_GOTOBOTTOM
Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Latest Build - M38A1 AFV Club
HeavyArty
Visit this Community
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Friday, May 15, 2020 - 04:08 AM UTC
My latest build is the AFV Club M38A1 representing a jeep from the 101 ABN DIV in the early 1960s. After my recent 1/35 HH-60G build odyssey, I wanted something a little smaller and less involved. A jeep seemed perfect.

I built it straight out of the box and added some extra details using the Verlinden M38A1 update set and some other PE bits.

Here it is, sorry, I didn't take any in-progress pics.






Here is all the added gear to give it a lived-in look. I added stowage from the spares bin w/an M14 rifle, M1 helmet, SCR-536 Handie-Talkie, a couple .50 cal ammo cans and a satchel/map case.




I also plumbed the engine and compartment with plug wires and some electrical wiring.





Here it is with all its stable-mates. These are all Willys/Kaiser jeeps starting with (L-R) an original Willys MB with welded front grill, Willys MB with later stamped (Ford design) grill, post-WWII M38/CJ3A, M606/CJ3B, and the M38A1.

white4doc
#429
Visit this Community
Massachusetts, United States
Joined: October 14, 2003
KitMaker: 1,086 posts
Armorama: 964 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 16, 2020 - 01:49 AM UTC
Nice one, Gino. A bit tame of a build for you, but like you said you needed a break. What's next on your plate?
m75
Visit this Community
California, United States
Joined: July 20, 2002
KitMaker: 666 posts
Armorama: 661 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 16, 2020 - 04:05 AM UTC
Gino, I built the M38A1 from AFC Club about ten years ago. Incredibly fiddly small parts (back then) but I was able to work through that. The hard part was arriving at final assembly and finding the alignment for the hood/grille/fenders was off and would not be an easy fix.

I might finish it sometime.....
BootsDMS
Visit this Community
England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: February 08, 2012
KitMaker: 978 posts
Armorama: 965 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 16, 2020 - 04:16 AM UTC
Gino,

'Nice to see a portfolio of Soft Skins; really love it - sort of understated - but still immaculate modelling.

Brian
HeavyArty
Visit this Community
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 16, 2020 - 04:58 AM UTC
Thanks guys. It was a good break from complicated conversion builds.
bat_213
Visit this Community
Canada
Joined: January 07, 2019
KitMaker: 110 posts
Armorama: 95 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 17, 2020 - 11:54 AM UTC
great work Gino,very nice.
HeavyArty
Visit this Community
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 17, 2020 - 11:57 PM UTC
Thanks Roy. I enjoyed building it.
Vodnik
Visit this Community
Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
KitMaker: 4,342 posts
Armorama: 3,938 posts
Posted: Monday, May 18, 2020 - 01:06 AM UTC
WARNING! RIVET COUNTING COMMENT BELOW!!!!!!!!!
Don't read if you are allergic to accuracy comments!

--------------------------------------
Did you add those bars across the engine compartment yourself?
They are not in the kit and that was correct, because they shouldn't be there in this early version of M38A1 with hinged front grille. They were added when hinges were eliminated from the bottom of the grille in later production Jeeps
--------------------------------------
Tank1812
Visit this Community
North Carolina, United States
Joined: April 29, 2014
KitMaker: 1,112 posts
Armorama: 886 posts
Posted: Monday, May 18, 2020 - 01:14 AM UTC
Interesting about the rivet comment, my Dad must of missed that finer point. He was with the 502nd early 60’s and said the Jeep looked about right to him. I will make those mods on his Jeep.

HeavyArty
Visit this Community
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Monday, May 18, 2020 - 01:22 AM UTC
The support bars came with the Verlinden update set. I didn't notice that they were a late feature, and of coarse Verlinden's instructions didn't mention it either. Oh well, I guess it will be a little confused since the hinges are still on the grill bottom as well. It is done now.
 _GOTOTOP