The Details:

Additional items added were the hand-rails, lift rings and antenna guard to the turret from brass rod. Tie-downs on the rear turret were fashioned from thin gauge solder. My references indicated two types of radiator screening and I opted to replace the kit photo etch parts with cut screens and framed those in with styrene strips.

I removed the four molded in periscopes on the turret sides by mistake and those were replaced by styrene rectangle strips. I added interior detail to the hatches so they could be shown in open positions. Latches from scrap PE and styrene were added to the engine access doors. Headlight guards and antennas were made from .25mm (.010in) diameter brass rod. Lead foil Straps were eventually added to the stowage rack.

The kit mortar tube was replaced with styrene tubing from Contrail and was bored out. The kit MG barrel was replaced with Plastruct rod that was partially drilled out with a pin vise.

The Base and Groundwork:

The base nameplate was created in Adobe Illustrator and printed out on an inkjet printer. Covered front and back with a clear laminate and trimmed as necessary. It is fixed in place with double sided tape.

Sculptamold mixed with white glue formed the contours. Kitty litter was used for the rocks. Various static grasses, clump foliage and dried flowers were used for the vegetation. The trees were made from dried tree root and dried green reindeer moss was white glued onto the roots. White glue was used to set everything in place

Future Floor Wax was airbrushed on the model prior to and after the decals were applied. An acrylic flat coat was applied to the overall subject when completed.

Production figures were in excess of 6,000 vehicles (combination of all 16 variations of the AML) and most that remain in service have been updated to include diesel engines. Production totals of the mortar carrier versions are not known.

The AML series of 4x4 vehicles have been widely exported to various countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, The Middle East and Central and South America. This series in several variations were also deployed with the Armée de Terre (French Army) and Troupes de Marine (French Army with naval heritage).