Viet Nam era Gun truck, How the ............

Modeling Subjects Armor
1

As promised, some of my questions/ideas. Even tho I was a Chinook mechanic, I like the convoy escort trucks. They used to come to our avionics shop for radio install/repair, intercom headsets etc. Most were really sharp rigs, G.I. inginuity at work!!

I guess what I’m look for is a source for a 5 ton that I can use sheet styrene to build the armor plate sides, cab top, doors etc. I don’t know if there is a kit out there for a Gun truck. I think I saw one somewhere modeled after the “Ace of Spades” - a fairly well known escort.

Do these(if available) come in 1/24 - 1/25 scale or what is the “standard” size for something like this?

How/where would I source .50’s & mini guns for the chosen scale?

I f there isn’t a kit available with most of the stuff I’m looking for, I’m thinking of “scratching” my own. All the escort trucks had “side art”(think Nose Art) on the armor plate. I’m thinking of naming mine Hell’s Bells, Hell’s Belle or Southern DIS-Comfort. Whatta ya think?

I have seen an APC shell mounted on a 5 ton for their armor, Confederate flag side art, named DIXIE DE light.

Most all were painted semi gloss or flat black. If this is a new subject here, Google Viet Nam gun trucks for some really neat pics/info.

Hope I haven’t bored anyone or asked dumb questions. As i said in my intro, I’m from the Scale Auto side. [whstl]

2

I don’t do much armor myself, so I’ll wait for those guys to chime in, but I think the odds are long of finding something in 1/24 or 1/25. 1/35 probably be your best bet.

K,now threadjack ON–I saw your screen name-I have a '98 XJ myself that I love. You have any mods on yours or do much ‘wheelin’ with it? All I have is a 2" lift, winch, and 31" mudders, but that thing will climb a tree I swear. Nice to see another XJ man on board. [B] K, threadjack OFF.

Chris

3

What you are looking for is the M50/800 series 5 ton truck. There are no styrene kits available but…You can get an M35A2 Duce which in looks is very close and could be converted to the 5 ton with some scratch work. The M35A2 plain is available from AFV. They also make an M35A1 Gun Truck…no you would limit your scratch work

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10145107b/30/

Rounds Complete!!

4

Mike is correct that you would have to convert the M900 series truck into a Vietnam-era M54 truck (M800 is too late for Vietnam). You can do it yourself using an M35 from AFV Club and Italeri’s M925 kit. If you can’t find a 10-wheeled m925 kit, the tires are available in resin from Tank Workshop or Real Model. You can also use the tires out of an AFV Club M59 Long Tom or M115 8" gun, with the wheel centers from the M923 or M925 kit added.

Here is a link to a feature by Dave “Animal” Willet showing how to build it.

It can come out pretty good, if I do say so myself. Here is my M54A1 “King Cobra” Guntruck.

It isn’t perfect, but looks pretty good. At the time (about 12 years ago), the article wasn’t out and I missed that the front of the hood/grill should be flat across (as opposed to bowed like an M35), and that the frame needed to be shortened by 1/8" behind the cab. Other than that, it is pretty much correct.

If you aren’t up for converting one, Real Model and Hobby Fan have M54 trucks in resin. They go for about $150+ each though.

Good luck and let us know if you need more advice. Be sure to post when you start too.

5

There are a few full kits available, but most will require some kit bashing/conversion or skill with resin. Do a a search on Ebay.

Here are some options.

Legend has a generic (but probably based on THE UNTOUCHABLES but with no decals) double walled tub kit for the AFV M35 with sculpted in tires and sand bags in the walls. There is armor for the doors and windshield as well as 6 spares and much stowage. It comes with their XM134 minigun and a couple .50’s and possibly an M60. Rare Plane Detective had one at our show this weekend for about $50. Legend also sells the XM134 (and the newer M134 version) separately at about $15 for a pair. You will probably want to look into a set of brass barrels from RB for about $10 including postage on Ebay. Lucky Model lists this as available (oin production but out of stock at this time) for under $7 with free postage to the states. The best plastic .50’s are probably the Academy ones in their MG set. Unfortunately, while you get two Ma Deuces, there are two different cradles in each box, so you probably need at least two boxes (retail about $8 per box). Dragon’s M60’s are about as good as you can get available in a variety of their weaponbs sets and figures sets from Vietnam through Desert Storm.

As to AFV’s Nancy quad 50 gun truck, the Maxon turret is a bit fiddly. Consider repalpcing this with teh Dragon kit. Easier construction and it comes with the full trailer> It was reportedly common practice to load the fulltrailer rather than try to jerry rig the turret into the bed of the truck.

Osprey’s and Squadron’s Gun Truck books are good, inexpensive references. The Hard Road (I and II) are apparently the definitive volumes on gun trucks.

To see some great examples ofgun truck (and other models), check out my friend Jim Lewis’ site Gun Truck Studio.

Finally, you are going to have to work in 1/35 or scratch build everything.

6

Sorry 'bout the slow response. I work a 12 hr.shift schedule so 'tween work & life, I’ll try to squeeze in some thanks AND more dumb questions.

dirk, I say 1/24 as I have NO idea what size military models come in. Is 1/35 a standard size? Does it scale out to about 8’ long? Ask me something about model cars/trucks & I can probably answer most questions. What I can’t answer, I’ll lie about it. [whstl]

Yeah, I have an '01 XJ, my wife has my original '99 XJ. I have the usual vent visors/bug 'flector, Jeep front tags, etc. I don’t OFF road but I will drive off road if I want to. Where I live, you NEED 4X4 if/when it snows. Mine has never failed to come thru. If you haven’t, look up Quadratec.com. Get their XJ specific catalog. It’s loaded with more stuff than you can haul off.

ajlafleche, Great info you provided me. Are AFV & other terms ya’ll used a brand like Revell or an on line hobby shop? I feel like I’m starting all over building again.

HeavyArty, FANTASTIC Gun truck build!! I saw the Cobra in my Google research. You nailed it dude!! I have seen that configuration-APC shell mounted on a 5 ton in a convoy over there.

redleg, I like your idea on the M35A1. Get a ready made Gun truck…but in resin/big bucks!

Opinion time, would one come out better(price wise) with a ready made kit & enhance it or get the parts & go with minimal scratch building? Think I’ve decided on going with Southern DIS-comfort as the art work, would be easier to find here.

I assume you treat military kits as any other kit as far as prep. Wash,dry first then look for mold lines,pin marks & sand.

Didn’t mean to do a chapter on building. THANKS again for your input.

7

Yes, 1/35 is the standard scale for armor models. My M54 guntruck measures right about 9".

On the question of a ready made (ie. resin) guntruck kit, or building your own (converting/combining the M925 and M35), it really matters what you are comfortable with doing. In the long run, it will cost you a little less to combine the two other trucks and make your, but it is more work.

Building armor to me is easier than cars and aircraft. You build them basically the same, but the finish doesn’t have to be as perferct on armor.

8

Here is one I scratchbuilt 1:32nd scale using a standard US Army truck as the base vehicle

9

Looks pretty good. It is in 1/35 though and it looks like it is the AFV Club 1/35 M35A1 2 1/2 ton truck you used. Do you have any more pics of it?

It looks like one of the early, very lightly armored M35A1 guntrucks. These were quicly replaced by fully armored beds and then moved up to larger, more capable M54 5-ton trucks with armored beds and finally with M113 hulls mounted on them.

10

Here is another view

!(http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb49/edorc/models 2012/armouredtruckfront.jpg)

11

Based on a CCKW? perhaps a tad bit of artistic liscense here?

12

Yup, a bit. The CCKW was years and years out of service when guntrucks first started appearing in Vietnam ('66-'67). It would have been an M35A1 truck, not a CCKW.

13

rangie,very good example of a gun truck. I do notice it’s a Marine corp vehicle. Let’s never disregard the idea or depiction of anything used in Viet Nam as “not real”.

Many things used may only have lasted for that single use but was epanded on,i.e. - the 5 ton gun truck. I can say the 2 troopers in camo are in more current camo - not tiger stripes, but I’m SURE not being picky(rivet counter). Very good detail ALL over.

Guys, I do appreciate your input. In the last few days of research, I have found a “hobby shop” near my house. It is a diving,swim equipment shop that is shared with a "LHS’ that is more military than anything else. I will be paying this shop a visit.

14

Still have to disagree with you there. The USMC did not use guntrucks and the CCKW was long out of service by Vietnam. History isn’t what-if, but what was. This can all be documented and I am sure of it too. Nothing “rivet counter” or being “picky” about historical fact. It is what it is, why sugar-coat it?

A good effort, but not historically accurate in any way.

Good deal on finding a local hobby shop. I hope they can help you out with what you need. Keep us posted on yours once you start it as well.

15

As HeavyArty said, the CCKW was LONG gone by the time of Vietnam. I don’t agree that it is being picky (or rivet counting) to get the BASIC research done on a project (such as when I vehicle was used).

16

Just a suggestion …[whstl]…get the body and bed squared away with frame and drive train .

17

HeavyArty,Bronto, I’m not trying to discourage a builder or step on any toes.I have never seen a U.S.M.C. gun truck either. All my experience has been with Army vehicles/aircraft.

I’ll be paying a visit to the LHS on my next free day. A guy told me that he buys collections/estate stuff on the model car side but apparently orders from a supplier on the military side.