Not sure if there is enough difference, but the Wikipedia says that the M51 wheelbase is slightly shorter than the M54. Have the Real Models conversion, but not sure which kit would be closer for the frame? Have AFV, and the Italeri kits. Any help appreciated. Wayne

IMHO, I would go with the AFV Club M54. I guess it would be more accurate than the more recent M939 series trucks released by Italeri...



H.P.

Frames have to be shortened anyway no matter if you use m54 or italeri 's 9series kits

As Matt says, the M51 had a shorter frame. I would go with the AFV Club M54 kit. It is much better than the Italeri M923/5 kits.

Here is a drawing with partial dims for an M51. You should be able to figure out the rest from it.



And M54 dims.


This chart also shows the dimensions between them and other common 5 tons.

Model Wheelbase Length Width
M51 Dump 167 in (4.24 m) 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m) 8 ft 1 in (2.46 m)

M52 Tractor 167 in (4.24 m) 22 ft 9 in (6.93 m) 8 ft 1 in (2.46 m)

M54 Cargo 179 in (4.55 m) 26 ft 2 in (7.98 m) 8 ft 1 in (2.46 m)

Thanks guys for the input. I guess my main thought was as to where I need to make my cuts so that everything else still lines up. Looking at some pics it looks like they used the smaller fuel tank like the deuce and a half and on the opposite side. Wayne

Regarding the M54, I would hazard a guess that the frame shortening happens primarily at the rear so as not to interfere with the pump action.

Just dug out the conversion,it's the older one for the Italeri kits. It shows a cut, vaguelly behind the fuel tanks and the rest off the rear of the frame. Not real clear. Wayne

Using the drawings and wheelbase and overall length numbers I posted above, it should be pretty easy to see how much to remove between the front and rear wheels. The rest comes off the rear after the wheels.

in Hobby fan s kit instructions it was marked where to cut the frame..

Any idea where I could get a copy of the Hobbyfan instructions? Wayne

Hobby Fan HF055 is a full resin kit, not a conversion.
Perth Military...

found some drawings on my harddisk...
side view
back view
source TM-55-2320-211-15-1

Tom

Hi, the Hobbyfan conversion you might be thinking of is for the M59 (I think) to convert AFV Club's M35 to dump truck.

Regards jason

Thanks again guys for the help. Gino and Thomas, the diagrams will be a big help. Appreciate it. Hoping to build a model of the one I drove for a while in Nam. Her name was Wheat Straw, after the rolling papers. Not my naming, she already had it when I got her. Anyway, thanks again. Wayne