RIOT POLICE TRUCK

Scale : 1/43
Start: November 2024
      Finish: January 2025    

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This is the model of a specific truck converted to a carrier for the riot police in Türkiye, been in service during 1960-70s. The truck is a locally manufactured Dodge 406.
The main problem was too few documentation and no surviving vehicle available. So only a few documents and some photos were the source of startup. I luckily found a sample for the cab and took measurements, which eased the design process.

 The original photo of the vehicle.



Research and design took about two months. I prepared a 3D model for manufacturing.


I used a FDM printer for manufacturing. Below are the parts for cab and chassis.


Parts for benches.



Parts of the truck superstructure.



I assembled the chassis, temporarily installed the wheels for horizontal sitting check.


I painted the chassis and wheels separately and glued the wheels in place. I painted the rims Gunze H32 to preven the tyre and rim being the same color.



I made a jig for bench structure assembly. The seats and structure will be glued together after painting.



As told before, I glued the parts after painting. For the wood, I used Vallejo 71032 golden brown.



I glued the benches on the superstructure floor. The blue is RAL 5012, very close to original color.


I assembled the inside. I made the shift lever from a head pin.



I joined the cab parts. I made the quarter glass and the windshield from acetate sheet. I made the wipers by cutting and bending head pins.



I made the superstructure peripheral panel windows from acetate sheet and glued in place.


I made a silicone mold for the front turn signals. I placed a pin in the mold and applied UV nail builder gel and painted clear orange.
For the rear lamp bezels, I used a plastic straw and cut the bezels then painted black.


I applied aluminum sticky tape on the back side of the bezels, applied UV nail builder gel inside, then painted clear red.


I joined the cab parts except for the roof. I painted the headlight reflectors bright chrome, then applied UV curing nail builder gel as the lens.

I made the beacon light by painting a 3 mm LED with clear blue, then painted the lower part to aluminum to represent the base. I made the door mirrors with 3D printer and covered the front with mirror foil. I made the mirror arms by bending head pins.


I glued the beacon light to the roof, then the roof to the cab.



I mounted the cab to the chassis with screws from below.



I made the shaft parts from 2 mm styrene and after painting, glued in place. I also glued the exhaust pipe in place.



I assembled the superstructure and fixed it to the chassis with screws from below. I glued the mirrors to the doors.



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