Tow truck "Terminator Salvation" - 1/24 scale

Advanced Techniques

 

Model of a post-apocalyptic tow truck with a machine gun, front blade, and crane; battle scene"Isn't my tutorial any good ?"

A montage of three shots of the rusty, life-size post-apocalyptic tow truck

After a first truck based on the film's production designs, here's a new tutorial on the tow truck used in the movie itself...

Here, there are no store-bought models—everything comes from the surplus box...

Model tow truck chassis with engine, axles, and cab under construction on a cutting matWe'll start with the chassis, for which we need to determine the correct length based on the size of the tow truck...

Part of the cockpit has been cut out, the floor has been redone, and a dashboard has been built from scratch (using plastic card)...

Blue model tow truck cab with a detailed interior, mounted on a cutting matA side view of the cockpit, a large portion of which has been cut out. The doors have been removed, along with the back, the roof, part of the engine cowling, and the fenders have been adjusted...

Blue model tow truck cab with a detailed interior, visible steering wheel, and seatsAnother view. You can see the new dashboard. The windshield has been redesigned. The seats have also been redesigned...

Two metal side panels with cutouts for the tow truck, placed on a cutting matThe armored side panels that protect the doors are made of lead sheet...

 Progress. Right-side view: construction of the bumper using Evergreen rod, as well as the "remnants" from the top of the hood. A plate is glued in place where the headlights would be on the front of the fenders. The air filters are made the same way as for the other truck. Fine grilles have been added. On the fenders, we’re building the machine gun mounts...

Blue-and-white tow truck model being assembled on a cutting matView from the left: The engine hood is further reinforced on this side with metal plates. A rearview mirror and its mount have been added. The mounts and mirrors are stamped...

Cardboard side panel template with a wheel positioned on a pencil outline, annotation: side panelsThe rear section: scaled cross-sectional view...

La partie arrière : plan de coupe à l'échelle...

Two cut-out pieces of plastic card with wheel wells on a green cutting mat The side panels are cut from plastic card...

Les panneaux latéraux sont découpés dans de la carte plastique...

Model of a tow truck under construction, with a white flatbed and blue cab on a cutting matWe're building the floor, the side panels, and the bumper...

On réalise le plancher et les box latéraux ainsi que le parechoc...

Model part under construction using putty and a wooden rod on a green cutting matWe go back to the front to build the bulldozer blade. Lead sheet, plastic card, and balsa wood...

On repasse à l'avant pour créer la lame de bulldozer. Feuille de plomb, carte plastique et balsa...

Blue tow truck model with front plow, front view on a green cutting matThe part is in place. Meanwhile, I'm making the steps out of plastic strips and photo-etched mesh...

The fuel tanks—just like on the other truck—were cut down and glued under the assembly...

Model of a tow truck with a blue cab under construction on a cutting mat, with preparatory sketchesWe go back to the rear section to install the hoist bracket and the mast...

On revient à la partie arrière pour monter le support du palan et le mât...

Model of a tow truck with a blue cab and white flatbed under construction on a cutting matInstalling the base. The side weapon compartment is installed, along with the taillights...

Pose du socle. Le coffre d'armes latéral est mis en place ainsi que les feux arrière...

Scratch-built tow truck winch and arm under construction, based on preliminary sketchesDetails of the block and mast...

Détail du palan et du mât...

Scratch-built crane arm and winch for the Terminator Renaissance tow truck, currently being assembledThe entire piece is in place...

La pièce complète en place...

Model of a Terminator Renaissance tow truck, with a blue cab and white flatbed and the crane extended, rear viewProtective bars round out the package...

Des barres de protection viennent compléter l'ensemble...

Blue and white "Terminator Renaissance" tow truck model with a crane and flashing light on a cutting matAnother view...

Autre vue...

Blue and gray tow truck model with a crane and red flashing lights on a cutting matThe lower part of the exhaust pipes has been modified...

La partie inférieure des pots d'échappement a été modifiée...

Model of a Terminator Renaissance tow truck, rear view, with a white flatbed, raised crane, and orange barrelView of the bumper with the mud flaps. Roof rack bar for the lights and machine gun mount...

Vue du pare-choc avec les bavettes. Barre du support de toit pour les feux et support de mitrailleuse...

Unpainted resin machine gun model kit with spare parts on a cutting matCreation of a 30mm-scale model...

Création de la calibre 30mm à l'échelle...

Scratch-built miniature machine guns currently under construction, with a preliminary pencil sketch for the tow truckAnother view...

Autre vue...

Detailed parts of a tow truck model laid out on a plan: fuel cans, red lights, and metal accessoriesMiscellaneous accessories...

Les accessoires divers...

Model of a blue tow truck with a crane, front plow, and red flashing lights, three-quarter front viewThe assembly is complete...

Le montage est terminé...

Blue "Terminator Renaissance" tow truck model with snowplow blade, crane, and red flashing lightsAnother view...

Autre vue...

 

Painting

Model of a tow truck with a crane, surrounded by accessories, crates, and weapons, currently being assembledEssential: the primer coat, which prepares the surface for painting—any color applied to a white surface stands out more—and helps reveal any imperfections. Certain areas are protected...

Rusty tow truck model, viewed from the side, with a crane and a silver cabBase coat: Gunze acrylic - red-brown 47 - light gray on the wings, part of the hood, and lower body...

Couche de base : acrylique Gunze - marron rouge 47 - gris clair ailes, partie du capot et bas de caisse...

Model of a Terminator Renaissance tow truck, viewed in profile, featuring a crane, rusted bodywork, and weathering effectsThen, using hairspray, I applied a shade of red 33 and some white. The roof gets a washed-out green...

Puis à la laque à cheveux, un roux 33 et du blanc. Le toit reçoit un vert délavé...

Model of a rusty tow truck with a lifting crane and a green cab, side viewMarking the yellow side lines...

Traçage des bandes jaunes latérales...

Rusty Terminator Renaissance tow truck model, side view, with crane and green cabYou can clearly see the result after brushing off the paint applied with hairspray. Application of very diluted pigments—black, umber, sienna...

On voit bien le résultat après le brossage des peintures réalisées à la laque à cheveux. Passage de jus très dilué - noir, Terre d'ombre, Terre de Sienne...

Small painted model accessories: weapons, jerry cans, a barrel, and crates for the tow truck

Model of a post-apocalyptic tow truck, viewed from the side, featuring a crane, a machine gun, and a rusty, "Terminator"-style finishAdding accessories...

Ajout des accessoires...

Top view of a post-apocalyptic tow truck model with a crane, machine gun, and rusty fuel cansFinishing with various pastel powders...

Finition avec différentes poudres de pastel...

The Setting

Wooden diorama with two model airplanes attached to the vertical panelA 75x43 cm MDF panel. The ground is made of extruded polystyrene. Since the scene features a forced perspective, various smaller accessories have been added, including two A10s (the planes from the movie) at a scale of 1/144, attached to the background panel...

Scale model of an armored tow truck on a diorama with two fighter jets in the backgroundTest fitting. The second post is made smaller to match the depth of the scale model. A 1/32-scale vehicle will complete the scene...

Sandblasted diorama base with wooden stakes and a model vehicle in the backgroundCreating the floor using patching compound and various deposits of dust and pebbles of different sizes...

Création du sol à l'aide d'enduit à reboucher et dépôts divers de poussières et cailloux de différentes tailles...

A sandy diorama base with scrubby vegetation currently being assembled and metal stakesBushes are added. Everything is glued to a base using wood glue. The ground will then be painted with acrylic paint...

A desert scene painted with an explosion, flying debris, wrecked cars, and a tow truck under a blue skyAcrylic painting of the background set on an MDF panel coated with gesso—70x33 cm—using a brush and airbrush—based on various photos from the film...

Model of a dilapidated 7-Eleven store facade featuring corrugated metal and a signConstruction of the facade of a side hangar on the right side of the diorama, still using forced perspective...And painting (still using recycled materials)...Construction of the facade of a side hangar on the right side of the diorama, still using forced perspective...

Model of a dilapidated facade made of wood and rusty sheet metal with a 7-Eleven signAnd painting (still using recycled materials)...

Et peinture...

Model of a weathered wooden building with an aged 7-Eleven sign and rusted corrugated metalDetails...

Détail...

Since there aren't any figures, a 1/24-scale resin Terminator will help bring the scene to life. It will be painted black and then chrome-plated...

Two camouflaged A-10 model airplanes flying over a painted desert diorama

The A10 Thunderbolts in position after being painted...

Diorama of a rusty tow truck in a desert with fighter jets and an explosion in the backgroundThe finished diorama...

Le diorama terminé...

Diorama of a rusty tow truck in a desert with airplanes and a Terminator exoskeleton in front of a building