I am trying to find modeling info about the Canadian 6x6 launcher for Canadair's CL-89 surveillance drone. I have a small file on the drone itself, and have plumbed the interwebs for information, which has yielded good material on the follow-on CL-289 on French and German launch trucks, but just small and/or fragmentary pictures of the tests at CFB Shilo. I'm hoping someone can point me to drawings or photos sufficient to model this subject.



Thanks in advance,
Morgan

The truck was a GMC M135 2 1/2 ton truck. It was used in the '50s by the Canadians to replace their WWII era CCKWs. There is no kit of it in plastic; maybe some on resin, but I am not aware of anything. The closest thing to it is the old Monogram M34 truck, which was on the same basic chassis.

M135 Truck.


It looks like the hardtop version on the launcher you have pictured.


Here is a post where a guy scratch-built one at Missing-Links.

Not sure why this vehicle has always gotten overlooked by the model companies???

The simple explanation is that it wasn't widely used in US service, and was replaced quickly by the more adaptable M35 series trucks. The M135 was a great truck, but it was a gasser, had an automatic transmission, unconventional tires, and the bed was configured with a wheel well on either side which made cargo loading and carrying problematic. This was solved by the dual wheeled M221 series, but by then it was to late. It was however a mainstay in the Canadian Armed Forces, and they made great use of it as a cargo carrier and prime mover. These trucks were still in use up until the 1980s. I was in the 9th Division in the 80s and we frequently worked with Canada's Princess Patricia Regiment, the Ghurka Regiment, and Canadian artillery units in the early 80s. We'd see M135s at Fort Lewis and Yakima on occasion, and they were always in pristine working order. I agree though, it's too bad we haven't seen more post war western wheeled vehicles in plastic.
VR, Russ

Like this?

Graeme,
That's a great photo-- I especially like the view of the split canvas top, I'll alert Morgan to your photo.
VR Russ

Fantastic, thanks! That's the most detailed picture of the CL-89 on it's launcher, and it's from an angle I've never seen.

Being greedy, I want more. Was this in your collection or did you find a site that I missed in my search?

Thanks again!

Hi, it is from a collection on the National Defence Image Archive. I have 10 more from that series, but have no more space left to host them. PM me your email address and I will send them out.