I am looking for some modern recorvery vehicles, Such as the M 36A2 5 ton wrecker or even an older 5 ton wrecker. Does anyone know if there is even a conversion kit for one . I am currently building an M-88 tank recovery vehicle. I am looking to build up my maintainance motor pool. could anyone help ?
You could always get the testors HEMMT, and then get the HEMMT Wrecker aftermarket set for it. Just an idea for you.
AEF designs has a recovery conversion kit for the Italeri’s LAV-25 Mortar Carrier.
Indeed, criminal negligence !!!
My fondest memory was being Mr Goodwrench to 3rd Bde, 3rd AD in the early 70’s. My 3 816 wreckers were my workhorses. I have enough photos to do dioramas forever.
Thanks guys! I’ll keep my eyes out for the ones mentioned.
every time i look at the work table… [;)]
i’ve been working on a wwii era ARV (m32 sherman variant) 4 awhile now & it’s been a heck of a project 4 sure.
these do make very interesting models, don’t they ?
good luck w/ ur search & building !
frosty[:)]
I dare anybody to hop into an M88 (with a valid license of course!) and not laugh with glee or at least get a big stupid grin on one’s face when you start driving that baby! … the last of the ‘hardshells’ (Homogeneous steel armor).
Ron
Yeah, but they ruined 'em with the diesel engine !!!
We used to run top-stock eliminator competitions just before heading off to Happy Hour on Fri night (an Army long ago) – nothing like a gasser M88 winding out, up on the step, flame from the back & all that …
hi have you tried accurate-armour.com,they do a range of resin arvs/trucks[:)]
I have bought both the Hobby fan conversion kit and revell M816 kit on E-Bay there out out there sometimes it takes some patiance.But there around it’s all in how much your willing to pay.
Verlinden is reissuing the M578 recovery conversion and a lot cheaper than buying it of eBay.
I can get some reference photos of a M816 wrecker on my way to/from work. Also check with Major Rob’s motor pool, I think there is some pictures there also.
The Hobby Fan conversions are pricey.
Do you know when they releasing the conversion kit
Has anybody built The hobby fan wrecker and if so do you have any pictures
Corsair,
I can take some pictures of the parts for both conversion kits , but they are not assembled.
A little off topic but the Chicago Tribune had an article today on repairing HEMTTs. I pasted the article since the Trib is a registered reader service.
By Ryan Nakashima
Associated Press
Published April 10, 2005
OSHKOSH, Wis. – Paul Walheim has seen hundreds of U.S. military trucks come back from Iraq–encrusted with sand, sometimes riddled with bullet holes. One was crumpled beyond use after an attack by a suicide bomber.
His job is to strip the vehicles to a frame and turn them around in 120 days for a second tour of duty.
Walheim is a contract manager at Oshkosh Truck Corp., one of the top vehicle suppliers to the military that’s also taken on the rehabilitation of trucks pummeled by the fighting in Iraq. Since the war began in March 2003, Walheim has seen the number of damaged trucks returned for refurbishment leap to around 500 a month from 20 to 30.
Some trucks come in with bent frames or radiators smashed into the engine from when a convoy apparently came to an abrupt halt and caused a crash. Often they have just been worn down without proper maintenance–pushed to the brink in the heat of battle.
After the trucks are rebuilt, they have better technology. Light-emitting diodes replace incandescent blinkers. All get new paint and warranty, and the odometer starts back at zero.
By the time it leaves, “we consider it a like-new truck,” Walheim said.
The vehicles known as HEMTTs, or Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks, and HETs, or Heavy Equipment Transporters, carry tanks to the battlefield and haul gas, guns and ammunition.
With the Army fleet including 13,000 HEMTTs and 2,000 HETs, many of them two decades old, the military is working to modernize its fleet.
The Army aims to keep 90 percent of its trucks operationally ready, but heavy use since the war began has forced it to rely on Oshkosh for major repairs, according to Army spokesman Don Jarosz.
“Our estimates are that approximately 15 percent of our deployed fleets will require the higher level repairs at Oshkosh,” Jarosz said.
The Army said the rehabilitation program cuts 25 to 35 percent off the cost of buying new trucks, whose price tags can hit $350,000.
A tour of the “graveyard” where the returned trucks await repairs shows signs of where the trucks have been.
Stories of their travels have been pass down from driver to handler as the trucks make their way back to Oshkosh by ship, rail and trailer.
One HEMTT cargo truck was turning a corner in an Iraqi town when a hail of machine-gun fire sprayed the cab, according to the semitrailer driver who brought it in. The driver threw it in reverse and drove back around the corner. The truck made it 100 yards before stopping. The driver and passenger survived.
“The truck has never been started since,” Walheim said. “That one’s been torn down and overhauled. It’s going to be going back.”
Major Rob does have some good shots of M936’s and other recovery equipment. I wish I still had the shots of my M936 from 7th Motors, Camp Pendleton. Including the one from Operation Just Cause when I was with MSSG-13. Got messed up but hey, I only lost a couple of front teeth and some blood. Nothing that I couldn’t replace! ;-p