Evening all, was just watching First Blood and always wondered what model the National Guard truck was? The rear looks like an M-34 Beaver, but the cab is a hardtop with 5 windows. Can some of our truck experts tell me what it is? Might make an interesting dio project. Thanks, Wayne

GMC M135 according to these guys.
https://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_47899-GMC-M135-1951.html
Scalemates didn’t have a record for M135, so there might not be a kit for one.

HTH

!!! New kid in class, there's no 1:35 scale kit of this truck unfortunately but looks like something ICM would be most capable at producing hint hint. I'm a fanatic for this period softskin and would love to see one molded someday.

Hi,

I have always liked these trucks and I would say your best starting point would be Monogram's M34.

The cargo bed and driveline appear to be the same. The only challenge would be the front clip

M35 kits are not suitable as they use Rockwell axles.

regards jason

I’ve always liked the looks of the “round nosed jimmy” as the M135 is known. It was supposed to be the replacement for the CCKW, but was only produced for about 5 years between 1950 and 1955, and was supplanted by the M35 series. It had single wheels at the rear, as opposed to duals of the CCKW, and an automatic transmission. It primarily ended up in the National Guard and Reserves, but most especially with the Canadian Army. I rode in one that belonged to the Princess Patricia Regiment of the Canadian Army at Fort Lewis in 1981. They were also in service with some NATO countries into the late 80s. As was mentioned above, as far as I know, nobody makes one in 1/35, but I think Rocco or somebody made one in 1/87.
VR, Russ

On a side note, the M211 was identical to the M135 except it had a dual-wheel tandem and smaller 9:00x20 tires :


Old related thread

1/48th scale diecast M135 from HartSmith Models :



H.P.

http://www.alfaheaven.com/MilitarySection/6x6%20Trucks/M135.html
The technical stuff ...

It would take bit of work. The cargo bed in fact has cutouts over the rear wheels you'd need to fix.

On a side note - when you spend as much time in the woods as I do, you're bound to find something cool once in a while...

Two different types of cutouts?

I guess the bottom one may be the Canadian M135CDN version (built by General Motors of Canada)...

Looks like the cutout is the same in both cases but the Canadian version has extra metal strips welded on :



...Or maybe these are not specific to the Canadian version

H.P.

Can't see any difference between the Monogram bed and the Rambo pics, so it should be a good start - you'll still need a new cab, hood, and fenders though.

@Robin, are we talking about that straight-cut wheel arch in the bed? The colour pic with the "angled" cutout just has two strips added presumably to strengthen the bed at the corners of the wheel arch.

From the Tech page that Robin linked to, it looks as though it still had the CCKW axles and suspension, the same bed and wheel/tire combo (11:00x20) as the M34, and a new cab. Based on that, you would need a CCKW kit, M34 kit, and to scratch the cab, hood, fenders, front bumper, fuel tank, spare tire carrier, etc., etc.. Maybe someone with CAD and GM truck experience could do some 3-D conversion parts? Tom??

Hmm. The drivetrain needs replaced with "banjo" axles, and it looks like the springs are different to either CCKW or M34 parts, so they need redone too. CAD-ing the cab and hood could be done, but it'd take time and is not at the top of my list at the moment. I must say I'm surprised there isn't one in resin yet, let alone plastic! Maybe I'll look at it as a winter project...

1/48 Scale

http://www.asam.co.uk/mmgmcm.html

Frenchys image explained the angled cutout thing.

There are a number of scale drawings of M135/M211 variants in back issues of Tankette, the in-house magazine for MAFVA members. I've got a few, but I believe PDF copies are orderable by paid-up MAFVA members through the MAFVA website. These would go a long way towards helping anyone attempting a conversion.

Issues: 14/1, 26/4, 29/4, 34/2, 36/6

Just found this on Shapeways:

https://www.shapeways.com/product/6Y4XD3MWC/1-35-scale-m135-cab?optionId=167492789&li=shops

It's a 1:35 M135 hood, fender, and cab set. But it's a bit lumpy & crude - I suspect the designer started with his 1:100 set and scald it up without refining it. And it's only available in the more grainy nylon plastics.

I'm sure you would do much better Tom

H.P.

Sorry to hear that there is no 1/35 kit of the M135 (I disregard that awful cab), but you are not the only ones. Braille Scale offers no kits either as far as I can find out. Did many a mile in one of those, both (Canadian) ones at Gagetown and (British, ex Canadian) at BATUS. I did wonder if they had springs! I did a 1/76 scale drawing for Tankette (Vol 14/1) many moons ago, but the back of the front bumper should be straight, not angled as I drew it
Chris