Howdy All,

I came across the rather interesting M88 'cargo' kit with dozer blade made by Bluetank. And it looks like a very interesting build. But, not having any real experience with "Bluetank", I was wondering if any of you well-versed, and highly-respected lads might have an opinion on this kit, or Bluetank mould history as a 'whole'?
tia.

Tread.

EDIT: Apparently Bluetank refers to it as an M8 A1 (?) recovery/cargo vehicle......

This is actually the old Nitto M8A1 cargo tractor. It was reboxed by Model Craft and copied or reboxed (not sure which) by Blue Tank. Very poor kit even in its original form. The Model Craft tracks are fictional and do not fit. I had the Nitto one a long time ago and now have the Model Craft version. The molded on spare track links don't even match the W. German style Diehl tracks that the kit comes with.

Airwaves did a photo etch set for it. Even with this minor set, the kit is still rather poor. The Airwaves set is #35032 in case you are looking for it. I've got it and someday I may plan to build it, but I doubt it. Too much work.

Once you mentioned well versed and highly respected, I knew you were calling me! :-) :-) :-) :-)
I have this at home. I saw a few other kits by them and wouldnt take them, even for free. I bought this for next to nothing ... basically because it was unusual. This kit is salvagable ... just. Airwaves do a small PE set for this to replace grill at front and some small details. Worth getting as its cheap and airwaves are no longer producing ... get it now. Also the tracks are comletely useless and wrong. The AFV Club T91E3 (M41 walker bulldog) tracks are perfect ... but i think it takes two sets. There is spare tracks molded to the cab roof ... need to be removed. I have seen a few pictures of it built up and it looks decent enough. The interior is very sparse also .. so some scratching would be needed.
heres a picture i saved ... should be nice with a little effort!

If you are going to build it ... I would love to build along with you as a small group build. Interested? I bought the wrong tracks .. the vinyl types so i swapped them away,and have to order 2 new sets of indy links!

Hey Rob ... you nipped in while i was typing! Fancy building yours along with us? Could be fun and an excuse to build it ..

how does someone from ireland, and someone from colorado end up building somthing with each other?

make sure you have it towing a Long tom or some other really big Artillery piece!

It's sort of a group build. Some are organized as campaigns (participants get ribbons) and some are informal, just sort of happen. Here's a thread on one of those:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/31779&page=1

Anyone can join in.

Chuck

Howdy fellas,

Wow!.....two Staff Members hailing in to give me a hand......I am truly humbled good sirs...........(looking for a 'mam sab' smiley... ).

I value both of your inputs, while simultaneously wanting to embrace my own self indulgence....Meaning, the vehicle looks very interesting. And, after viewing the pic you supplied of the dandy version you built I am now (unfortunately) commited to giving it a 'go'......
what can I say.........I'm a sucker for the 'variants'......

Now, that said, your offer of building alongside you (and hopefully Rob too......tho, he seems 'set', although.....maybe I can talk him out of his M8 A1.... ) is quite tempting.
But before I do that, I would really like some more input.
Using 'Bulldog' tracks is very helpful, since Rob has already stated his displeasure with the supplied tracks (his judgement is 'Gold' with me) . If a 'scrapper' from Donegal can stretch out a calloused hand to a transplanted 'Yank'......then I would be tickled to throw my scratching skills at this.

Thx again guys,

Tread.

EDIT:......O.K., I got it, so I'm in....in some form or fashion. :-)

that's probably why you like me Gordon :-)

Frank, you must be a slow typer, there is nearly 20 minutes between our posts.

Tread, I could be persuaded to part with my kit and PE set. I would have to locate said items to ensure I did not so something stupid with it or to it.

This vehicle is covered in the Hunnicutt Bradley book, but just barely. Not more than a photo or two of it and perhaps a couple of paragraphs.

That is one interesting looking vehicle, but I have so many projects going that I am going to resist looking for this kit. Hell it took two months to finally track down a HUMVEE Bushmaster kit on ebay, and I've still got three or four days left to wait on that bid...HEY !!!!!!!!!!!!! None of you skunks try to steal that from me..

If one of you would be tempted to scratchbuild an M8A1 (using this kit as a starting point ??) .... :
http://www.mil-mod.nl/skysweep.html

Hats off to Wim Wink

Frenchy

Holy Crap, it's the great white ghost! Now that is a thing of beauty!

I have the M8A1 kit too...glad to hear that the replacement tracks will work.

I thought this kit was more 1/32 scale?

The powers of digital cameras and internet! The idea being showing and helping each other along. I bought this ... but never got the spark to build it. Building along with some others, sharing as you go along offers the encouragement needed!


Sorry ... this aint mines! I saved this from the net after I bought the kit. Mines is still tucked away!


Probably! .. I went looking for that picture I had saved.

Thanks for the link Frenchy. That scratchbuilding is awesome. When i mentioned scratching a bit, I meant a few replacement parts ... not 3900+. :-) :-) .
Id definately be interested in building this as a mini group build forthe fun. Are you guys interested? When would it suit yis to start?

Here is the one I own on eBay. It ends in 6 hours. Not connected with the seller, just happened to run across it by coincidence. Low price, right now only $4.50.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5922254616

Howdy again fellas,

Thx for the replies, I didn't think anyone would be interested at all in this vehicle. Kind of a unique AFV to be sure, and I'm even more surprised at any of you actually having it in your stash! (that is, except our good Rob. One of these days somebody should start a thread entitled " Let's all try to guess what isn't in Rob's stash of kits! "..... :-)

And as to this remark.....

"....that's probably why you like me Gordon..... "

Oh, you're a bloody 'variant' alright mate!!..... :-)

to Major 'G': Yes. I would indeed be interested in buying your M8 A1 kit, that is, unless there's a shred of possibility of you joining us in this wee build?..............if it's 'No', I fully understand. Just let me know if you will about the kit...........Thx.

EDIT: I'm definitely interested in the PE set you said you had for it, since word is, that it's OOP....

to blaster76: Hmmmmmmm, HUMVEE Bushmaster you say huh??...........let me see, where's that drop down Ebay link.........it's here somewhere..............

to Frenchy: Many thx for the link sir. But as Frank has already said, 3900+ parts is a tad too much work in the 'Sow's Ear' dept.! Although, I will be saving those photos to see and analyze which parts make the most sense.

to Jacques: Man....you have the kit too? You should consider joining in on the attempt at mental anguish that's beginning to form here. Your input on the build would be great to have. That said, knowing your speed, you'd most probably leave Frank and I in the dust!

to Plasticbattle: The idea of having someone else along during this build is very good news indeed. Especially someone of your caliber. The work you did on your M32, and your SCUD is impeccable, not to mention your Sherms......nice. BTW, did you ever finish your Churchill?
Anyway, just so you know where I'm 'coming from' on this build. Aside from it being one of my favourite things ( a 'variant', not Roo... ), I view this vehicle as a chance to take the basic ingredients of the kit and scratch/bash my way to the finished product. In other words, a way to continue to elevate my 'scratching' skills, so that one day I might become worthy enough (dare I even think it?) to knock on the symbolic, and hallowed door of my personal modeling 'Hero'.........the Gunniemeister!!
He'll probably only let me scrap and paint the outside of the door, but, what the hey!....... :-) :-)

My apologies for the digression......
Yeah Frank, if our good Sabot can find his kit, along with the one I just bought (off Ebay by the way........hear that blaster?), maybe between the two kits (I'll share parts), and a wee bit of scratching, we can both (all?) build a vehicle that I'm quite certain will not be flanked at the modeling table with another just like it. Something I unfortunately cannot say about German steel. I mean, ever go to a big modeling show and take a count of Tigers and Panthers?.........geez, it looks like a couple of German Divisions have shown up for the show!

Tread.

EDIT: Thx for the link Rob. I'll be bidding on that one as well, but I'm still interested in yours if you are interested.
BTW, unless someone else here wants to join this wee build, please don't start bidding on the one Rob just linked, otherwise the price will start going up artifically. If I buy it, I'll share (or even send) as many parts or pieces as necessary (for free) to help whoever wishes to join in on this madness.......

Safe to assume most things German.
I've found the kit and the photo etched set. Airwaves is out of business, but I think Hannants is trying to take over their product line. Regardless, the M8A1 set is fairly rare and hard to find.

You're welcome to contact me via PM if you don't win the one you're after. I'd like to keep the PE set and kit together. The kit contains wire springs for the suspension and decals. It is a cool looking vehicle, but I just don't think I'll ever get to it.

I resisted bidding on that kit last night. Seems some Black Eagle OA patches caught my attention. Hope you get it. Me I think I came up with a clever way to get My 350 scale Nimitz...Rich kidsister who likes to buy nice Christmas presents last year got me a real super air compressor for my air brush. Appreciate everyone (so far) letting me run with this bushmaster.

Did you win it? I'm not sure who whug101 is. I checked the lower hull of my kit and it is listed as Bluetank, but I know it is/was the old Nitto kit. The kit pictured is the same kit I have, but my box isn't smashed in.

Howdy Rob,

No...unfortunately I did not win it. I took the whole family to Six Flags Amusement Park (one of the last flings of the season), along with two of the neighbour's kid's, and one of my daughter's school chums.........a 'gaggle' to be sure.

Anyway, I put my bid in before I left, knowing somebody would jump in and outbid me.....but, whatcha gunna do?

So my good sir, I will be PM'ing you in the AM in regards to your kind offer. I promise I'll do my best to do the kit justice.

Tread.

Now where's that Plasticbattle????????

Hey Tread, thanks for the complitment...yeah, I would love to jump in sometime...after I tell you all what I have been up to for the summer/fall (and no, it is not really model related...mostly home repair...more on it when I am done...)

Also, I think Rob and I suffer from the same ailment...having served in the US Military. Something about wanting to build vehicles you have operated/seen/been on. And the oppositions stuff too, of course...

Maybe Rob and I should go "Head to Head" for "Guess what they do NOT have?" Maybe not. :-)

Never too far away! Im ready when you´re ready. The only thing I need to do, is to get two sets of AFV Club tracks. I can start before they arrive if needed to. Also can wait to you finish up whatever you´re working on now. You make the call!

I already bought tracks for this but I ordered the vinyl ones by mistake. But Ive already swapped these away again.

Has anybody noticed that this tread has started in the "WW2 - Germany" forum ? I 've posted my reply without noticing this, in the heat of the discussion :-)

Frenchy

Topic moved.........


I have the Nitto kit at home.... and some AFV tracks cominig sometime..........

And there's no rush...... I've got Landscaping out the wazooooooooo to do before the frost starts!!!!!!