Ran into this showing a deuce and a half using what appear to be tank treads. Think this might be a real good idea for a diorama. BUT wonder if anybody out there knows anything about this practice? Also what theatre of operation would have used these tracked trucks? Note soldiers appear to be British, but voiceover sounds American. Any other pictures?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZg5kwqF06k&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Wow! That's neat.

The soldiers are US, with the British-style "tin hat" that was in use at the very start of WW2. The tracks are some kind of add-on bands by the look of them. The odd thing is that the front wheels are doubled (just like the rear ones).

My guess is somewhere in the swamps of the southern US...

Tom

Hello,

Perhaps you allready know, but I want to tell in case you don`t:

Armorscale is manufacturing wheels with these chains for the Tamiya model.

Product Number is R35-033.

http://www.modellbau-koenig.de/Militaermodellbau_135/Zuruestteile/Resin/Armorscale/Raeder_mit_Ketten_fuer_US_Truck_GMC__i282_3252_0.htm

Should this be a coincidence??


Cheers

Dennis

Boy Howdy! That is a major coincidence. I would still like to hear a lot more about this mod for the deuce and a halfs.

From what I've seen and read, this was simply an experiment to see if it would work. Judging by the number of times it's been seen, apparently not very well. There are also a few pics out there of a Studebaker US-6 with doubled front wheels in the snow. Again, judging by the few photos seen, I would say that chains were the prefered option in mud or snow. I'm sure that the dualled front wheels would be a real bear to steer in any conditions.
Norm Samuelson

Howdy Y'all

I'm also interested in this version of the truck. I think I've seen a Gas-O-Line conversion in 1/48 scale. Hope folks have more info.

Take Care,
Don "Lakota"

Black Dog makes a set in 1/48th;
http://www.blackdog.cz/products/t48/t48049/1.jpg " TARGET="_blank"> http://www.blackdog.cz/products/t48/t48049/1.jpg

From a discussion on another board where a chap showed a picture of the Armorscale tracks.

"They are Hipkins devices. They were issued and used during WWII. The 152 Field Artillery used them regularly during their jungle hop across the South Pacific. They would be installed during soft going and found to work best on their CCKWs while in reverse. They were frequently advertised by the older surplus dealers of the 40s-60s. We still have a crated set stored away somewhere. They will be donated to a museum along with my CCKW sometime in the years to come. They are very heavy and take up a lot of room. A set must weigh the better part of a ton.
They are featured on one of the WWII Training Films availible at Vintage Video. They are an expedient and not safe or practical in paved surfaces."

Article from 1933 Field Artillery Journal on motorization of 75 mm gun batteries. Discusses use of Hipkins type traction devices


http://sill-www.army.mil/famag/1933/JUL_AUG_1933/JUL_AUG_1933_PAGES_301_319.pdf