Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
Hosted by Darren Baker
M1074 PLS Conversion Project
165thspc
#521
Visit this Community
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 08, 2016 - 09:19 PM UTC
Anyone have photo links showing typical flat rack loads? I will be needing them for the HEMTT too. I would like to do something other than the typical ISO container.
Thirian24
Visit this Community
Oklahoma, United States
Joined: September 30, 2015
KitMaker: 2,493 posts
Armorama: 2,344 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 08, 2016 - 09:41 PM UTC
Some of these are pretty cool.



Gino this would be cool. Can you create the A4 cab with what you currently have?


A Stryker load.





210cav
Visit this Community
Virginia, United States
Joined: February 05, 2002
KitMaker: 6,149 posts
Armorama: 4,573 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 08, 2016 - 09:42 PM UTC
Gino-- Wow! Awesome workmanship-- as always
Well done!
DJ
Frenchy
Visit this Community
Rhone, France
Joined: December 02, 2002
KitMaker: 12,719 posts
Armorama: 12,507 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 08, 2016 - 09:53 PM UTC
What about a M7 Forward Repair System (FRS)? :



More pics here :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguardpao/sets/72157630177962128/

Or even a M5 Concrete Mobile Mixer :



H.P.
HeavyArty
Visit this Community
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 09, 2016 - 02:22 AM UTC
Thanks guys. Not much work today, had a rowing regatta to attend that my daughter was in. It was a really nice day on the water.

Of note, the below pic is not an Army M1074 or M1075 PLS (no MHC - Materiel Handling Crane). It is a USMC LSVR (Logistic Vehicle System Replacement). It is specifically designed an operated by the USMC and has different requirements/capabilities than an Army M1074/75 PLS. The engine/accessories on the fenders and cab are different, as well as the gunmount up top. With some work, it could also be built in the same way I am doing the M1074 PLS.



M1074A1 looks like below. It has a redesigned engine compartment with relocated radiators and other accessories. The cab is basically the same though.




It also has an updated suspension system like the Mk 23 and some MRAPs.


As far as loads, pretty much anything that can be put on the flatrack can be carried. Accurate Armour has some interesting loads for their Foden DROPS (Brit version of LHS) kit.
Thirian24
Visit this Community
Oklahoma, United States
Joined: September 30, 2015
KitMaker: 2,493 posts
Armorama: 2,344 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 09, 2016 - 02:34 AM UTC
Thanks for the insight, Gino.
youngtiger1
Visit this Community
California, United States
Joined: May 14, 2008
KitMaker: 534 posts
Armorama: 344 posts
Posted: Monday, October 10, 2016 - 07:14 AM UTC
Gino, great project choice. Its going to be awesome build, so cannot wait to follow
HeavyArty
Visit this Community
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2016 - 06:50 AM UTC
Work continues. I have completed pretty much all the PLS conversion. I need to start on the cab and finish it up.

I was planning on it being an M1074 with the Materiel Handling Crane (MHC) in front if the hook for the flatrack. I have an Italeri crane, but I couldn't work out how to fit it there. The crane mount is different, and apparently so is the crane and outriggers. I have decided to now make it an M1075 (w/o MHC). In place of the crane, like on the M1120, is a work platform.

Here it is. I completed the air cleaner and hydraulic fluid tank as well as the exhaust and spare tire rack and hoist.






I also have completed the lift mechanism for the flatrack. The rear hinge on the lift plate was a pain. Italeri molds it as an open clip that is supposed to snap onto the hing point at the base. The open hinge kept popping off. I ended up cutting the open hinge off and replacing the ends with resin scraps and drilled a hole through each. I then pinned the hinge point to make is secure and still working. I don't know why Italeri engineered it that way, but it sucks.




Here is the fuel tank too. It was made by using a couple end caps out of 0.040 sheet styrene and then wrapping 0.200 styrene sheet around them to form the outside. The step on it is left over diamond plate PE.



I also added the rear steering gear and drive shaft for it.



More work to come.
Thirian24
Visit this Community
Oklahoma, United States
Joined: September 30, 2015
KitMaker: 2,493 posts
Armorama: 2,344 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2016 - 07:45 AM UTC
Gino I'm not seeing your pictures.

Are you having issues with photobucket?

All my images are gone and when I post a picture to this forum, it's not showing up. I'm not sure what's going on.
165thspc
#521
Visit this Community
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2016 - 12:53 PM UTC
I'm not seeing your most recent photos either.
________________________________________________________________________________

As you may recall the base hinges on the Italeri LHS gave me problems also with my HEMTT.
MikeyBugs95
Visit this Community
New York, United States
Joined: May 27, 2013
KitMaker: 2,210 posts
Armorama: 1,712 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2016 - 01:31 PM UTC
Photobucket may be having problems or updating/upgrading.
HeavyArty
Visit this Community
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2016 - 04:40 PM UTC
Yup, it looks like Photobucket is having an issue. Hopefully it is resolved soon.

Mike, your issues made me take a long look at how to fix them. I tried the way you did it with a retainer on the backside, but that didn't work for me. One side had the tip break off and that was all she wrote. It wouldn't stay in place at all. I don't know what they were thinking when the designers made it the way they did. Hopefully Trumpeter will design their hinge better.
165thspc
#521
Visit this Community
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2016 - 07:49 PM UTC
I was uploading a wedding album to Photobucket at the same time you were having trouble posting but I had no problems at all.

Perhaps your photos were too large a file size or in a RAW format rather than jpeg????

Would really like to see your photos!

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

As to that rear LHS hinge, I focused on reducing the diameter of the fixed hinge pin on the base casting rather than doing anything to the other part of the hinge located on the moving part. I could see some very slight flash on the pin and that is was not exactly round but more oval.

I got the assembly moving fairly freely but then of course I lost most of the "snap-together" capability of the parts. That is when I had to build those hinge retainers to keep the whole thing together.
165thspc
#521
Visit this Community
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2016 - 08:00 PM UTC
Gino, I just noticed that your earlier construction photos have now disappeared as well.

Did you perhaps try to edit your PLS photo album location or album name on the Photobucket site? In the past I have found that doing ANY editing in these areas of the site causes Photobucket to generate an entirely new URL link to the photo and any earlier links to existing pages are destroyed.

Just an F.Y.I. _ _ _ Mike
M4A1Sherman
Visit this Community
New York, United States
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2016 - 08:38 PM UTC

Quoted Text

What about a M7 Forward Repair System (FRS)? :



More pics here :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguardpao/sets/72157630177962128/

Or even a M5 Concrete Mobile Mixer :



H.P.



Hey! I got one for ya! The MX0000 OS-CSU(L): That's the Officers' Self-Contained Sanitary Unit (Latrine) The "MX0000" designator stands for: M Xperimental "Four Holer"... DOHHH!!!

Seriously, Gino- NIIICE!!!
Thirian24
Visit this Community
Oklahoma, United States
Joined: September 30, 2015
KitMaker: 2,493 posts
Armorama: 2,344 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2016 - 08:54 PM UTC
I believe it's an issue with photobucket itself, because mine is way messed up too.
HeavyArty
Visit this Community
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2016 - 09:14 PM UTC
I think it is an issues with the actual PhotoBucket server I am on. I have checked earlier threads and any pics I have ever loaded from my Photobucket cannot be seen now. Like I said, hope they fix it soon.
165thspc
#521
Visit this Community
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2016 - 10:14 PM UTC
Gino would you mind publishing the general URL link to your complete PLS album on Photobucket? That way we could at least view all the photos.
MAD_DUCK
Visit this Community
Alabama, United States
Joined: March 05, 2002
KitMaker: 434 posts
Armorama: 406 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 13, 2016 - 11:39 PM UTC
I can see the photos now. Gino, Are you going to extend the back of the cab? the area behind the cab door look wider then the standard M983 cab
HeavyArty
Visit this Community
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Friday, October 14, 2016 - 01:04 AM UTC
Good, Photobucket looks to be working again.


Quoted Text

Gino, Are you going to extend the back of the cab? the area behind the cab door look wider then the standard M983 cab



Vince, I didn't notice that before. It does appear longer. I'll have to check my references and see if earlier ones were standard HEMTT cabs. I am not sure I can do it correctly now. It appears to go back into the engine area, not forward in length. It may have to be close enough.
165thspc
#521
Visit this Community
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Friday, October 14, 2016 - 01:20 AM UTC
My vote would be to extend the cab that little bit and extend the forward frame members by the same amount.

Just my 2 cents worth.
HeavyArty
Visit this Community
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Friday, October 14, 2016 - 01:23 AM UTC
I thought about that too, but then the tire opening may be too big in front of the front tire. I'll have to think about it.
MAD_DUCK
Visit this Community
Alabama, United States
Joined: March 05, 2002
KitMaker: 434 posts
Armorama: 406 posts
Posted: Friday, October 14, 2016 - 01:27 AM UTC
I think it can still be done. You may have to cut off where the cab mounts on the frame and extend it a bit to accommodate the extra cab width.
MAD_DUCK
Visit this Community
Alabama, United States
Joined: March 05, 2002
KitMaker: 434 posts
Armorama: 406 posts
Posted: Friday, October 14, 2016 - 01:40 AM UTC
this may help. There is a notch in the back of the cab for the engine bay. But it also looks like the edge of the engine deck begins at the same spot retaliative to the center of the front axle
165thspc
#521
Visit this Community
Kentucky, United States
Joined: April 13, 2011
KitMaker: 9,465 posts
Armorama: 8,695 posts
Posted: Friday, October 14, 2016 - 08:22 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I thought about that too, but then the tire opening may be too big in front of the front tire. I'll have to think about it.



I understand but if you manufacture some quarter round tubing to represent those big black rubber fender flares/skirts it would do a lot to make the extra open space in front of the tire less noticeable.