scale modeling database | stash manager
brahoff
Brandon H (brahoff)
US

Revell Unimog U1300L Dakar

Album image #1
Aaagghhh! It's finally here, but it has to sit on the mail quarantine table for three days first! 
 

Album image #2
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. 
 

Album image #3
Album image #4
Album image #5

Album image #6
Revell's decals seems to be based more on the replica that Mercedes Benz built a few years ago. 
 

Album image #7
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. 
 

Album image #8
Ditched the phony plastic springs from the kit 
 

Album image #9
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 
 

Album image #10
Can't have all these rally lights and not add LEDs.... installing an array of hobby-ready SMDs from Evan Designs 
 

Album image #11
This isn't even the smallest one they sell! 
 

Album image #12
Tailights - Check! These will be under the lenses form the kit. 
 

Album image #13
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. 
 

Album image #14
I cut the hood away from the cab shell. Not sure how I'll hinge it yet, or if it even needs a hinge. 
 

Album image #15
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. 
 

Album image #16
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 (?) 
 

Album image #17
Hmm... that's a pretty familiar looking green.... 
 

Album image #18
That'll work. I'll tone it down with some dullcoat next. 
 

Album image #19
Now for the decals. Step 1, look online for filter label designs and part numbers. 
 

Album image #20
...Or just cheat 
 

Album image #21
Step 2, draw the design out. 
 

Album image #22
Step 3, scale them down and lay them out for the decal paper. 
 

Album image #23
Step 4, test prints. Maybe I should use my color printer more than once every six years. 
 

Album image #24
Step 5, check the scaling against the parts in the kit. 
 

Album image #25
Step 6, lay it down on some waterslide paper and clear coat it. 
 

Album image #26
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. 
 

Album image #27
Rainy Sunday? Sounds like a good time to try out the new airbrush and compressor! 
 

Album image #28
Some additional parts that didn't fit on the first block. 
 

Album image #29
Finally laid color on the chassis too... busy day! 
 

Album image #30
Just a little bit of rust starting to show on the exhaust manifold and turbine housing. 
 

Album image #31
Heat oxide effect for the exhaust. 
 

Album image #32
Windshield washer bottle, hydraulic oil tank, and expansion tank. Subtle color change under a gloss clear coat for a polyethylene effect.  
 

Album image #33
Finished paint the filters, belts, and compressor, and applied the decals. Dullcoat is next! 
 

Album image #34
Looks good. But I've since decided to do an acrylic wash... back to gloss I guess... 
 

Album image #35
All glossed up again. Masked the compressor, alternator, and filters to retain the matte look. 
 

Album image #36
Engine assembled! 
 

Album image #37
Dull grey wash and some oil staining 
 

Album image #38
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 
 

Album image #39
Album image #40
Lights all in their sockets now, and all of the soldering is done until final assembly. Starting to look like something finally! 
 

Album image #41
Taillights too! 
 

Album image #42
Gonna call this motor complete for now. Added some fuel drips and some countershading. 
 

Album image #43
Album image #44
Album image #45
Album image #46
Album image #47
Album image #48
Album image #49
Interior complete as well! 
 

Album image #50
Album image #51
Added carpets and some light mud effect. 
 

Album image #52
Album image #53
Album image #54
Another moc kup, now in technicolor  
 

Album image #55
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... 
 

Album image #56
Album image #57
The doors fit... pretty ok 
 

Album image #58
The rear platform will house the batteries for the LEDs 
 

Album image #59
Two switches, one for the headlights and taillights, one for the trail lights, are located on the underside of the platform 
 

Album image #60
The canvas and platform walls will remain separate, so that I can have access to change the batteries, or inevitably troubleshoot the soldered connections 
 

Album image #61
Album image #62
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! 
 

Album image #63
Holiday weekend? Sounds like it's time finally put the 'Mog together 
 

Album image #64
Studio Manager even came by for this momentous occasion. 
 

Album image #65
Red Brown for the base layer of dust 
 

Album image #66
Desert Yellow mixed with putty for the mud effect 
 

Album image #67

Album image #68
Desert Yellow for the top layer of dust 
 

Album image #69
Album image #70
Engine mounted! 
 

Album image #71
Fuel tank installed and connected 
 

Album image #72
Album image #73
Paint booth comes in handy as a fume hood too 
 

Album image #74
Wheels on! 
 

Album image #75
Album image #76
Album image #77
Time for my favorite game, called "why aren't the bullbar lights turning on??" 
 

Album image #78
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? 
 

Album image #79
Success! The final issue was a loose lead on the LED I had issues with before. Fingers crossed! 
 

Album image #80
Shortly after this photo was taken, the center left bullbar light went out for good... 
 

Album image #81
At least there was no drama from the taillights 
 

Album image #82
This is where I'll leave it for tonight - lots of progress! 
 

Album image #83
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 :/ 
 

Album image #84
Fuel and electrical lines all hooked up 
 

Album image #85
Album image #86
Album image #87
Album image #88
Cab mounted... some finessing of the roll cage and engine bay components was required 
 

Album image #89
Final photoshoot time! 
 

Album image #90
Album image #91
Album image #92
Album image #93
Album image #94
Album image #95
Album image #96
Album image #97
Album image #98
Album image #99
Album image #100
Album image #101
Album image #102
Album image #103
Album image #104
Album image #105
Album image #106
Relieved that all of the extra parts mostly fit once assembled.  
 

Album image #107
Album image #108
Album image #109
Album image #110
Secondary switch activated to turn on the trail lights  
 

Album image #111
Album image #112
Album image #113
Album image #114
Album image #115
Album image #116
Album image #117
Album image #118
Album image #119
Album image #120
Album image #121
Bench is cleared off and ready for the next truck! 
 

Album image #122
Album image #123
Apparently, people can't get enough of this Unimog! Took home three awards from Autorama, for reasons I can't explain 
 

Comments

52 4 May 2020, 20:09
Chris Greathouse
Yes! The Unimog Rallye, watching for sure!!
4 May 2020, 20:13
Brandon H
Back at it, finally! This was supposed to be a quickie, but the scope of the project has expanded significantly, so I figured I better start documenting.
18 September 2020, 18:11
Nathan Dempsey
Interesting subject. Following.
18 September 2020, 18:16
Nigel Chapman
Wow, looks good already. Watching
18 September 2020, 23:03
Brandon H
Productive day! Got color on just about all of the chassis components.
5 October 2020, 00:37
Brandon H
More progress this week - a few more details then the chassis components will be finished for a while.
8 October 2020, 23:41
Spanjaard
amazing detail work you are doing!
9 October 2020, 08:12
Brian Love
Thats awesome.

What colour did you use for the engine?

I'm abit obsessed with unlimited class trophy trucks atm, and would love to build one, but I can't seem to find any models of them. Looks like I'll just have to buy a £1000 rc car to scratch that itch...
9 October 2020, 08:27
Brandon H
Thanks guys!

The engine color is actually a Duplicolor rattle can of Detroit Diesel Alpine Green, which turned out to be a decent enough match for the typical Mercedes diesel paint job. Goes on a little thicker than I'd prefer, but is manageable with light coats.

...I suppose scratchbuilding a trophy truck could always be an option!
9 October 2020, 12:42
Brian Love
Perfect. Its the colour I've been looking for for my maxxpro/m1070/m911 engines!
10 October 2020, 09:59
Brandon H
One more sub-assembly complete. Everything will get slathered in mud once the last three groups are done!
18 October 2020, 17:29
Brandon H
Cab components are done now, minus the cage. I might just have this thing done this year haha...
6 November 2020, 01:33
Jean-François Lacoste
Excellent Brandon, it looks great. Maybe one day I will do it.
15 November 2020, 18:26
Weekend Hobbyist
I've never seen this kit before. What a great build!
16 November 2020, 17:28
Brandon H
Thanks guys! Highly recommend it if you can find it... by far the coolest of the Unimogs!
17 November 2020, 10:38
Brandon H
In the home stretch now!
22 November 2020, 23:12
Rob Salisbury
Wonderful work. Congratulations.
29 November 2020, 22:43
Nathan Dempsey
Awesome 🙂
29 November 2020, 23:10
Brandon H
Thanks Rob and Nathan!
29 November 2020, 23:15
Nigel Chapman
Looks perfect, well done
30 November 2020, 07:41
Neuling
Very cool presentation with the car lights on ......👍
30 November 2020, 08:44
Brandon H
Many thanks guys! I'm really happy with how the lights in particular turned out (I mean, besides the ones that I broke...)
30 November 2020, 11:57
Danny Meer
Very nice build Brandon 👍 Looks amazing
30 November 2020, 12:10
Brandon H
Thanks Danny!
30 November 2020, 13:25
Jean-François Lacoste
Excellent Brandon !
6 December 2020, 19:26
Tom ...
Fantastic work!
28 December 2020, 21:30
Brandon H
Thanks guys!
29 December 2020, 02:55
Martin Kubis
Very nice, in the dark with lights on looks like the real thing!
13 January 2021, 11:06
Brandon H
Thank you, Martin!
13 January 2021, 12:04
Villiers de Vos
Very nicely done.
7 March 2022, 03:30
Robin (WhiteGlint)
Congrats Brandon! 👍
Very well deserved.
7 March 2022, 09:27
Jv
Another level here always love your builds
So much detail
7 March 2022, 10:51
Brandon H
Thanks everyone! To be fair, it was one of the smaller categories at the show, but still a pleasant surprise to win something 🙂
7 March 2022, 12:01
Tom ...
Well deserved, Brandon!! She's a beauty!
7 March 2022, 15:59
Brandon H
Thanks Tom!
7 March 2022, 16:40
James C
Congrats Brandon, nicely done 👍
7 March 2022, 16:44
Brandon H
Thank you James!
7 March 2022, 17:18
Nigel Chapman
Nice one Brandon. Do you have a trophy cabinet?
7 March 2022, 22:59
Brandon H
Thanks Nigel! Haha, at this point it would be quite a lonely cabinet if I did...
8 March 2022, 14:43
Julian Herrero aka Yuri
Good work , like it !!!!
14 March 2022, 07:07
Brandon H
Thanks Julian!
14 March 2022, 17:31
MS K
Amazing! Very nice work.
I hope the 1/24 Unimog 406 product comes out.
14 March 2022, 18:19
Brandon H
Thank you!
And don't worry if they never make a tool for your 406... there's always 3D printing! 😉
14 March 2022, 22:55
Brandon H
A successful outing at Autorama... Somehow this rig got Best in Show, Best Detail, and Best Finish. I'm deeply appreciative to the judges and to everyone who turned out to make for a great show!
1 March 2023, 19:47
Spanjaard
congratulations!!!
1 March 2023, 20:55
Nigel Chapman
👍well done
1 March 2023, 22:20
Jv
Congratulations again its a butiful build and a cool model I think all love a unimog
2 March 2023, 01:44
Kyle DeHart
Congratulations. Super cool unimog.
2 March 2023, 02:09
MS K
amazing. great great job. 👍
2 March 2023, 07:02
Villiers de Vos
Congratulations. Very inspiring work.
2 March 2023, 07:19
Robin (WhiteGlint)
Congrats! 😄
2 March 2023, 08:12
Brandon H
Thank you, everyone!!
2 March 2023, 12:20
Rod -
3 awards because it's awesome!
2 March 2023, 12:58
Nathan Dempsey
That's great to hear. An awesome build.
2 March 2023, 17:32
Brandon H
Thanks Rod and Nathan!
2 March 2023, 20:46

Project info

123 images
1:24
Completed
1:24 Mercedes-Benz Unimog U 1300 L Rallye (Revell 07450)1:24 Hose Clamps (Czech Truck Model CTM 24072)
Mercedes-Benz Unimog U1300L
DE Paris-Dakar
Mercedes-Benz 610 (K.-F Capito/J. Capito)
1986
 

All albums

View all albums »