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M983A2 LET Conversion
ChrisJohnson
Joined: June 02, 2005
KitMaker: 65 posts
Armorama: 53 posts
Posted: Friday, February 03, 2017 - 07:26 PM UTC
The following is my conversion of the Trumpeter M983 HEMTT kit into an M983A2 LET. The markings identify it as a tractor from the 321st Engineer Route Clearance Company, USAR.















If you're interested in seeing some more images, just follow this link.

https://imgur.com/a/cAq14?

Thanks for looking!

HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
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Posted: Friday, February 03, 2017 - 07:48 PM UTC
Very nice. It came out looking great. Nice work on the conversion parts.
ChrisJohnson
Joined: June 02, 2005
KitMaker: 65 posts
Armorama: 53 posts
Posted: Friday, February 03, 2017 - 10:42 PM UTC
Thanks for dropping by and commenting.
Bigred69
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Armed Forces Europe, United States
Joined: December 27, 2015
KitMaker: 290 posts
Armorama: 249 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 04, 2017 - 01:41 AM UTC
Hello Chris, what a great looking model! Do you have any info on the winch you built? Are you going to put an M870a1 trailer with the Tractor?
ChrisJohnson
Joined: June 02, 2005
KitMaker: 65 posts
Armorama: 53 posts
Posted: Saturday, February 04, 2017 - 02:23 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hello Chris, what a great looking model! Do you have any info on the winch you built? Are you going to put an M870a1 trailer with the Tractor?



Thanks for your comments. I've just made a start on the MinimanFactory M870A1 trailer, with an AFV Club Husky VMMD to follow after that as the load. As for the winch, I was restricted to several images on the Net as reference material. It seems that information on it is scarce as hen's teeth.
165thspc
#521
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Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
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Posted: Monday, November 27, 2017 - 07:29 PM UTC
Great work! Kudos.
guni-kid
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Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Joined: July 21, 2007
KitMaker: 521 posts
Armorama: 514 posts
Posted: Monday, November 27, 2017 - 07:44 PM UTC
Very nice, indeed! I love the overall look: Weathered but absolutely not overdone!

Which wheels did you use? Is it a DEF Models set?
165thspc
#521
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Kentucky, United States
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Posted: Thursday, January 03, 2019 - 04:02 AM UTC
Recent posting lifted from the Trumpeter 2019 Catalog:

I do hope that trailer goose neck is not only positionable but functional/movable after the model is built.

RobinNilsson
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Stockholm, Sweden
Joined: November 29, 2006
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Posted: Thursday, January 03, 2019 - 04:16 AM UTC
Hi Chris,
Thanks for scratchbuilding this so that it triggered Trumpeter to release a plastic model

/ Robin
Bigred69
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Armed Forces Europe, United States
Joined: December 27, 2015
KitMaker: 290 posts
Armorama: 249 posts
Posted: Thursday, January 03, 2019 - 09:33 AM UTC
At least Chris's model is correct! The Trumpy model has a missing Live roll on the back, it also has the Recovery winch where the storage boxes are, and the mesh on the deck is for the spare tire mounting. I am interested in the Trailer.
165thspc
#521
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Posted: Thursday, January 03, 2019 - 10:55 AM UTC
The roller - I get that - I can fix that. And yes. I see that Trumpeter cheated by reusing the etch decking screen from the basic semi tractor. That too I can fix but I fail to see what you are driving at regarding the location of the winch vs. some storage boxes???

I am very interested I understanding your comment.
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
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Posted: Thursday, January 03, 2019 - 11:03 AM UTC
On the right side behind the battery box should be the rectangular BII storage box, not a self-recovery winch as Trumpeter has. Look at Chris' model. He scratch-built the box.

RobinNilsson
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Stockholm, Sweden
Joined: November 29, 2006
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Posted: Thursday, January 03, 2019 - 11:20 AM UTC
I'll just stick it in the stash and wait for aftermarket.
Trumpeters model still beats scratchbuilding the rest,
and I want that trailer
165thspc
#521
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Posted: Thursday, January 03, 2019 - 11:23 AM UTC
Thank you Gino, now I see,

Yes that was rather stupid of Trumpeter to leave that recovery winch there when one of the main features of the LET is that large mid-ships mounted loading winch.

The extra winch is again another problem that is easily fixed but we shouldn't have to do all this on what is no doubt going to be a $100+ model.
165thspc
#521
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Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
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Posted: Friday, September 06, 2019 - 08:11 AM UTC
Anybody built this puppy yet?

Myself I got too many projects in the works already as it is, plus just took on a commission build and another HUGE build for a manufacture.

OK, I'll shut up and stop bragging.
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