Diamond Reo

Been thinking about this one for a long time now and actually decided to make a start. This is what I'm aiming for, not sure about a load yet.

These are the kits I'll be using.


There is going to be a bit of cut and shut going on here to get it close and some extra detail added to lift the old kit a bit. Here's where it is so far.

The chassis is as per instructions with the sleeper cab's length cut off the back end and the bogie moved forward. I added brake boosters from the spares box and breather and plug detail to the diffs. Steering has been swapped to RHD. I had to add backing plate/spacers to the front axle to get the correct track width for the wheels i'm going to use.

you could put this on the back

https://www.bnamodelworld.com/model-planes-revell-models-rv-04905-1:24-bell-uh-1-huey?zenid=e1faaa18ecc4c37bccec724d641f431f

Now that the Ford is finished, I'm back onto this one.

Shrouding and protection bars on grill.

I cut the sides of the bonnet of ready to put new sides on to allow the guards to be put on in the set back position.

Here it is mocked up with the new sides in the bonnet and guards on




Cut and shut some filters from the spares box to look more like the real thing.


Scratch built fuel tanks using Auslowe bracket and tank ends. Few extra details to help bring it to life.

looking good mate

nice one its all in the details

Thanks gents. Take 2 on the guards. Nearly sorted.

So i have a bit more done on this one. The support sections from the front of the guards to the bonnet are on.


Scratch built the front bumper and towing rings.


Managed to bend up a reasonable sunvisor. Used sheet aluminium from Spotlight. Soft drink can was a bit too thin? or perhaps because it was rolled but couldn't get it to hold the shape as well as the slightly heavier stuff. Cut up staples for the support brackets



Just using a resin silencer on this with flexible round rubber for the exhaust pipe and an aluminium tip. No heat shield on this. Photos of the trucks in Vietnam don't show them so they must be a later addition.


Made up new bracket from Evergreen strip.



Two jerry can holders mount to the rear cab mount frame. There is also an air tank there. I added the spare wheel rack add pogo stick.




As you can see in the pictures, the drive guards are done and on as well. I thought I had pictures of these but I don't so I'll add some next time. Finally for this update, I've made the scrub guards for the headlights. later pictures show them with mesh but it can't be seen on the pictures I have of the trucks in Vietnam. Fiddly pain in the ass to make, not perfect but...... I did 3 so I had a choice if 1 was really crook.

WOW lot of work going into this one.

"Patience Is A Virtue"...specially when building model trucks!.  WOW!...this is gonna look awesome!
So glad you took the time to convert it to R/H drive also.
I'll keep an eye on it's progress!  

Starting to see the end with this one. Sorting the unit signs etc for the front of it.

That's some impressive detail. Well done.

How is this one going.

Pretty much done Al, just trialing a few weathering techniques to find 1 that I can do and she be done.

G,day tim , this is comin along really well mate .