Hi folks well seen this pretty good model from AFV club today want to get it the M548A1. suppose to come with a hobby fan figure anybody ever try one of them?
Jeff.
PS they also have the Chaparral. $35 for each I think pretty good

Another PS what in the line of AFV club should I look for how about Shermans any suggestions on the best one to get sooo many of them
Thanks #:-)

I have both the M548A1 and the Chaparral kits. I haven't built them yet, but they look nice. I have seen a built up M548A1 in a hobby shop and it looks very nice. I bought my kits before the inclusion of the figures, so I can't comment on that.
I have built one AFV Club kit, the AFV Hummer. It is an Academy Cargo Hummer kit with resin parts for the wheels, roll cage, bumpers and granade launcher. It was my first experiance with resin, and it went very well. I haven't any Shermans by AFV, although I believe they do have an M35 and a couple of M10's. If you look at Mission Models site you can find those.
HTH

Thanks got the M548A1 today and the fitter by Academy
Jeff

I have done the Academy Zelda. They do great M113 kits. I also have the fitter on the shelf.
I think I have one of each M113 they make. Nice kits.

As I plan on building a second anyone know if the 'I' beam moves back and forward? Pics I have somtoimes show it sticking out over the engine deck. But wouoldn't you need to have it extend over the rear to load and unload?

I've got a couple of M548A1s, I'll try to make some time and shoot some pictures of the area in question. Thing I do not like about the AFV kit (only thing) is the bottom edge of the canvas cover. It needs to have the grommet holes and rope added to tie it down to the outside of the bed.

Okay Rob is going to get us some pics and yes but would it not be a better idea to replace the cover so it is rolled back a little for unloading as this thing comes with an ammo set,what you think Rob.And what is that circle that stands clear of the top r/s rear for, looks like a cutout for some kind of gun mount not many pics left from this thing.
Jeff

Yes, the cutout is for the .50 cal ring mount kit. I don't recall seeing an M548A1 with a ring mount installed, but even HEMTTs have provisions made to add a ring mount. I believe most tactical vehicles (less engineer equipment and MHE) have a provision for a ring mount.

As far as the canvas cover, they normally operated with the rear cover on.

I have been working on the Chaparral off and on between other more abusive projects (Jaguar M551 Sheridan for example) and really like it. I just haven't settled on whether or not to paint a MERDEC scheme on it, or make it a USMC vehicle. No Desert Storm version here for me. No problems with the Chaparral kit to complain about - $35 bucks is a good price for it. Do they have another?

Gunnie

My M548A1 doesn't have the I-beam in the back. I did take some photos of the vehicle and will e-mail them to Jim later tonight.

Thanks Rob, It must be nice having someone paying for a good 1/1 reference park in your back yard. but I've been warned not to come home with any life size vehicles.

only one and this is mine
Jeff

PS but will look for you

nice pic Marcel
never seen this one

Do you know who made the crane for it?
Jeff

Jeff,

That is a XM-696 experimental recovery vehicle that Marcel posted. The crane is a standard crane from a 5t wrecker, such as the M-62, M-816 and M-936 5t wreckers. The pics are in Major Rob's Motorpool in the Photo Gallery section.

I have some pictures of a M-548 on display in Hammond, IN. Done with a disposable camera and the trees created wicked shadows in the pictures. I’ll work on posting them at my Yahoo photo album.

Dave

FYI, the crane in the M936 wrecker and the M816 wrecker are different from one another. Not sure of earlier wrecker variants.

Ok,

The era of the XM-696 would make the crane from a M-62 5t wrecker. See the driver’s hat, pre ‘baseball’ cap days. Found this photo of a M-62 at Tanks and Trucks.



Never saw a 900 series 5t wrecker. When we got the new 900 series cargo trucks, the motor pool retained the old 5t wrecker and bobtail.

Would be a cool looking conversion though, right next to the ADA version using the M-42 Duster turret.

Dave

DOn't know if this classifies as an M548 variant, But does any one have some good references on the crane version for loading the Lance Missle. Now with the Hobbyfan Lance tucked away in the closet I just thaught I'd give you one more M!!# to ponder.

Josh Weingarten
aKa Shiryon

All right Rob .

I Better lay off the sauce I thought the Pic that marcel posted was a model their for a minute with the way it is until I looked closer at it. Was going to say job well done ohh is me #:-)
Jeff

Josh,

Yes it’s a M-548 variant. The M-688 is the transporter/loader for the Lance missile launcher/transporter, M-752. It was the base chassis (a M-667) modified with a jib type crane in the rear and it had the same tandem doghouse style cab over the driver.

See Redstone’s Lance history. There are couple pictures of the M-668 in the image gallery. Above front showing details, rear with open ramp and one showing the tandem seating arrangement.

The Ft. Sill Museum or Ft. Bliss Museum might have more info.

Just for fun. ROCO did both vehicles in 1:87/HO. Art#283 - M752 LANCE Missile Launcher w/ LANCE rocket and launcher and Art#284 - M668 LANCE Missile Launcher w/ 2 LANCE rockets and crane

Now it’s turning into a Lance thread.

Dave

P.S. BTW the I-beam was part of a add-on kit for the M-548 to move heavy cargo (read artillery shells) on and off the vehicle.

M548A1 photos were uploaded today. M548A1

Sabot,
The doors on Israeli versions seem to have a split rear door. Was this an IDF modification or an option for the vehicle from the maufacturer?

Second question is for Dave(puyallup7400) Do you know if there is a TM available for this vehicle? I plan on using the parts from the Hobbyfan LAnce as masters to make parts for the crane/loader.(someday )
Same question for the I beam, would it have a separate TM or be part of the M113 TM?

Thanks Josh

After reading TM 9-2350-247-10, this is what I found out about the Materiel Handing Equipment:
MATERIAL HANDLING KIT (M548A1/M548A3) - Required for ammunition support. The kit includes a hand-operated chain hoist on an overhead beam, a plywood protector for the power plant compartment bulkhead, and seats and seat belts in the cargo compartment for four ammunition handlers. The kit also provides stowage for six rifles on the cargo compartment door. See page 1-21 for the material handling kit and page 1-43 for data.

Additionally, I found out that there are six attachment points for the I beam, 3 on the first support and 3 on the second. It is possible to position the I beam in 7 different postions, but it has to be centered when traveling. The I beam only goes rearward and the plywood protector is added to prevent cargo from banging into the engine bulkhead.

As far as the center cut out, it is actually an escape hatch. I though about this after I saw the troop seats and remembered that this is an amphibious vehicle. The troops could go out the back.

ESCAPE HATCH COVER
1. Open the escape hatch cover, push up on its front edge until the cover spring slips off the
retaining ring. A retainer at the rear keeps the hatch cover attached to the cargo compartment cover.
2. Close the escape hatch cover, stretch the cover spring around the lip of the retaining ring.

Josh, the parts manual doesn't show an option for a split tailgate door. Just the one loarge door.