How about this for a CCKW variation; conversion to a railroad locomotive?

The caption on this photo reads:

"THE CCKW AS A RAILROAD VEHICLE

Prior to the Normandy landings, the US Army used CCKW's converted into rail cars (locomotives) on railway branch lines to warehouses filled with equipment throughout Great Britain. These vehicles were converted in situ by the US Ordnance Corps, and helped overcome the shortage of steam locomotives.

The conversion involved chassis reinforcement by means of two steel girders, the installation of buffers in front and behind, ballast to improve track holding and traction power, an access ladder to the driving cab, and railway wheels. These machines could move four to five small box cars.

Less elaborate models were used for inspection and maintenance of railway lines."

My efforts so far on the CCKW locomotive: Two Evergreen I-beams run the length of the frame for reinforcement. Distressed wood grained end beams again from Evergreen. The buffers are made from parts off the Tristar Pv. IV replacement road wheel set. (Upper return rollers) and the couplers are lifted from a Dragon rail car. The heavy bin in the load box is my addition and will be filled with scrap metal parts for added traction ballast. As you might guess the bin is made of Evergreen strips and rod with added woodgrain made by dragging a sawblade lengthwise down the strip.

The resin railroad wheels are available through Scale-Link in the UK.

Back to the Firetrucks




Please notice the Water Truck in the line up of fire vehicles in the last photo. Quickly built military runways did not have the luxury of underground water distribution systems. There was a great need for water carrying vehicles than could extend the capacity of the water carried by the pumper truck itself.

This system of aux. water trucks is carried through to this day in rural areas of America. In rural areas the distance to a fire hydrant may be too great for the length of hose carried on the pumper. One or more water trucks may be called in to form a "bucket brigade" carrying water from the nearest hydrant to continously replenish the pumper's limited capacity. This allows the pumper to remain on scene to fight the fire.

Nice trucks you've got here Mike ! I guess Boniface & Jeudy "GMC : A Universal Truck" must be one of your bedside books

H.P.

Sorry Frenchy but not at those prices. The last big book I bought was Tony Gibb's book on the T-26 Sterling and just recently David Doyle's book on the CCKW!

Hi Mike

Did you see my PM ?

H.P.

How about a half cab crane to go along with that construction back hoe?

Check out the Super Single Tires on this three axle fire truck. (a.k.a. The tires/wheels off the Italeri DUKW would be perfect for this job!)

Another set of Wartime Super Single tires, this time on a Radio Truck. Note the Ben Hur generator trailer but interestingly WITHOUT fenders?????

I know someone makes the radio house body in resin but can't remember who???

Just an interesting photo:

Uh, frankly, I'd be happier if Tamiya did NOT produce them....

The best kits are no longer coming out of Japan. Tamiya is coasting on its reputation in the armor category for the most part.

I'd prefer a Bronco Deuce & a Half at this point over just about anybody's.

Don't really care who produces them, I am just tired of dealing with the few resin conversions, some of questionable quality.

My point being that the companies who already have an investment in the molds for the CCKW (Tamiya & Italeri) are not capitalizing on their sizable $$$ investment by making variants such as those shown here.

OK you're gonna have to buy a Italeri water truck AND an Italeri CCKW plus the new Piper kit to build this one but it would be worth it!



Current Work In Process

Bluegrass Aviation Museum. Bluegrass Field, Lexington, KY

Mike Koenig Photo

used to drive a crane like this, it was mounted on a white halftrack.

That is impressive, was the halftrack crane a military field mod or a logging/industrial post war modification?

I figured it out, the generator Ben Hur is also fitted with the high floatation Super Single sand tires so the motor pool guys had to take off the close fitting fenders.

Seeing the duece and half reminded my of the sign that I saw hanging up at BN motorpool my first tour in Korea.

"Yea though I drive through the valleys of Korea,
I shall fear no evil,
for I drive a Duece and Half!"

And of course the ever popular CCKW compressor truck.

Reminds me of these two post war civilian M3s :

Austria 1976 :



France 1978 :



Sorry for the digression Mike

H.P.

Wild stuff all. Unfortunately all post-war but just in the last 24 hrs I have been seeing some very interesting post-war mods!

Azimut Kit # 35131. Don't know if it's still in production.

Sorry this is Chevy Chassis, no 1 1/4 ton GMC