M-32 Tank Recovery Vehicle - Italeri 1/35 (Part 1)

The Italeri M-32 is a older kit and needed some updates.  The large hatch hull was not common version and the turret dimensions were not accurate.  The upper hull was replaced with a Tank Work Shop M4A1 Direct Vision hull, and the lower hull was replaced with one from Dragon.  The transmission cover was from the kit.

I started with the lower hull and VVSS suspension.  The Italeri VVSS brackets lacked details and was replaced with brackets from Dragon.  They needed detailing too.  Bolt heads were added to the return skids and to the return arm rollers.  Grease fittings were added to the top of the bracket under the skid.  The skids were too thick and thinned by sanding and scraping.  Four mounting holes were drilled into the front of the bracket.  I used two types of road wheels - the spoked wheels are from the kit and the pressed spoked wheels are from Dragon.  These needed the 10 rivets around edge to be added.  Both road wheels had a mold seam line that needed to be removed.  To do this, they were mounted on a drill using a tooth pick and sanded smooth with 100 grit paper.

Since the M32 has an open top and the hatches were going to be open, the interior provided with the kit was sparse and needed to be detailed - no driving compartment was included and the turret and crew compartments had some basic details.

For the drivers compartment, a transmission, floor, dashboard, radio, and seats were added.  The transmission was casted from an M-10 kit.  The floor, dashboard, and seats were made from stryene and green epoxy putty.  The radio was from the spare parts box.  For the crew compartment, the machinist tools boxes, firewall, winch, and floors were added.

A basic winch was scratch built too.  Since the winch was going to be covered, not much detail was needed.  The floor was modified and the hatch was cut open.

  




The floor was primed and painted black.  The salt technique was used to weather the floor before it was painted white.  I think it gives a good effect for worn.

The turret was next.  The back of the turret was too narrow in the back by 0.3".  Thin wedges were made from 0.04" Styrene.  The wedges were glued to the existing turret. 

A paper template was made for the sides of the turret.  They were made from 0.04" styrene and glued to the turret.  I left the inner turret walls in place.  

The back plates were fitted, glued, and sanded.  The turret was bolted to the upper hull.  Bolt heads were added to the turret.  A paper template was used to make sure the bolts were evenly spaced.

Detail was added to the interior of the turret.  The rear pulley, hatch, and fold down seat were  missing - they were scratch built.  The mortar ready rounds, fire extinguisher, crew seats were added and detailed.