDs.... installing an array of hobby-ready SMDs from Evan Designs 

This isn't even the smallest one they sell! 

Tailights - Check! These will be under the lenses form the kit. 

Had the bullbar installed for mocking up the LED positions and broke one of the leads while removing it... I was somehow able to save it with my cheap soldering iron. 

I cut the hood away from the cab shell. Not sure how I'll hinge it yet, or if it even needs a hinge. 

Redid some of the details on the OM352A power plant, including the fuel injection lines, fuel pump oil drain, and exhaust manifold. Also added the breather cap, separator drain line, fuel filter, and air compressor. 

Engine bay mocked up with more scratchbuilt parts - added the radiator, air cleaner and intake pipes, expansion tank, and brake cylinder. Still to come are the brake fluid reservoir, windshield washer bottle, and hydraulic oil tank (?) 

Hmm... that's a pretty familiar looking green.... 

That'll work. I'll tone it down with some dullcoat next. 

Now for the decals. Step 1, look online for filter label designs and part numbers. 

...Or just cheat 

Step 2, draw the design out. 

Step 3, scale them down and lay them out for the decal paper. 

Step 4, test prints. Maybe I should use my color printer more than once every six years. 

Step 5, check the scaling against the parts in the kit. 

Step 6, lay it down on some waterslide paper and clear coat it. 

I'll take the sharpest copy of each one... really just a roll of the dice how well each copy lines up with the printer, hence the extras. 

Rainy Sunday? Sounds like a good time to try out the new airbrush and compressor! 

Some additional parts that didn't fit on the first block. 

Finally laid color on the chassis too... busy day! 

Just a little bit of rust starting to show on the exhaust manifold and turbine housing. 

Heat oxide effect for the exhaust. 

Windshield washer bottle, hydraulic oil tank, and expansion tank. Subtle color change under a gloss clear coat for a polyethylene effect.  

Finished paint the filters, belts, and compressor, and applied the decals. Dullcoat is next! 

Looks good. But I've since decided to do an acrylic wash... back to gloss I guess... 

All glossed up again. Masked the compressor, alternator, and filters to retain the matte look. 

Engine assembled! 

Dull grey wash and some oil staining 

The LEDs from my hood make the air intake and compressor housing look kind of harsh. In natural light, it's much softer cast aluminum look 

Lights all in their sockets now, and all of the soldering is done until final assembly. Starting to look like something finally! 

Taillights too! 

Gonna call this motor complete for now. Added some fuel drips and some countershading. 

Interior complete as well! 

Added carpets and some light mud effect. 

Another moc kup, now in technicolor  

I've forgone the yellow accent paint and some of the decals to better match the '85 rig. Wondering if I should've made a set of #614 decals too... 

The doors fit... pretty ok 

The rear platform will house the batteries for the LEDs 

Two switches, one for the headlights and taillights, one for the trail lights, are located on the underside of the platform 

The canvas and platform walls will remain separate, so that I can have access to change the batteries, or inevitably troubleshoot the soldered connections 

Cage is nearly finished too. Soon I'll be able to add the mud and dust spray to all of these subassemblies and finally bring it all together! 

Holiday weekend? Sounds like it's time finally put the 'Mog together 

Studio Manager even came by for this momentous occasion. 

Red Brown for the base layer of dust 

Desert Yellow mixed with putty for the mud effect 

Desert Yellow for the top layer of dust 

Engine mounted! 

Fuel tank installed and connected 

Paint booth comes in handy as a fume hood too 

Wheels on! 

Time for my favorite game, called "why aren't the bullbar lights turning on??" 

Ok, so for 5 of the six trail lights, the issue seems to be the platform mounted switch (bypassed with a jumper right now). No voltage making it past the switch. Perhaps some glue leaked in and is blocking one of the contacts? 

Success! The final issue was a loose lead on the LED I had issues with before. Fingers crossed! 

Shortly after this photo was taken, the center left bullbar light went out for good... 

At least there was no drama from the taillights 

This is where I'll leave it for tonight - lots of progress! 

Faulty switch was bypassed with a push-button. I won't be able to switch the trail lights on on off without opening the canopy now, but it's not too important. I didn't want to mount this kind of switch to the platform, sine the actuation force is high. Unfortunately the lead for the center left LED is too far gone to repair this late in the game. Had to snip the leads for the center right light to make it at least symmetrical :/ 

Fuel and electrical lines all hooked up 

Cab mounted... some finessing of the roll cage and engine bay components was required 

Final photoshoot time! 

Relieved that all of the extra parts mostly fit once assembled.  

Secondary switch activated to turn on the trail lights  

Bench is cleared off and ready for the next truck! 

Apparently, people can't get enough of this Unimog! Took home three awards from Autorama, for reasons I can't explain