Here is another model I am working on for yet another project.
It is the Italeri 5 Ton with Shelter kit in 1/35. I changed it up a bit to represent one of my trucks in my section in my unit. It is an ICSS (Intergrated Contact Support Set) fot the TOW/Bradley support team. We repair the TOW system on the Bradley.
The kit consist of the Real Models 5 Ton Extended Bed Conversion.
It also has the Czech Master Engine compartment and Tank Workshops Resin Tires. Bits and pieces from the Eduards Photo Etch set was also used.
The shelter was reworked to look like ours.
This vehicle and four other will be in a diorama I am making for my unit which will be placed in our Orderly Room or Armory Lobby.

Oh boy another truck!! keep us updated on your progress. It is looking good so far. I have never seen this variations before. Show me more

...just LOVE it Epi !! As animal says, "another truck!!" If you've got the time, why don't you share with us what you've done in more elaborate terms....? Always like a good 'walk-thru'.

Tread.

It may be modern and not WW2.........BUT it is another good looking odd ball truck. Very nicely done too. As has been said before how about a more detailed chat about how it was done and why?

Thanks guys.
Next week, I am going to start the diorama that it is going to be in. I want to have it done by the time my next drill comes up in december so i can take it to my unit.
There is another 5 Ton that goes with this one and its an "Expando Van". There is also 2 Hummers and a Bradley that goes with it. I can write a diorama construction artile and describe each vehicle in that.
This one is already painted and down. I just have to finish the shelter in the bed and attach the hood, cab roof, and side mirrors.

Other than that, I would be glad to share what I did to this one.
Give me a couple of days.

Guys, I guess I can give you alittle back ground on the truck before I hit the sack!!!!
First, if you go to SABOT's(Rob) Motor Pool, I think he has a couple of picture of another variation of this shelter.
With that said, this is our variation. I am in a TOW Misille Repaire Section. Of course, we fix the TOW, both ground mount and on the Bradley. This shelter holds our equipment inside and is like a little office. The regtangle looking box behind the driver is an air condition unit. The actual kit shelter comes with two small square air condition units, so I had to scratch build this one out of plastic sheet and stock.
The other vehicles that are going to be in the dio are up in Dallas/Ft. Worth on display at the hobby shop I use to work at. I have drill this weekend up there and will be picking them up. When I get back, I will take beter pictures of this one along with the others and write up something on all of them.
In the mean time, there are a couple of more pictures in my album in the gallery.

Laters.

You are going to have no time for sleep with all the M2's and Trucks you are working on Epi.
looking good so far keep us updated!

So how was the Truck build any problems with parts fit? (++) (:-)

The engine bay looks complete and very realistic! Excellant work!

Thanks Epi, I'll be looking forward to your write-up!! Also, how are the Tankworkshop resin tyres? I recently tried to get the Real Model resin offering but my local hobby shop couldn't get them for some reason. Maybe they'd be more successful ordering them from Tankworkshop?

Tread.

Epi - came to the thread late, but I like the truck you're building. Looking forward to seeing it complete, I know it's going to come out nicely.

First of all, this is looking really something, having got, half built and kinda lost interest in the Italeri 5 Tonner, now my interest is awake again... I saw from the (impressive) components list that you have the Real Models Extended Bed Conversion. I was given the link the other day by Roo and was somewhat impressed by the HUGE list of conversions that are available including the 5 Ton Recovery Vehicle at a very nice price....Anyone got any comments on it? It just looks so mean that vehicle....Jim

My example of the Real Models Extended Cargo Bed & Frame came so warped as to be unusable. But, it gives you a nice 3-dimensional example to scratchbuild your own. Downside is that's one expensive "prop". The early Real Models items suffered from warpage, but later stuff seems to be okay. I feel like it's hit-or-miss when I order the product sight unseen...

I agree with the Gunnie. The "extended bed " kit came with a new frame and mine to was warped.
I also built the "Expando Van" conversion too. This will go along with this vehicle in the dio and pictures will be available soon. The expando van kit was alittle warp too.

Tread,
As far as the tires are concerned, I got these a while back along with one of there ather 5 Ton tire sets. They are really nice. I think they are still available. Try checking out VLS's websight, thats where I got them from. The set on this truck are the ones with the "Inflation System". They look flat and bulgy, so if you get a set of these, dont forget to put the little inflation control box next to the gear shifter in the cab. I will take a better picture of that later.

Pete,

I probably should not comment your work too much, as my own 5-ton truck is currently displayed in Rivet Review Board (which is, by the way, more suitable forum for this thread as well, I think). I like the way you converted your model to a different variant and like your improvements on the shelter.

But I can suggest one correction to this model. Of course there are hundreds of minor details that can be corrected in Italeri kit, but one is relatively easy to fix and is quite noticeable. Judging from the wheels you used (with CTIS), your truck is... ...M928A2. And A2 variants of the M939 series trucks have different fuel tank installed than A0 and A1 variants. Italeri model includes the A0/A1 type tank, so it is actually correct for both their M923A1 and M925 kits, but not for the A2 conversions. You can see the shape of the A2 style tank on this photo in Armorama Gallery:
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?set_albumName=albup71&id=adj&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Real Model resin update set includes the correct fuel tank for A2 truck. Similar part is also added to the OOP Ordnance Models wheel set for M939A2 trucks. I have both these sets and as built my truck as A1 variant, I have two spare resin A2 style fuel tanks and if you wish I can send you one.

And speaking of Real Models - the mentioned set was of rather poor quality and I cannot really recommend it... Here is my review of this set: http://www.vodnik.net/index_rv.htm

There is also one other external detail in the Italeri model that is not correct for the A2 truck and this time it is a bit more diffcult to correct, as it requires some scratchbuilding, but is also less noticeable. The spare wheel carrier is A0 truck type - Italeri included this same part in their M923A1 Bigfoot kit and it was not right for this version. And this part is also not correct for the A2 truck you build. You can see the comparison of different styles of spare wheel carriers in my review of Italeri M923A1 kit here: http://www.vodnik.net/index_rv.htm.

Your model looks very promising, even if you decide to ignore those small imperfections I mentioned. Keep up the good work and show us some more photos of your model later!


UPDATE: I just noticed another quite noticeable Italeri error you missed to correct in your model. The floor of the cargo bed should be steel plates, not wood as Italeri (and obiously Real Models also) made it. Just put a piece of styrene sheet on it and it will be fixed But wait... I have not actually seen the floor of the long M927/M928 truck bed. Still - I doubt the floor would be wooden in this one - it is probably steel sheet, just lke in short bed variants.

Regards,
Pawel

I personally don't give a damn where this is posted... The fact that these photos and build details get put on the site in the first place and that people are prepared to put in helpful comments and suggestions is for me all that matters... Put them in DSB for all I care as long as they are there in black and white.....Jim

Thanks for the info Pawel.
This model is actually modelled after one of my truck that I am signed for currently in my unit with the Texas Army National Guard. As SABOT(Rob) can contest to this. We pretty much get the left overs from the active duty units. I couldnt realy say what variant this truck started out to be. After it leaves an active duty unit, it goes through the states Maintenance Shop to gets rebuilt, refurbished, and repainted. So it might get mixed and matched parts or different work orders.
Thanks for the offer on the fuel cells though. I have the set you are talking about also and I used the cell on my "Expando Van" conversion.

Keep the comments comming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Since at last count there are (at least) 3 experts on this vehicle, Sabot, Epi and Vodnik and since I am going to build the truck. Would it not be useful for one (or all of you) to do an article with the corrections and suggested after-market bits, Just a thought but I am sure it would be nice to see all the info. tied together and not floating around 5-6 different threads....Jim

P.S. I'd like the motivation to finish the one i've started so it's not entirely altruistic

Jim,
I dont claim to be an expert and I am sorry if I sound like an expert. I just base my modeling on the vehicle I have been around, worked on, or have in my unit. Thats whay I ask what unit are you trying to represent. If I can lend a hand or share what I have seen , then i do. If someone accepts my info great, if they dont, oh well, no big deal!!!!!!!

I don't mean any disrespect with the word expert, all of us are experts in one theme or another its just that the the expertise that is being demonstrated on this thread shows us what this site is all about. Even with my dumb questions the thread is developing a life of its own...Jim

I'm not an expert, nor have I ever said I was. I spend a lot of time around various modern US pieces of equipment. Most of the time they in one piece; however, they do spend a lot of time in various stages of disassembly/reassembly. I try to share my limited knowledge and and pass on observations I make, either verbally or with photos I upload in my motor pool.

It is up to the individual to decide to accept or ignore my experiences. Most people do not take me at my word unless I provide photographic evidence. Several modelers will even go out of their way to find some photographic evidence to disprove anything I state.

I've only got about 20 years worth of experience climbing on, living on, fighting on, operating, fixing and recovering modern US equipment. I am not an expert. My experiences are far too limited.

Again, I meant no disrespect with my comment is it ok if I change 'expert' to people familiar with modelling the vehicle, people in contact with the vehicle in a professional capacity and people who have got a damn sight more insight into how it goes together than I have?
Jim ( an officially recognized expert in destroying Land-Rover clutches in all sorts of terrain)

epi..very nice pice of equipment..look forward to the rest that you'll be photographing.....i'll also be sending you an email later..have an open house i must attend so it will be tommarrow..but again..nice work...Ray

Howdy Pawel,

I'm not sure, so I'll accept your input here. I am building an OshKosh HEMTT 10-Ton cargo truck that I'm upgrading to the 16.5-Ton version. The newer HEMTT also has the 'squared-off' fuel tank instead of the kit supplied round one. Question: Does the HEMTT share something like the M923 series fuel tank? And if so, would you be interested in extending your offer of a fuel tank, or two to me? .

Thx,

Tread.

Tread,
I don't know much about HEMTT's yet - I have two kits on the box pile (and all available Pro-Art resin sets for them), so will have to do my homework one day. But I think the fuel tanks in PLS HEMTT are much larger then the one used in M939 trucks. At least it looks like it from the pictures I have. Anyway - if you wish I can send you one resin tank - I would like to keep the other one in case I decide to build some M939A2 family truck in the future.

Rgds,
Pawel

Great work Epi. The engine and works look amazing! The whole concept of the vehicles together as a unit sounds very interesting and I am looking forward to seeing them alltogether.