M818 5-ton Tractor Conversion

[HeavyArty]

Here is my latest build. Yes, I am back to trucks. This one is an M818 5-ton tractor used from the early '70s up until the early 2000s in some reserve units.

The actual truck.

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I am starting with the AFV Club M51A2 kit since the dump truck had the same length frame as the tractor. I will be using the dump bed on the I kit M925 to make an M930 dump truck, but that is for a later date.

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To convert it into an M818, I will be adding @MikeyBugs M800 conversion set, which includes the longer hood, hood side pieces, brush guard, battery box, and air cleaner.

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I will also be adding the Hobby Link M52 tractor conversion.

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I started by building the basic frame and cab parts from the kit. Then I added the side pieces for the hood. I then cut the wing pieces with the lights off the radiator and moved them to the back edge. I did this since the M800 series 5 tons had a larger engine which was about six inches longer to the front. This is the reason for the extended hood. The radiator was also moved forward to accommodate the longer engine.

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Here is also the battery box.

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Mikey’s parts look great. The only issues I had were that the hood was a bit long so I had to sand down the rear end a bit. Also, the hole for the air intake was a little too far forward. I filled it and drilled a new hole where it belongs.

I cut off the hinges on the AFV Club hood and added them to the M800 hood. I also added the T clips on the front and on top for the windshield hold-down. Lastly, I added the PE mesh to the brush guard.

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I also added the gun ring mount up top. All the gun mount parts, minus the ring itself, are in the M54 kit on the cab parts sprue (D) and the sprues (H x2) for the seats in the bed. I added the ring from an M35 kit.

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The last parts I added were the Hobby Link M52 tractor conversion parts. They are very nicely 3D printed as well and clean up easily. I had no issues with them.

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A few more pieces to add here and there and it will be ready for paint. I think it will be in MERDC, but not sure. I have also been working on a trailer to go with it, but more on it later.

[Pawel]

Hello Gino!

Another cool project, I like it a lot. Can’t wait to see you do it in MERDEC.

Let me post a few of my Kaiserslautern pics here, I hope they will help you:

Oscillating fifth wheel and ramps:

Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

[HeavyArty]

Thanks Pawel. It is coming along well. Pics look good.

[S_Hollowell]

Looking good, HeavyArty!

S.H.

[HeavyArty]

A small update tonight. I assume that the earlier M54s had issues with their front fenders drooping. On the M809 series, 2 extra supports were added under the front fenders.

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I have replicated them on my model.

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Also, another note on the AFV Club M39 series (M54, M51, etc…) kits. Hopefully these are another hint that they may come out w/an M809 series truck. On the E sprue in green, and on the clear sprue (N), there are the NATO turn signals for the front and NATO stop/taillights for the rear. Also, on the C sprue are the mounts for the NATO taillights.

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Fingers crossed for AFV Club to do an M809 series truck as well.

[Pawel]

Hello Gino!

Lookin’ good!

Is this a hint as to which colours you are going to use on your model? That would be a really nice paint scheme.

Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

[HeavyArty]

Thanks Pawel. No, no hints at color. It will most likely be MERDC, but not Red Desert MERDC.

[Gamera]

Oh that’s so cool to see you doing another giant truck Gino! The detail there is amazing.

I guess I never got over my love of big honkin’ trucks and construction equipment I had like most small boys…

[HeavyArty]

Thanks Gamera. I guess I haven’t lost my love of big trucks either.

[GAF]

Gino,

Great work! Your display is beginning to look like the Anniston Army Reserve parking lot that is a stone’s throw away from where I live.

Gary

[HeavyArty]

Delete, double tap.

[HeavyArty]

Thanks Gary. It is coming along. Yup, the motorpool is starting to fill up with trucks.

[CapnMac82]

the motorpool is starting to fill up with trucks

It’s my experience of motor pools that they are chock full of vehicles, and often or random types, and equally random paint jobs, with no obvious rhyme nor reason.

So, sounds entirely prototypical to me.

Mind, last week, down in Houston, I saw a train consist of roll-on flat cars with near two dozen of the multi-axles tank tansport trailers (in a rainbow of paint schemes) and exatly two 1070s on the last car. Go figure.

[HeavyArty]

Thanks Capn. I should have another update soon. I was able to get some paint on it over the weekend.

[HeavyArty]

As promised, here is the latest on it.

Over the weekend, I got the wheels on and laid down the MERDC paint. The wheels are resin ones from Real Model. I like them better than the kit tires since they have more rounded shoulders, like actual 5-ton tires. The kit tires have square shoulders and look too new to me, I do like to use them for a new spare though.

For the MERDC, I went with Winter Verdant, which appears to be the most common. I first sprayed the green using Tamiya OD #2, then hand painted the dark tan, sand, and black. It has a few brush strokes and stray bristle marks here and there, just as I imagine it would when hand painted by a couple privates on extra duty in the motorpool.

Here it is so far.

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Next up is adding/working on the smaller details.

[Gamera]

The MERDC looks sharp, nice work!!! [Y]

[HeavyArty]

Thanks Gamera. I like how the MERDC came out as well.

[S_Hollowell]

Wow! That camo looks great, especially if you handpainted it!

S.H.

[HeavyArty]

Thanks S.H. Yup, all hand painted with a hairy stick.

An update:

The truck is done with construction and basic paint. I added air lines and the brake connector wire from 1/24 spark plug wire with James Lee’s 3D printed gladhands. I marked it as a truck from 2ID, 702 MSB in S. Korea with homemade decals. The next step is weathering.

Here she is.

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Some details.

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I also laid down the passenger seat to make it into the gunner’s platform. The AFV Club seat is in two parts, lower cushion and back part, so it is easy to do.

I have also started on the trailer for it. It is an M129 box trailer used as a maintenance/shop trailer.

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I started with an old AMT 1/32 reefer trailer.

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I cut it down to the proper 28’ 8 1/2" length. Then I covered the ribbed sides with 0.020 sheet styrene and added rivets with a rivet wheel. I built up the frame and the rear axles using parts from an Italeri M923 5 ton and “C” channel styrene, along with resin copies of AFV Club’s wheel hubs. I will use DEF Model 5 ton wheels on it too. Lastly, I added the marker lights on the sides and rear lights left over from the AFV Club M54 kit.

Here it is so far.

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I haven’t decided how I will paint it yet. I am leaning toward overall green for some variety.

[S_Hollowell]

Nice work!

S.H.