Desert diorama featuring the HET 1070 Oshkosh towing a tank, with miniatures “HET! Fall in single file !” Hobby Boss 1/35 scale M1070 Truck Tractor and M1000 Trailer (Sand) kit box Contents of the HET M1070 box: sprue sets, tires, Voyager photo-etched parts, and instruction manuals The Hobby Boss model. A very nice piece. A multitude of sprues for the tractor and trailer. On the left, the included photo-etched parts. In the middle, the Voyager kit, and above it, the tractor’s resin wheels. Not recommended for beginners...

The chassis of the Oshkosh HET 1070 being assembled, surrounded by photo-etched parts on the mat Let’s start right away with the chassis and its many parts. For the photo-etched parts, we alternated between those from the kit and the much more comprehensive Voyager kit. Why is it not recommended for beginners? Some very small parts have to be glued using a magnifying glass, and the diagram is far from precise when it comes to the gluing locations. You often have to refer to the documentation for accuracy. On the other hand, the trailer’s wiring is very important...

Winch and brass photo-etched parts for the HET 1070 being assembled Le toit du camion est en métal. Le pot d'échappement très complet demande beaucoup de précision ainsi que les treuils...

Oshkosh HET 1070 chassis under construction, cab missing, wheels and photo-etched parts in place A side view. The exhaust pipe and winches are in place. The photo-etched running boards have been painted white...

Another view...

The Oshkosh HET 1070 is currently being assembled with a winch and detailed photo-etched parts Cables are included for all three winches. Unfortunately, there's no motor...

Oshkosh HET 1070 chassis under construction, photo-etched parts and wiring on a neutral background Des ressorts sont fournis pour l'alimentation électrique et freins de la remorque...

Model of the Oshkosh HET 1070 tractor currently being assembled; sand-colored primer applied Les roues en résine sont déjà en place pour la stabilité et l'alignement du chassis...

The chassis of the Oshkosh HET 1070 is being assembled; the cab and wheels are separate Les parties métalliques et les jantes des roues ont reçu un apprêt blanc...

Oshkosh HET 1070 tractor under assembly, three-quarter rear view, unpainted chassis and wheels La partie avant détaillée...

The cab of the Oshkosh HET 1070 under construction, with a detailed interior and a driver figure next to it Assembling the cab. This is where the driver will sit. A modified figure...

A look at various accessories: the photo-etched hood, three side mirrors on each door that will be covered with Barre-metal. The roof, which has been primed. The windshield wiper blades. We’re going with the metal ones—they’re much thinner...

Autre vue...

Detailed open cab of the Oshkosh HET 1070, with driver figure and equipment

Let's go back to the cab, which seats six. It's highly detailed and comes with numerous accessories. The figure is painted, and the decals on the dashboard are applied...

Painting

Camouflaged Oshkosh HET 1070 chassis, with the cab, hood, and panels separated prior to final assembly The tractor will have the "NATO" camouflage pattern, and the trailer will be sand yellow. Base coat: Hobby Color acrylic green or Humbrol 120—Chocolate Brown and black...

Top view of the armored Oshkosh HET 1070 tractor, in brown-green NATO camouflage The piece will then be stained with a black and chocolate brown solution diluted to 70%...

Camouflaged Oshkosh HET 1070 Tractor, detailed open cab with equipment and figure La cabine posée. Vernis mat pour les salissures du pare-brise. Le verre du girophare est peint avec de l'orange translucide acrylique Tamiya...

Completed camouflaged Oshkosh HET 1070 tractor, with the cab hood open, on a neutral background Autre vue. Les pneus sont peints avec un gris 32 Humbrol puis "dry-brush" plus clair. Les trois couleurs du camouflage ont été éclaircies avec des brossages de teintes plus claires que la base...

Scale model of the Oshkosh HET 1070 tractor, side view, NATO camouflage, and weathering Vue latérale : peinture de tous les feux et clignotants...

Another view...

Oshkosh HET 1070 tractor painted in NATO camouflage, side view against a neutral background On finit avec des pastels. Le train de roue sera sali en dernier sur le diorama...

The M 1000 Trailer

The HET 1070 chassis being assembled with brass photo-etched parts and red wiring Let's start with the boom: since the tractor isn't easy to set up, the challenge only gets greater when it comes to setting up the trailer...

Metal steps must be installed in a perfectly symmetrical staircase...

The chassis of the Oshkosh HET 1070 being assembled, with red wiring and sand-colored parts The trailer contains a multitude of cables that need to be routed from the drawbar to each axle—there are 10 of them!—

Before gluing the steps in place, you must position them below and above the arrow and glue them to the correct locations. Liquid sealant is applied to the joints...

The boom installation is complete, with the crane gantry in place and its winch...

A view from the...

Close-up of the red and blue wiring soldered to the metal frame of the HET 1070 Don't forget the power cables connected to the tractor...

Serres is currently holding the frame of the HET 1070 trailer while the glue dries Collage du plateau de la remorque avec son pilier central. Les grands moyens sont employés car le plastique est voilé...

Assembly instructions marked with a red marker; details P31 and P32 for the hydraulic hoses The trickiest part: wiring the axles. It’s very important to double-check that the wires are connected to the correct destinations. It’s a long, time-consuming process...

Sand-colored HET 1070 chassis equipped with ten detailed suspension units with painted wiring The result after a few terrible hours...

Sand-colored chassis of the HET 1070 trailer with detailed suspension, rims, and properly aligned tires Preparing the wheels: The photo gives you an idea of how many there are...

HET 1070 trailer bed in sand color, with hidden fenders and mounted wheels, on a cutting mat Les plaques en photodécoupe du plateau sont à insérer dans les interstices et demandent un peu de doigté...

Top view of the HET 1070 trailer bed, with ramps extended and wheels installed

The truck bed is equipped with various components, including a winch in the back...

Assembly instructions marked with red pencil, HET 1070 trailer bed with photo-etched parts The diagram does not show parts R13 and R14, which are the triangles that secure the winch mount to the platform...

HET 1070 tank transporter trailer under assembly, with ramps raised and photo-etched parts added A rear view showing the photo-etched guards. The included springs are attached to the skids...

The flashing lights will not be installed on the Golf version...

Annotated assembly instructions for the chassis; PE-SA4 and PE-SA8 photo-etched parts are circled

These rings (2)—even though they’re drawn on the blueprint—have been completely forgotten. We can get them from somewhere else, or we can make them out of plastic card...

The figurines

Box for the Trumpeter Modern U.S. Soldiers Logistics Supply Team kit, 1/35 scale To bring the diorama to life, some Trumpeter figures will be added...

Photo of the preparation. The blonde's hair was recreated using modeling clay...

Oshkosh HET 1070 tractor, fully assembled, weathered, and aged, with a driver figure on the running board

Diorama of the HET 1070 Oshkosh with soldiers loading equipment on desert terrain Deux vues des personnages en place sur la scénette...

The Iraqi T62

Box of the Tamiya 1/35 scale kit of the Russian T-62A tank, painted illustration of the tank T-55 tank model painted in weathered green camouflage, three-quarter front view Le kit déjà ancien reste intéressant. Il sera amélioré avec des pièces en photodécoupe et carte plastique...

Acrylic base: Russian green and hairspray technique with a sand-colored shade...

Completed T-55 tank model on a neutral background, with a sandy patina and pronounced rust Passage d'un jus dilué comme pour le tracteur. Finitions avec un jus dilué terre d'ombre Winsor & Newton avec un pinceau fin sur chaque détail pour accentuer l'ombrage...

The exhaust pipe is painted with black pastel, as is the muzzle of the barrel...

Model tank painted in winter washes with a rusty patina, three-quarter view on a white background Certains marquages - rouge - blanc - sont réalisés au crayon de couleur. On termine avec des pastels...

Sand-colored battle tank loaded onto the HET 1070 Oshkosh tank transporter trailer Mise en place du blindé. Entretemps, la remorque a été peinte en jaune sable Mr Hobby 27 - 313 - Tamiya XF 59. Le "drybrush" a été effectué avec du Revell SM 314 (ou Humbrol 121) + blanc...

A weathered T-55 tank loaded onto the trailer of the Oshkosh HET 1070 Installing the shims. Chains will be added for permanent fastening...

The tires will be painted on the diorama because the trailer is crossing a body of water...

An overview...

The Setting

Base for the set being prepared; ochre clay applied to a wooden board

The set is inspired by a photo taken on location. An MDF board measuring 0.80 m, on top of which another board made of extruded polystyrene will be placed, will serve as the base. Here, the brown section has already been sprinkled with fine sand over a layer of wood glue.

The trailer's tire tracks are clearly visible in the polystyrene...

A painted backdrop depicting an ochre-colored desert hill under a clear sky Dessin et peinture acrylique de la colline sur le panneau du fond comme sur la photo d'origine...

Desert sand base in progress and painted backdrop with rocky relief Une photo du sol sableux terminé et peinture du ciel après pose d'un cache sur le fond...

A raised desert hill painted in ochre against a blue sky Détail...

Diorama base in progress, with textured sandy ground and printed tire tracks La partie humide est peinte en jaune sable. Une peinture en trompe-l'oeil du dessous de la remorque est effectuée au pinceau...

Desert-themed diorama in progress, featuring a painted background and mountainous terrain La partie humide est recouverte de vernis brillant, puis, une fois sec, de gel acrylique en fines épaisseurs. On termine après séchage avec plusieurs couches fines de vernis brillant...