I have contacted a 3-D printing service to arrange for a proper M151 steering wheel to be developed/printed. I can no longer bear the thought of a steering wheel from the M151A2 being the only wheel used throughout the model series in 1:35th.

I would appreciate some clear photos (360 degrees) of a steering wheel from either an M151 or M151A1. The dimensions are also required, but I don't have access to a 1:1 scale item; perhaps one of the readers can help?

Plenty of images on Google under "M151 steering wheel" which may help.

Gary

I own one of each, an A2 and an A1. - difference is that the A1 has metal spokes instead of the thick flattened plastic. The A2 design changed for safety so that it is collapsable in case of an accident - otherwise the old style could impale the driver if a head on impact happened - or more likely drove off the edge and straight nose down into the bottom .

Thanks Bruce. I drove both while on active duty and owned an original M151 (1960 built by Ford) until ten years ago. Could you snap a few images of the wheel from several angles and measure the outer diameter of the rim? Although there are many on-line photos, what I need are related to the steering wheel of the M151/M151A1, not a whole vehicle.
I appreciate what you can do.

As Bruce stated the A2 wheel is safer. In order to avoid possible law suits from injured 1/35th scale soldiers it may be wise to keep A2 wheel. If the model were to fall off shelf u wouldn't want the little driver impaled.

So true!

The A1 wheel is the same outside dimensions as the A2, just not as meaty. You can interchange them in the actual vehicle and they fit with identical clearances between your lap and e wheel.

OK, then this places me back where obtaining the outside diameter of the M151/M151A1 steering wheel would be appreciated.

Well damn,
When I left for Ft. Carson last Friday I thought the issue would have resolved itself by now. There was one parked at the MP building on Specker for the longest time. Even so, I checked, with handy tape measure in hand (for another project) and alas, they have moved it. If no one gets it for you, I can ask a friend who has access to one in Denver.

Go over to the G838 and ask. All M151s all the time.

http://g838.org

Well if the M151 (an A2 IIRC) at the MP BN Headquarters there at Carson is gone, is the V-100 gone from there also?

No, the V-100 remains, as does the horse trailer behind the building. A CSM who happened to be standing out front at the time said the M151 was in their motor pool and directed me to it, but by that time it was closed. I actually went up to go white water rafting in the Royal Gorge, so I couldn't hang around until the following Monday.

Okay - the pre A2 steering wheel is same diameter as the A2. Difference being that the spokes of the early one are three 1/2 in diameter rods. If the vehicle alignment is done correctly, one of the three spokes will be pointing downward - but this means screwing with the toe in and stuff so pretty uncommon to be exact.

The grip around the wheel is the same plastic coated like the A2 but usually green instead of black. Mine is made by Ford, others may have been black. Unlike the A2, the plastic coating on the early model is limited to the ring or grip, the spokes are bare painted metal rods. The center where the horn is on the early model isn't expanded out like the A 2 but is just slightly larger diameter than the steering column and is cylindrical as where the A2 is tapered such that there is a larger surface area around the horn button. Horn button is interchangeable as are most other parts.