TREADHEAD
Top of the morning or nite to you. LOL ITS ALL your fault. Ever since you started this WARWAGON thingy I can't sleep. I come straight to this thread to see you replies. I AM SO INTO the out of the ordinary. And this idea has really got my brain in overload. I LOVE THIS IDEA. Oh BTW ........you are the BOMB !!! YETI is SO PERFECT!!!!
As for your "can't figure the steering issue" got that solved too. Its called the MK48 style chassis of the HEMTT. Picture the HEMTT from the side.....got it? OK ...now, the cab , engine, front suspension, and associated parts all the way back behind the engine cover.
Thats one part........the other part is everything to the rear.
And this whole vehicle design is articulated right behind the front part like the center of a
case or catapillar front end loader. DO you see how it looks. You'll understand the whole thing when you get the info I'm sending you.
Now because you have seperated the chassis at it's mid point......the conventional means of steering a tank w/ tracks is null in void. The vehicle pivots on both front tracks as a unit.
All controlled by Hydraulics and piston shafts.

On another note:
I raided my photo collection and gathered all of my HEMTT pics. WOW does he have
a lot of HEMTT pics. LOL It makes a BIG difference when photos are taken from a modelers
point of view. I got pics of an M984 Rec. Veh. that'll KNOCK your SOX off. LOL
LOOKY their it's a DATA plate kinda pics.
WELL I COULD BABBLE FOR hours on this thread but.........we aint writing a book. SO
until we read again CAIO.

Tread,

Let me finish the Investigation first...If it will actually work I'll share (I MAY have a sorce for Tracks)

O.K., ....here we go again!! You have got to get those HEMTT pics and drawings to me ASAP! Because apparently I know lesss than an amoeba about the truck. I didn't even know the Mk.48 version existed!! Once again Rotor, you found a solution to the problem while at the same time opening my eyes juuuuust a little more. Now if only matt can comeup with some proper 'mattracks' we may be 'in the money' on this thing!
Wait a minute......how much work will it be to scratch together the Mk.48 configuration? Or is there a company out there who has it in resin for a small ransom?


Just to give you guys something else to think about. I announced on the other thread 'T2K, where is everyone?', that one of my entries for T2K '04 will be an SLT-56 Faun Tank Transporter based Gun Platform. You know the one I'm talking about, the one with the twenty-four (24) wheeled trailer back there. I'm looking for suggestions on what to mount back there. I've obviously got a few ideas of my own, but was curious what you fellas think. Just so you know, GIB, over on the other thread has already suggested a set of 16-inch Naval Guns off of the Missouri, so that suggestions already taken. And so is my 'comeback' suggestion, a set of 18-inch Naval Guns taken from the Yamato! So, you can't choose those.

Tread.

I'm Still waiting for my Awnser!!!!!!!

Sorry matt, your answer to what?

The Track thing!!!!! I MAY have found a set that will work!!!!!

Ohhhhhhhhhhh!.......Believe me matt, I'm waiting with baited breath for a solution to this one. As I said, the Tiger tracks look a little like the mattracks, but if you've got a better alternative, that's precisely how teamwork succeed's!!!!!

Thx,

Tread.

This looks like a POSSIBLE alternative...



According to AA the Scammel tires this fits are 1/2" wide. It MAY take two sets to fit on a Hemtt.
It's 6" long per side of the Scammel.

I think you are on to something here Matt. I hope that you carry thru with this one. I am very interested and seeing it all together.

Oooooooooooooooooooo, that's got real potential! I really like the look of those. It almost seems like a cross between tracks and sno chains!! Only, on steroids!

Hmmmmmm, gotta think about this.......Good on ya matt!!!!!!! You must have a bit of 'Kencelot' in ya! He's always able to find stuff that noone else would have thought of! You apparently can too. :-)
Ya know, this kind of teamwork is gravy on 'tater's! I love it!

Oh, before I check the other threads, have you guys seen animal's new HEMTT GunTruck, 'Mad Max'?? Look's like animal's cooking up some real Thunder under that 'dome of his! (my sincere apologies for the blatant, and rather corny referral to one of the other Mad Max movies in the trilogy #:-) ). I love the 'overhead' he's incorporated in the design. I can't wait to see the rest of the transformation! And, most importantly............WE'VE GOT ANIMAL BUILDING A HEMTT GUNTRUCK!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!
I'm a 'happy' camper by God!!!!

Tread.

Animal,Tread,Matt
Matt: TY for the pic post. Its progress,,,but looks to me like a wheeled vehicle w/ sno chains. Because thats what it is in short.
I'm not the one to quench the fires, so no slander or bad comments, but it's not what I got cookin, so MUM's the word.
Not to change the subject,,,but HEY hats off to Trumpeter for having the gutts to do their latest three Heavy's That was a lot of tooling work Dont ya Think??

SNOW CHAINS????? did he just diss you matt?

i wouldn't take that kind of ....er....oh yeah, snow chains...that's what I was gonna say they looked like, but, your much too good a friend. I didn't want to hurt your feelings.

unlike some people here.

hehe

i'm going with the mattracks idea...scratchin a set this weekend

glack

That is thier Original intent.........

WHAT!?!

Let me understand this correctly.......you're going to scratchbuild a set of mattracks this weekend?

Tread.

GTO CREW,
I DONT KNOW !!! SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF TALKIN SMACK TO ME> LOL
This reminds me of College Engineering days........when you had to build a whatcha ma call it w/ very little input. Except from the members of your own TEAM. This is a TEAM effort right? Just checkin ..LOL I just think Tread had the right recipe w/ the all steel tracks, w/ sprkt and wheels. Then somebody ( we wont INCRIMINATE the guilty) posted a pic of this MATTRACK thingy and then we're all scurrying around LIKE a MOUSE sayin "WHO"S GOT THE CHEESE" LOL THATS why I love modelling. Great(SICK) minds think alike.

Hey guys......I think I've got it!!!! I've been performing my rendition of 'brain strain' (coming soon to a theatre near you!) and I think I've come up with a real contender for the ' Yeti's' track dilemma. I've been pouring over the different style tracks out there (and more importantly, the ones available) and I at first evaluated the terrain it is meant to traverse (snow) and then made the comparision between it and anything similar....I came up with water. Hence, I started searching the amphibious family of tracked vehicles (they needed to be large) and came up with the 'Bus'! The Vietnam era LVTP5A1! It's tracks are designed for propulsion FIRST in water, and then secondly in marsh-like, or supersoft terrain! Broke open my box of the AFV Club LVTP5A1 and voila! The tracks look like a superb candidate for winner of the 'cheese chase'
They are all metal, and of the 'open' design. Additionally, because of the sheer size and weight of the 'Bus', the main drive sprockets are nice and LARGE! The only downside is that they're just a 'smidgen' smaller than the M1A1 tracks. Actually, there is another small downside to their use (but I've already addressed this 'hurdle') and that is the fact that the AFV tracks are of the 'link and length' variety. So, not good for flexing around an, at this point, unknown length.
But never fear. If these tracks sound like they might be amoungst the finalist's, I've already planned on purchasing a Hobby Craft (or is it Mini Craft Hobby?) version of the same kit. And that one, I believe, comes with the 'rubber-band' style of tracks!

So.

Whadaya think gents?

Tread.

But never fear. If these tracks sound like they might be amoungst the finalist's, I've already planned on purchasing a Hobby Craft (or is it Mini Craft Hobby?) version of the same kit. And that one, I believe, comes with the 'rubber-band' style of tracks!
So.
Whadaya think gents

TREAD,
DONT SHOOT THE MESSENGER !!!! LOL
But I hate to tell you, that the only LVTP5 kit out there is from AFV and Hobbby Crap or Mnicraft never have nor will copy this AAV.
The only AAV they did copy was the LVATP7 ...which I have (2) Minicraft and (1) Tamiya

THE HEMTT MISER

Ya know, you sometimes remind me of a guy that works for me. Whenever I come up with a potential solution to an issue, he's always right there, with his leg hitched up!

Just kidding Rotor, I already realized I transposed the different kit companies yesterday. But, I haven't given up the 'chase'. If need be, I CAN make the link and length tracks work, believe me!
I 've got my jeweler's saw waiting in the wings.

Tread.

Tread,
IM SO CONFUSED. I wasn't pissin on your idea Tread......Its A good one, cause by doing so you'll have more links to make the run. I thought you ment The AAV ie:LVTP5 was from Hobby craft or Minicraft . I was just saying they dont do an AAV except for the Tamiya
copy of the USMC LVTP7 . So straighten me out and fill me in on your idea. I lost it in translation. Ya know.......like I said you'll have a whole bunch of links if you use the AAV idea.
Cause the track run for the Amphibious AAV would be longer than the "YETI" see. ? Have you ever heard of "your first idea is usually the best" I still think your all steel track
idea is a good one. No pads..,,, No Slippin in the snow

Howdy Rotor,

No worries, Rotor, you're dead correct. I did at first think that the LVTP5 was also available from Minicraft, I just transposed the LVTP for the AAVP....common mistake .
I've got to tell ya tho', I've mocked up both the Tiger I (all-steel) tracks, and now the LVTP tracks,and I gotta tell ya, I still like my original idea of usingthe Tiger tracks best! They look okay, and they really look 'beefy', and fit the scale of the HEMTT truck better. These things (the sno-tracks) are supposed to be of a 'bigfoot' configuration so that their footprint is spread out as much as possible (kinda like the Sherman tracks should've been!).
So, unless something really impressive comes along, I'm using the Tiger tracks for the 'working' prototype.
Whadaya think?
Assuming for the time being that the Tiger tracks work for now, it's on to the rest of the set-up. #:-)

Tread.

Heyyyy Big Guy!,

I just opened your Email containing the HEMTT Mk.48/14 Articulated ISO Container Hauler pics, and I must say a big THANK YOU sir! :-) :-) .

I'll pour over them and see what I can't come up with using the Italeri HEMTT kit as a base kit. My mind's already working. . From the surface, it doesn't look all that unattainable. But I will say this, my scratchbuilding skills will be getting a heck of a workout for the next several months!!
I don't know if you're aware, but I've also committed to building a Sherman variant for the Sherman Group Build, and's a lulu! No, it's actually THE LULU. I think it's one of the British 'funnies' built for mine clearing duties. So, I've got my work cut out for me. But, with help from guys like you on this site I should be able to get it done.

It's funny, just before I was about to add a follow-up post asking about the Mk. 48 HEMTT variant, I decided to check my Email, and voila!! there it was, your Email !.

Tread.

I'm back....!!!! (or should that be "Here's Johnnie! " ?) Back from South Texas for Turkey day...nice weather anyhow...

Ok, I will consider looking over the Fifth wheel pieces and maybe use them to make masters for my first conversion to offer the public...maybe. I will try to keep all posted, but don't look for anything from me until well after New Years.

Otherwise, you guys are all insane. Instead of spending all my time doing research..heh heh, I'll ask you guys. Who makes the Matt tracks? Any links to follow? I may be able to help out with all this.

Also, I would like a e-mail with all the info on the HEMTT as well please, please pretty please.

Ok,,,,Contrary to popular Belief I don't......But here's the Link http://www.Mattracks.com

Howdy matt,

Many thx for the mattrack link, the closeup photos of the track themselves helps!

Now, that said, I fear this thread is getting too 'narrow-focused' on this 'sno-cat' theme. Not that I'm leaving the idea behind, on the contrary, I'm building it as I speak. I just want to keep the flow more inclusive. So , with that in mind, let's move this thread along!

Keenan: (if you're listening ), how's your SCUD launcher GunTruck going? You said the kit was a real bear, and had some hellacious fit problems. Such as? Also, what did you have in mind for your armament package?

Jacques: Glad to hear your HEMTT GunTruck, as well as your LAV-C and M115A1 are about complete. So, what's next on the modeling desk for you?

matt: We haven't heard enough about your T-55 yet, how's it coming? Last I heard you had it dressed in 'Khaki Drab'.......what's next? In fact, where are your mentally placing your T-55? Will it be in the States, or Europe, or?

Keenan:
Rotor:
The rest of you guys.........let's sound off!!

Tread.

Hey, coll thing about the link is they are located in Karlstad MN...Near my sister's place. I may have to swing up through there over New Years for picks...

And next up is the super secret Diorama...