I am trying to find the measurements and pics for the fire truck bed of the M45 fire truck. I crewed one during the 72 Easter Offensive at Pleiku and have always wanted to build it. It was a PA&E vehicle and was the M34 version with single wheels on the back. I have the manual, but it is pretty vague on the dimensions. Appreciate any help. Wayne

Is it the one you're talking about ?



This variant is called 530B, and it's based on the M44 chassis.

A few more Vietnam pics here :

http://www.firetrucks-atwar.com/v.html

Another option : the 530A :



http://www.firetrucks-atwar.com/files/scan0110.pdf

H.P.

If you do mean the M-44 based M530 series fire truck, you can use the old Monogram "Eager Beaver" 2 1/2 ton M34 kit as a base. You should be able to build the rear apparatus bed based on the size of the original bed and extrapolate any dimensional changes from the surrounding details in pictures.



At the least, you could use the wheels to backdate the AFV Club M35A1 "Nancy" guntruck kit since it comes w/Vietnam-era parts, is a much better detailed kit, and is just light-years ahead of the old Monogram kit.



If you really want it to look good, I would buy a couple of the Def Model M35 series wheel sets and use just the front wheels added to the M35A1 truck to make it an M34 and then build the rear apparatus onto it. It would cost a bit more, but look really great.

Def Model wheels:



Good luck and keep us posted.

Yes Frenchy, the one I was on is the B model. I have the manual for the C, but the pictures aren't the best since it's a reprint. Yes Gino that is the kit I planned to use as I have a couple of them. We were put on it temporarily during the Easter Offensive when the civilians weren't coming in. Thanks for the help and suggestions, Wayne.

IIRC, the M34 series trucks are fitted with 11.00x20 tires that are bigger than the M35 series ones....

Here's another 590B from Wikipedia :



Full size

H.P.