I’m building a Vietnam diorama and need some pictures of M151 Mutt’s either with the trailer or without. Thanks
Hellcat
I don’t know much about amour, but you might try these sites it does have some pictures. May also have some other links that might help you,
http://www.geocities.com/spoelstra.geo/m151/index.htm
If I find anymore I’ll send them along.
PaPa-John
Another question. Did the Mutt’s in combat carry radio’s or were those just the ones the were on bases.
Yes, radios were carried in combat. For a good Vietnam MUTT, make sure you get Academy’s M151A1 kit. The Tamiya and Academy M151A2 is a post Vietnam version.
Check here for a good referance, review, and build article.
Good luck.
Typically the mounted radio’s were RT524 (Radio Transmitter) and a R442 (Radio). The 524 could recieve and transmit while the 442 could only recieve. The 442 also had a small box speaker which would be normally mounted on the dash. Verlindin make a set of these radios and mounts.
Its one of my early builds but you can see the two radios (larger is the 524 (front 2/3 to square speaker) & smaller is the 442 (rear 1/3)). The 524 used a tall back antenna and the 442 used a stubby side mount antenna (out of view). Also note the speaker on the dash.
Otherwise if they did not have a mount they would have used th PRC77 portable radio transmitter and carried it in the jeep.
The Verlinden set comes with radios, mounts and speakers.
Hope this helps.
Rounds Complete!!
The problem is that i have the Academy M151A2 Kit so if i was doing the conversion would i install one radio(the bigger one) or both(the biger one and smaller one.) Also if any one has a refrence to the trailer that would also be much help. Thanks
Alex
The radios were usually used together as a set, so install them as they are in the kit.
The Academy trailer is very accurate. It is an M416 trailer. Here are some pics of one.
The problem is that the M151A2 wasn’t used in Vietnam. It was used from the mid '70s through the late '80s when it was replaced by the HMMWV.
The thing is i was looking at one of the refrence sites you gave me and the chassis is actually the M151A1 version so i don’t know here are some pics of the jeep
OK, the commo sgt in me coming out now. The RT is receiver transmitter and R is a Reciever only. Used together they make a VRC-47 FM radio. Reciver used for monitoring a secondary frequency, and the RT for the Primary Freq. Anothe system used in 151 series vehicle was the VRC-160 which is a PRC-25/77 in an Amplifier mount that uses the same base as a RT 524. The 25/77 can be removed for manpack usage. Several HF/AM systems can also be mounted in the M151s, as well as various Air Force UHF systems depending on the mission assigned to the vehicle. The speaker box shown on the kit can be mounted wherever desired on the vehicle. All depends on who is installing it.
I am at work and can’t see your pics. Here are the identifying characteristics though.
The M151A1 has straight front fenders with small, bullet shaped, turn signals above them; a split front windshield glass; old-style tail lights with a red lense on the upper ovals only; and the rear tire opening comes to a point at the back. The rest of the differences are underneath with the drive train.
M151A1
The M151A2 was upgraded to meet NATO standards. It has front fenders that have a dip in them with large turn signals in them; a one-piece front windshield; large, NATO tailights; and the rear tire opening is squared-off in the back where a reflector and tie-down point have been added. The rest of the improvements are underneath with the drive train to make it safer and more stable. The A1s had a bad tendency to roll if turned too sharply.
M151A2
Hope that helps.
I was looking at my model. It has the front of a M151A2 and The back of an A1 so it was really conflicting. It has the dip in the front fenders but the rear wheel well is fully angled not like the A2 which starts angled then becomes straight. So do you think I could pull it of as an A1
The radios no NOT have to be installed together. The larger one can be installed solo. This is a VRC-46 system and uses only one antenna mount. The larger type.
I can see your pics now. It looks like the Academy M151A2 Hardtop w/Trailer kit, # 13012. It has the larger front turn signals and squared off bottom rear to the rear wheel opening. This kit includes most of the A1 parts since it came out after the A1.
If you have the old-style rear lights on it, you installed the wrong part. The A2 rear plate is part H3, the A1 rear plate is part B18.
To make it an A1, you would need to use the A1 rear plate (B18), front windshield (B4), dash board (B10), and the small turn signals (B34). Basically don’t use any parts off the H tree. You would also have to cut a piece of thin styrene to make the divider bar on the front windshield.
To modify the body, first, you need to cut the square part off the rear wheel well opening and make it come to a point. Next, you need to cut off the dip in the front fenders and reshape them so they are straight across the front.
Or, you could just get the M151A1 kit for $12 and make life much easier on yourself.
You also built the trailer as a 1/4 ton WWII version with the rounded wheel covers. The Vietnam-era M416 trailer had the angled (squared-off) wheel covers.
I installed the A1 rear plate and thanks for telling me about the trailer. More Photos.
You could always cut or sand off the older (A1) tail lights from the rear plate and add the larger, A2 tail lights (parts H5, step 4). The trailer should be easy to fix as well.
It would be best to just build this one as a M151A2 in the '70s or '80s.
Good luck.
Try the Military Vehicle Preservation Association’s website at www.mvpa.org. They have many links to their chapters with pictures of both restored vehicles and ones in action.
I used all the oppsite parts. I used all the parts for the A1 instead of the A2. Also I intend to use it in a diorama where the front is coverd by bush so i don’t care much for the front.
Gino, just a note, I was driving an A2 in 1972 in my NG unit
Yup, they began production in late '70 and were fielded after that. They were not fielded in Vietnam though since the US involvement was drawing down by that time. They first went to units in Germany, then stateside.
OR… you can do an Air Force version. You don’t need the radios or the trailer. Just beat them up a bit more and put AF markings on.
