1:35 Alvis FV622 Stalwart - Atlas Crane Conversion (3D-Printed / for Airfix Kits)

The crane that turned the Stalwart into a workshop vehicle

The cargo platform behind the cab positively invited someone to put a hydraulic arm on it. That is exactly what happened with the Stalwart: a variant came about which, instead of merely carrying crates, could unload them itself, move heavy assemblies and help with repairs to equipment in the field. The folding arm stowed behind the cab and extended out over the side, so the vehicle could serve places an ordinary crane would not reach.

The extent of the conversion

This is not a small addition but a change to the whole rear part of the model, so plan the build with that in mind. The arm has several sections that can be folded into the transport position or extended into the working one, and with them come the outriggers, hydraulic cylinders and the mounting to the frame.

Building advice

Glue the arm up dry first and think through the position in which you want to display the vehicle. An extended crane looks striking, but it needs the outriggers lowered to the ground, and that means preparing a base as well. Hydraulic cylinders polished to a shine and lightly glazed with gray look truer than pure silver ones. Reinforce the joints under the arm with wire, because the assembly has a weight of its own and a glued joint alone will not hold it in the long run.

A vehicle with the arm extended is a rewarding display subject, because it offers the height that flat vehicles lack. Consider a base with enough area to the side, then, where a stowed load and the crew will fit. A working scene with a lashed load will hold a viewer's attention longer than the best-built empty machine.