I finished my Academy M151A1 kit. I used Eduard PE set. I added gunner's seat and scratch built new gun pedestal. I also added some other scratch built details and modified some parts to make my model more accurate for A1 variant.

For weathering I used MIG Productions pigments.

Now I'll take a short break from building models - just for a few weeks. That's because I go to USA!


Hi-resolution version: http://www.vodnik.republika.pl/pages/m151a1/m151a1-1.jpg


Hi-resolution version: http://www.vodnik.republika.pl/pages/m151a1/m151a1-2.jpg


Hi-resolution version: http://www.vodnik.republika.pl/pages/m151a1/m151a1-3.jpg


Hi-resolution version: http://www.vodnik.republika.pl/pages/m151a1/m151a1-4.jpg


Hi-resolution version: http://www.vodnik.republika.pl/pages/m151a1/m151a1-5.jpg

Any comments welcome!

Cheers,
Pawel

Looks Great Pawel! It has the M151's character in miniature. I like these little trucks - you did a very nice job with the model kit.

What was your favorite part in building and finishing the model?
What was your least favorite part in building and finishing the model?

Gunnie

Another good & very detailed build there Pawel. I really liked the weathering too. I hope you enjoy your vacation. What state are you going to, if you don't mind my asking?

Thanks for compliments, guys!

Gunnie,

I think weathering with with MIG pigments was the best part. They make the model look very realistic. And decaling - I love applying decals!

Least favorite was probably filling and sanding not well fitting parts on the front of the jeep below windshield.

Alex,

I will be in California (LA), Nevada (Vegas), Arizona (Grand Canyon) and Hawaii (Oahu, Kauai and Big Island). We will probably also go to Utah for a few hours to take a look at Bryce Canyon.

Rgds,
Pawel

Man I can smell the dusty musty dirt covering the little MUTT. You Will make the guys from the 8th group very happy and especially the 359th. This was a very busy unit in Nam. They carried a lot of cargo for the Troops in the Field. Very well done. Three cheers and a big Bravo This is a great example of the early 8th Group Vehicle before we started to paint the front of the hoods yellow. Thanks

Great job Pawel,usually looking at the pictures of a model you will see something that will bring your attention right in on it being a model, but you can look and look at this, and it looks as real as the real thing. All them hours you spent on that gun bracket paid off, it looks like it belongs. All the rest of it is great to, even the canvas straps look real.

Kerry

what part of California are you going to? oh sunny California. nice work, did you hollow the muffler, or it was already hollowed?

We'll spend some time in and around Los Angeles.
Kit exhaust pipe part was not looking right, so I replaced it with a length of solder wire. It was a bit tricky, but I managed to hollow it and cut the end to give it correct angle.

Rgds,
Pawel

Pawel,
Pretty good MUTT there, but minor technical point, you have an M151 NOT an M151A1. The -A1 had the larger front signals with the dipped fenders that Tamiya produced as well as the larger taililights. I'd add a wash to em[hasize things ike the lug nuts and recessed detailing as well.
For the record, I have 14 or 15 of these little guys that took mutliple collection awards in the mid 90's up to a first at the IPMS/USA Region One contest in 1996.

I'm afraid you are wrong, Al... Not about wash of course - this is a good sugestion, but actually I added dark oil paint wash. It is not very visible on photos after pigments were applied.

You are mistaken about M151 version. My model IS M151A1. The one with larger front signals and dipped fenders is M151A2. M151 "A0" had weaker suspension, but was externally identical to M151A1 (edit: not quite identical, see my other post below). AFAIK majority of MUTTs in Vietnam were M151A1s. M151A2 had completely redesigned rear suspension and many other changes. M151A2 were used in Vietnam in small numbers near the end of the war. Academy makes a new model of M151A2 with the hardtop and a trailer and I will build it soon :-)

Rgds,
Pawel

wEEL i dont know what version this is but it surely looks fine builded and even more weathered . Congratulations Pawel BRAVO

very nice Pawel.congrats..especially weathering with MIGs is great

I made a quick research and found some more details about early M151 "A0" variant. The most noticeable (and probably the only one) external difference was the complete lack of the front turn signals. So those signals remain the best differentiating feature:
- no turn signals on front fenders = M151
- small turn signals on flat front fenders = M151A1
- large turn signals in dipped front fenders = M151A2.

M151:



M151A1:


M151A2:


Rgds,
Pawel

looking good mate,
I like the way youo used the pigments how did you apply them
around the wheels ect looks spot on go give us some tips

I put excess amount of pigment on wheel rim, then airbrushed water over it carefully (trying to avoid blowing all pigment off the part). After the resulting paste dried I used "semi-hard bristled" brush to remove most of the pigment.

Using alcohol or some thinner instead of water creates more robust layer of pigment, but it is easy to overdo the effect, as excess pigment is harder to remove. And one has to be very careful as thinner or alcohol may damage the layer of paint under pigment.

Rgds,
Pawel

Just had to view this one again. I really enjoy looking at your work.

Vodnik - excellent job on the little jeep. Weathering is excellent - used but not excessive. You forgot the handmike for the radio By the way, the paint job on the VRC-46 radio is "way cool".

By the way - who ever called their M151s "Mutts"? We always called them 151s, jeeps, or 1/4-tons!!

MUTT comes from the military designation, Military Utility Tactical Truck -- MUTT. Just like HumVee comes from the same type designation, High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicle -- HMMWV.

HA - I understand the MUTT, although I have not seen it on the TMs, or have never heard of it until Tamiya put out their model kit. Liek I said, we called them, offically, Truck, Utility, 1/4-ton.

I think Tamiya just made ou the acronym "MUTT"

HMMWV isn't on any TM either, it is oficially a Truck, Tactical, Utility, 1 and 1/4 ton, M998...

That's really fantastic work Pawel especially on the super detailing. Thanks to your build and the photos of real M151 I now have a good reference point as I'm about to build the Academy soft-top version with a trailer you mentioned. I can see you did a fair bit of research.

How were the headlights done, did it come from the PE or was it scratchbuilt. I'm using the M151 in a modern day context dio and its used by Colombian drug runners at their jungle cocaine plant. So the I would really appreciate your advise on:

1. When was the last one ever manufactured? Since its a pretty tough little vehicle would it safe to assume that are still some running around today as I'm using what is essentially Vietnam era vehicle in a modern day dio?
2. The most likely weathered/worn-out and/or likely damaged spots would be on such an old vehicle apart from that shown on your model?
3. Is the body made of steel and if it is where would be the most likely heavily rusted spots?

Thanks a bunch Pawel and any of you guys who can help me out.

M151A2s were produced through the early 1980s. Don't know the exact date. A1 versions were made through the early 1970s. They are still used by many militaries all over the world.




The body is steel. Look at civilian jeeps that have been exposed to a jungle environment, your M151 would weather in the same manner.

Good point!
But actually I didn't forget it - I just was not sure how the mike should look like, so I decided to add it later when I find this information. Anyone can help me here?

I have two types of microphones / handsets in my spare parts box: one is a separate mike from old Tamiya M113 kit - one of the figures had the backpack radio and held this mike in one hand. The other part I have is from some Dragon modern US figure set and looks a bit like a regular phone handset. Is any of these parts correct for Vietnam era radio used on M151?

Regards,
Pawel

You can use either type for Vietnam era. I saw both types along with the headset type.

Pawel, just wanted to say how taken I was by the photos of the M151. The rear view was like looking at a photo of the 1:1 scale article!

Two comments, please. After driving M151/M151A1 and M151A2 vehicles, plus owning a 1962 M151, I wanted to pass these along:
The lack of, or presence of, the smaller turn signals that were front-fender mounted does not necessarily define the product. My M151, built by Ford in 1962, had the fender-mounted turn signals, although I believe this was probably a "transition" vehicle, moving between the M151 and the -A1 series.

The M-4 pedestal machine gun mount, as mounted in the M151-series vehicles, consists of the upright post that is bolted to a single-piece bracket that resembles an inverted "U" that is squared-off. This piece was approximately 10-12 inches high and 8-10 inches across. The post bolted to the flat top of this piece. The two trail legs or braces are replicated nicely on the model, even adding the small handle that served to tighten the top portion of the post to the main upright.

Regarding the tow pintle bracket: The M151 and M151A1 vehicles used tow shackles that were mounted under the rear "bumperettes". These were the same shackles as were mounted on all of the series front bumpers, and the rear ones were for hooking the trailer chains to when towing the 1/4 ton M416 trailers. With the M151A2, the plate with two holes that is portrayed on the Tamiya and Academy models is correct.

I live in the LA area, would be great to have the chance to meet the creator of some very fine models.

Jim Peterson