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Armor/AFV: Softskins
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M-43 Ambulance
LCB248
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Joined: November 24, 2015
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Posted: Monday, April 11, 2016 - 07:00 AM UTC
All,
Over the weekend I met a gentleman that served as an aide at a "MASH" unit in Korea during the late 50's. I'd love to build him a M-43 Ambulance to honor his service.

I've found a M-37 Dodge kit by Rodin. Does anyone know if there's a M-43 kit or an upgrade kit for the M-37?

LCB
highway70
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California, United States
Joined: November 27, 2004
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Posted: Monday, April 11, 2016 - 11:35 AM UTC
The Rodin M37 is a new kit. Just reached stores in the last week or so. No conversions yet.

The only model M43 I know about is the old Roco Minitanks 1/87 (HO) scale currently available from Herpa their product #743365
Frenchy
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Posted: Monday, April 11, 2016 - 12:08 PM UTC
On a side note, Altaya has released a 1/43th scale diecast M43 (as used in Goldfinger... )





H.P.
LCB248
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Posted: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 - 06:28 AM UTC
I saw both of those in my searches. The HO scale is just too small. And I doubt he's a fan of Goldfinger. LOL

Seriously, I know I could probably "fix" the metal kit. But I want to BUILD something for him.

I'm thinking Roden may come out with an ambulance version later. I just don't know if I want to wait. My friend is 78...

I'm going to study pictures of the M-43. I've never done a scratch kit conversion before, but this should be doable I think.

LCB
HeavyArty
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Posted: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 - 08:06 AM UTC
You could get one of the Italeri, Bilek, or Peerless-Max (all the same kit) WC54 Ambulance and use it to convert the M43 Ambulance. It would give you the basic ambulance body to work with so you don't have to scratch it all.

Vodnik
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Warszawa, Poland
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Posted: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 - 09:45 AM UTC
The Roden M37 kit includes three unused clear parts: oval (or rather rectangular with rounded corners) windows. Obviously M43 is on their to-do list. So I suggest waiting for that kit, as the M37 is pretty good. It would benefit from resin wheels, replacement grille and some PE details, but even out of the box it should build into a nice model.
WarrenD
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Connecticut, United States
Joined: September 23, 2010
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Posted: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 - 04:54 PM UTC
I wouldn't use the WC body, nowhere close to the M43 box. Hard to say about Roden, the oval windows could be for a hardtop. Many of us have been waiting for years for a M37 so no telling if or when a M43 is in the works. Good sales for the M37 might help!
Vodnik
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Posted: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 - 05:31 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I wouldn't use the WC body, nowhere close to the M43 box. Hard to say about Roden, the oval windows could be for a hardtop. Many of us have been waiting for years for a M37 so no telling if or when a M43 is in the works. Good sales for the M37 might help!


For hardtop you need one oval window, not three. Three are needed for M43.
Kevlar06
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Washington, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 - 06:11 AM UTC
I agree with Warren, the WC body is nowhere close the the M43 body. We had an M43 ambulance as late as 1977 at Camp Lee on the East-West German border-- it was used in bad weather emergencies when MEDEVACs couldn't fly, since we were about 70 miles from Wurzburg Army Hospital, the closest large medical facility. It was really a dog, but it worked when needed-- finding parts was always a challenge though.
VR, Russ
WarrenD
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Posted: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 - 05:22 PM UTC
If you look at the pics posted in this thread alone, you can see many differences. The M43 box is slab sided, square at the rear, no external rear fenders, doors different shapes, wider cab at the mating point, etc.
If scratchbuilding, the M43 looks to be the easier build as the roof looks like the biggest problem with its compound curves.
HeavyArty
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Posted: Wednesday, April 13, 2016 - 05:51 PM UTC

Quoted Text

If you look at the pics posted in this thread alone, you can see many differences. The M43 box is slab sided, square at the rear, no external rear fenders, doors different shapes, wider cab at the mating point, etc.
If scratchbuilding, the M43 looks to be the easier build as the roof looks like the biggest problem with its compound curves.



I was thinking mainly of the roofline when talking about using the WC54 body as a starting point. I didn't mean putting the WC body onto the M37 as a whole.
highway70
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Posted: Thursday, April 14, 2016 - 11:07 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

If you look at the pics posted in this thread alone, you can see many differences. The M43 box is slab sided, square at the rear, no external rear fenders, doors different shapes, wider cab at the mating point, etc.
If scratchbuilding, the M43 looks to be the easier build as the roof looks like the biggest problem with its compound curves.



I was thinking mainly of the roofline when talking about using the WC54 body as a starting point. I didn't mean putting the WC body onto the M37 as a whole.



While the WC54 roof superficially resembles the M43 roof, the contours are very different. It would be easier to scratch build the M43 roof.
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