Getting frustrated with not finding a Dodge M37 kit, last fall I decided to take a different approach. I located a M37 and have for the last year been painting, decalling and scratchbuilding a Vietnam Guntruck. I've had positive feedback at shows this year. I would not recommend this avenue for most, the costs far exceed any model I've ever attempted and it hasn't been easy. As an airbrush would have taken forever, I used spray cans on mine, the decals went on smoothly after many hours in front of the computer in design.

Other than the ficticious name, the truck is period correct. I left the jerry can off, as the guntruckers did, as 5 gallons of gas equals 11 sticks of dynamite and no one wants that sitting next to them!



It's 12" scale. Maybe someday, some one will make a M37 kit but until they do, I'll have my own to look at.

Wow!!! I thought I was looking at an actual M37. This is an amazing finish. You have my admiration.

It is an actual M37! 12" to the foot.

That's funny that it was easier to buy the real thing than find a kit for it. It does look fantastic! You've done well, Warren. Are the armor or the M60s real?
Good luck finding a shelf to display it!
On that note, taking pics of models on green felt or "grass mat" is a good idea. I might try that to emulate what you've done here (I assume at an armor buffs show).
thanks for posting!
-Sean H.

Thanks. The M-60s are airsoft and have fooled many Vets who carried them. The armor is MDO, a form of resin coated plywood that has been in use in the sign industry for years. Real steel would have done to this truck what it did to the ones in Nam, sunk the springs to the axles. It tops out about 40 mph as it is, a ton of steel would drop that to about 25 mph and increase the breakage rate tremendously.

that is a great lookind truck,im sure you will fun with it,

Great idea and very nice result indeed!

and... with this kind of reference you can 'easily' scratch a scale model of the M37

Nice job!

Mark

Great work, it's just as hard on a model. But it's easier to find and make pieces for a real one believe it or not.

I wish someone would make these already. I am sure everybody who models vehicles would want one. The US Army used them for years. You'll see a lot of them in Vietnam pictures, all over the place.

The guntruck versions where used by the commander over the M151A1, more room in there.

I'm waiting for anybody to make one. Even a conversion kit from a BEEP. Count me in for 5-10 of them if anybody is listening.

Nice!!!!

Happy Modeling, -zon

I know I'd buy several, at least 5 (hey, maybe 10 if the price is decent) and I know many more folks at Steel Soldiers and g741 (both sites for the real deals) who would also.
We do know that dies exist, Skybow got a few to market and supposedly, AFV club has all Skybow's molds. Even if they weren't up to AFV's high quality, I could make due. A resin conversion would be ok, but at the number of parts you'd have to replace on a WC kit, it might just be better to make a complete kit in resin. Wouldn't be my first choice, but if it was the only game in town, I'd try a few.

I know this is somewhat of an old thread, but I just wanted to mention that Iron Division II is going to be releasing a resin M37. It was supposed to be out in August according to their web page, but I haven't seen any updates on that. I will be down for at least one...maybe two.
http://www.irondivision2.com/35scalemain.html

I emailed with Bob back in August. He was shutting down in September to focus on getting the M37 kit ready. I'm looking forward to it!