M8A1 cargo tractor - Vietnam
#003
Donegal, Ireland
Joined: May 14, 2002
KitMaker: 9,763 posts
Armorama: 7,444 posts
Posted: Monday, May 25, 2009 - 09:10 PM UTC
Hi guys.
Some images of an older build, that has gotten lost in cyberspace over the years. Its the BlueTank kit, using Airwaves etch, AFV Club tracks and various bits and pieces for the stowage. A full build account and more images can be seen
HERE on The Assembly.
IPMS Stockholm
"The problem with common sense, is that it is not that common"
Praha, Czech Republic
Joined: April 03, 2006
KitMaker: 2,450 posts
Armorama: 2,409 posts
Posted: Monday, May 25, 2009 - 09:22 PM UTC
Superb, superb, superb.
Miloslav
Hope you like it and "watch those negative waves"
North Carolina, United States
Joined: February 22, 2002
KitMaker: 11,718 posts
Armorama: 7,138 posts
Posted: Monday, May 25, 2009 - 10:58 PM UTC
Great project. I like the base/plants a lot.
Grumpyoldman
ConsigliereFlorida, United States
Joined: October 17, 2003
KitMaker: 15,338 posts
Armorama: 7,297 posts
Posted: Monday, May 25, 2009 - 11:11 PM UTC
Frank, you've done an outstanding job on a dog of a kit.
Character is what you do when no one is looking.
Few things are harder to put up with than a good example.- Mark Twain
Make yourself an honest man, and then you may be sure that there is one less scoundrel in the world.--Thomas Carlyle
Oklahoma, United States
Joined: March 01, 2002
KitMaker: 6,043 posts
Armorama: 4,347 posts
Posted: Monday, May 25, 2009 - 11:34 PM UTC
Frigging kick butt Frank.
Everything is top notch of cause.
I did not know we even had a beast that looked like that.
Do not think I would want to crew one with only a fifty as protection though.
Ditto on the base good dang job.
Any more of your builds flying around in Cyber space Frank?
British Columbia, Canada
Joined: July 28, 2005
KitMaker: 602 posts
Armorama: 469 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 02:51 AM UTC
Excellent build and equally excellent finish.
Thanks for sharing!
my store
http://o3dminiatures.com/
Virginia, United States
Joined: November 09, 2008
KitMaker: 487 posts
Armorama: 451 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 03:56 AM UTC
Were there actually any of these deployed to Vietnam? I honestly don't know and would like to. Either way it fits the setting just fine do the tremendous job.
Visit the [url=http://codebookafrica.wordpress.com/]America's Codebook: Africa[/url]
England - West Midlands, United Kingdom
Joined: September 12, 2007
KitMaker: 1,548 posts
Armorama: 1,407 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 05:19 AM UTC
Smashing work Frank, I love it.
Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: January 11, 2006
KitMaker: 209 posts
Armorama: 155 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 05:56 AM UTC
Absolut great built, you did a great job on that old kit.
That was a poor kit, but your building skills really shown here!
thank for sharing
chris
"give me a T for Texas"
projects
vietnam howitzer monitor scratchbuild -Done
Rebuilding a M48
Vietnam HSSC (scratchbuild) done!!
England - South East, United Kingdom
Joined: June 19, 2007
KitMaker: 392 posts
Armorama: 329 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 07:20 AM UTC
Frank,
Thanks for sharing this one with us, it really looks the business on the base.
I have the old Nitto kit of this waiting to be made with the AFV running gear and tracks. I also want to do it as a Vietnam War era vechile but I can't find out any info if it was used or not. As you say there is very little information to be found on it, do you know it was used in Vietnam or did you just assume it was?
Cheers
David
'And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.'
Maj. Michael Davis O'Donnell. Dak To, Vietnam 1970.
Reported M.I.A March 24th 1970.
Maryland, United States
Joined: May 04, 2007
KitMaker: 1,132 posts
Armorama: 1,123 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 08:15 AM UTC
Excellent work Frank! Like your weathering as well as the setting you've placed this in. Great job!
Cheers -
Tim
Current projects:
AFV 8.8cm Flak 18 (35088) (paint stage)
Academy Warrior MCV (OIF) (final touches...then paint)
Next up:
Revell A-6E Intruder (?)
Colorado, United States
Joined: December 24, 2005
KitMaker: 1,624 posts
Armorama: 994 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 08:30 AM UTC
Everyday is a gift, not a given.
......and all we know is he's called the Stig.
Scotland, United Kingdom
Joined: February 04, 2006
KitMaker: 884 posts
Armorama: 622 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 08:43 AM UTC
Hello Frank
That's a very impressive build of a very old kit.
Your've done a great job.
Building for My pleasure & hoping others like what I build.
Being built at the moment
Way too many unfinished.
Centurian MKIII Tamiya
MinenRaumer
Type 95 Ha Go
Michigan, United States
Joined: November 02, 2006
KitMaker: 389 posts
Armorama: 351 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 08:59 AM UTC
That turned out GREAT!
I would love to do another one of those myself. Next time replacing all the plastic wood railing with the read thing. That was the only real problem area I found with the kit. Everything else was correctable by replacement with available after market parts.
Or better yet, one of the big companies retools it or re-shoots the old molds.
Once again, great work,
Mark Lopiccola
_____________
Mark Lopiccola
Motor City Armor & Figure Society
http://lopiccola.com/1_2_Scale-Models.html
Current Projects:
- M60A2 "Starship"
- Dodge Carry All
- M577 Command Track
Florida, United States
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 3,736 posts
Armorama: 3,697 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 01:37 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Were there actually any of these deployed to Vietnam? I honestly don't know and would like to. Either way it fits the setting just fine do the tremendous job.
It's a really nice build and a nice little diorama, but I have never seen any indication that it was used in Vietnam. The M8A1 (at least as configured in the kit), was primarily used to tow the 75 mm Skysweeper antiaircraft gun (which old timers may remember as a classic 1/32nd scale kit from Renwal), and when the US retired that system in favor of the Hawk surface to air missile, the tractors were mostly transferred to our allies in the far east, namely Japan (which is why Nitto kitted it in the first place), and possibly South Korea and Taiwan as well. The little crane assembly with the platform at the rear of the load bed was for the Skysweeper's generator.
Myanmar
Joined: March 05, 2004
KitMaker: 4,011 posts
Armorama: 1,498 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 - 03:28 PM UTC
I also have this kit on the shelf unstarted. Also, the AFV track kit for the M41.
Did you have to buy two AFV track kits to complete the required length?
Edit: ((never mind, I just read you blog))
Or do they make an M8A1 tractor track kit?
Your build looks good. I notice you shaved off the "spare track detail" over the driver and replaced with your own.
i watched a scale plastic figure crawl along the edge . . . of an exacto blade . . . that's my dream , it's my nightmare . . . . . . . crawling , slithering . . . . . along the edge . . . . . . of an exacto . . . . . blade . . . . and surviving
Kerry, Ireland
Joined: March 03, 2003
KitMaker: 201 posts
Armorama: 189 posts
Posted: Wednesday, May 27, 2009 - 09:51 AM UTC
"I would love to do another one of those myself. Next time replacing all the plastic wood railing with the read thing. That was the only real problem area I found with the kit. Everything else was correctable by replacement with available after market parts."
That very same thought occured to me too and I think it works.
Great minds think alike !
#003
Donegal, Ireland
Joined: May 14, 2002
KitMaker: 9,763 posts
Armorama: 7,444 posts
Posted: Friday, May 29, 2009 - 10:43 PM UTC
Hello Guys
Sorry for not replying earlier .... work is hectic at the moment ... and my apartment has been renovated ... so between all these and flat-packed IKEA furniture .... modelling and modelling related time has been almost zero.
I´d just like to thank you all for taking the time out to reply and appreciate your very kind words a lot. Thanks Gearld for the background info ... Ive added this below the blog. I knew nothing about the kit or the 1/1 vehicle, and can´t remember why I decided on Vietnam ... must have been the "consensus" gathered from the lack of real info.
IPMS Stockholm
"The problem with common sense, is that it is not that common"
Florida, United States
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 3,736 posts
Armorama: 3,697 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 30, 2009 - 12:53 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hello Guys
Sorry for not replying earlier .... work is hectic at the moment ... and my apartment has been renovated ... so between all these and flat-packed IKEA furniture .... modelling and modelling related time has been almost zero.
I´d just like to thank you all for taking the time out to reply and appreciate your very kind words a lot. Thanks, Gerald, for the background info ... Ive added this below the blog. I knew nothing about the kit or the 1/1 vehicle, and can´t remember why I decided on Vietnam ... must have been the "consensus" gathered from the lack of real info.
Like I said, it's very fine work, nevertheless. Don't know if you still want to tinker with it after it's completed, but if you want more photos and such, Ampersand (who also publish Military Miniatures in Review magazine) has a book called "High Speed Tractor," which covers this elusive vehicle as well as the wartime M2, M4, M5 and M6 (in case you want to tackle the Hobby Boss M4 gun tractors, for instance). There are also a couple of pictures and historical info in "US Military Tracked Vehicles" by Fred Crismon, a superb survey of US tracked equipment from World War One until the early 1980's, though it can be hard to find, these days.
#003
Donegal, Ireland
Joined: May 14, 2002
KitMaker: 9,763 posts
Armorama: 7,444 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 11:37 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Like I said, it's very fine work, nevertheless. Don't know if you still want to tinker with it after it's completed, but if you want more photos and such, Ampersand (who also publish Military Miniatures in Review magazine) has a book called "High Speed Tractor," which covers this elusive vehicle as well as the wartime M2, M4, M5 and M6 (in case you want to tackle the Hobby Boss M4 gun tractors, for instance). There are also a couple of pictures and historical info in "US Military Tracked Vehicles" by Fred Crismon, a superb survey of US tracked equipment from World War One until the early 1980's, though it can be hard to find, these days.
Hi Gerald. Thanks again. I built this in early 2006 ... and I wont be tinkering with it again. I read a review of the Ampersand book ... havent seen it though ... but have no plans to build any further tractors at the moment.
I actually stopped buying kits. Too many in the stash, and no time to build. Saying that ... if I see the book, I might pick it up ... I like the Ampersand books.
The other one is available on
Amazon if anybody else is interested.
IPMS Stockholm
"The problem with common sense, is that it is not that common"
Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: January 11, 2006
KitMaker: 209 posts
Armorama: 155 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 03:50 AM UTC
When I took a look at this perfect build I did try to find out more about this rare piece of armour....(like to build one (rebuild) myself).
But after a week of online google-ing ect
I came up with 5 pictures off the real thing, that kinda odd?? isnt it?
Anyone has pictures/drawings ect they like to share?
Otherwise when I start this build It is gonna be the same hard battle as my Mike boat..
:
Frank once again: top-build, and I hope too compleet mine in the same matter!
chris
"give me a T for Texas"
projects
vietnam howitzer monitor scratchbuild -Done
Rebuilding a M48
Vietnam HSSC (scratchbuild) done!!
Massachusetts, United States
Joined: January 20, 2005
KitMaker: 926 posts
Armorama: 356 posts
Posted: Thursday, June 04, 2009 - 06:16 AM UTC
I love it! I love the little details for instance, the two large bottles in storage, I think one is oxygen, what ever they are, they're used for welding. Anyway, I love how one bottle is nice and cleanish while the other bottle has some surface rust. To me, its not just applied, its applied very well. It really looks like surface rust. I also like the paint job on the vehicle itself. I like the shading, fading, weathering. I'm really impressed. Even the dirt on the blade looks as it would.
Thanks for the link to your blog, I enjoyed it very much. I spent at least 1/2 hour studying your model, I hope you don't mind, I copied the pics for future ref. There's so many uses for the pics, your wood tones, rust, shading.... you know what I mean and I'm sure that there's a bunch of us that would agree, what you've done is just wonderful.
John
Seine-et-Marne, France
Joined: October 08, 2005
KitMaker: 439 posts
Armorama: 345 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 08:53 PM UTC
Hi,
Congrats on the build Frank !
I got that kit in my stash too, with AFV Club M-41 rollers and tracks sets. I'll try and convert mine to the full cargo, that was used to towing the M115 8 inch howitzer.
I can find no info as regards its use or not in Vietnam. The batch was finished delivered from Allis Chelmers to US Army by 1955. Too late for these to take part to the Korean war. But some were sent to Korea after the war, to serve towing the 8" Howitzers and 155 Long Toms for the remaining US forces.
If I remember well, "only" 480 of these cargos were built, which is why little info can be found I guess. That figure would be a high producing series for France
, but considering US production it is very low.
It seems no ex has been preserved in a museum... Pity...
Regards,
Richard
They've send us a message, ... that they can take whatever they want. Well we will send'em a message, that this... this is our land !
#003
Donegal, Ireland
Joined: May 14, 2002
KitMaker: 9,763 posts
Armorama: 7,444 posts
Posted: Saturday, November 07, 2009 - 10:57 PM UTC
Thanks Chris, John and Richard.
When I built this, there was no info available either ... but somebody or something suggested Vietnam. Can´t remember now what or who or why ;-)
I´m so glad that the blog is of use ... make it all worthwhile ... save what you want John.
Quoted Text
I got that kit in my stash too, with AFV Club M-41 rollers and tracks sets.
Remember ... there is an extra roadwheel on this extended chasis ... so one AFV club set is not enough for the wheels. You´ll need two "one length vinyl" tracks but one set of indy tracks will work.
Im a bit tied up at the moment ... but an upcoming project will be Tamiya´s old duster. I have the AFV club wheel set, so will have the Tamiya wheels as spares. If you want some of these wheels .. let me know!
IPMS Stockholm
"The problem with common sense, is that it is not that common"
New Jersey, United States
Joined: March 11, 2007
KitMaker: 872 posts
Armorama: 831 posts
Posted: Sunday, November 08, 2009 - 01:19 AM UTC
The M8 was not normally be towing an M115 8 inch. It was designed for and would have been a M114 155mm towed howitzer.
The M8 was not designed to handle anything as big as the M115 or M59.
Rounds Complete!!
The Moral High Ground..a Great Place to Emplace Artillery
