Jan--let me know if you tackle the M-1 series I have some line drawings which might assist any effort.
DJ

DJ,
Plse forgive my ignorance on army acronyms, but what to you refer to by "M1" ?
I started working on the fuel cell truck yesterday. The truck bed is almost finished.

Jan

I believe he is talking about the M-1 Abrams series tank in use with the US.

lol Rob ! Of course ! (color does not reflect any anger : I'm only blushing !)
I thought it might have someting to do with the fuel cells or with the generator of which I posted pics, since his reply refered to that (I thought).

Jan---Correct, I am referring to the M-1 Abrams series of vehicles. You should go for replicating the M1A2 which is the 120mm armed vehicle. The added advantage to this vehicle is the superb Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer whixh allows the crew to take on multiple targets. Marvelous system. At any rate, let me know if you need anything.
DJ

Thanks, DJ !
No, at this moment I'm quite busy scratchbuilding the fuel cells that will replace the shelter in the back of my M35A2. Truck bed's almost finished. Now for the cells. The fun part will be the pump systems, though.
Then again, with immortality at stake... !

Jan

Jan--your work is fantastic and an inspiration to all of us.
Continue to do well!
DJ

Now you guys are making me think hard!!! Last time I really had to deal with that mess up close was 78/79.
Just to be a butt, the picture of the M35A2 with fuel cells is really a M-54 series 5t not a 21/2t. The longer bed lets you mount the two cells and hose/reel unit.
I do remember the cells being mounted on a wood crib. Usually 2x4s or 4x4s. It's true about the fuel spills, most of the bed would be covered with 'kitty litter' to absorb fuel. You can see this in the gererator picture (100KW?) on the step/ledge panel that is part of the wheel fender. It looks like light colored dirt, when I saw this it made me chuckle(memories.)
I always remember the 'water buffalo' as 300 gal. There was a M-35 series water truck that was just like the fuel truck, 600 gal tank sticks in my mind. Got one to PMCS while TDY to Camp Red Cloud (86 or 87) inventorying, cleaning and maintaining stored pre-deployed hospital equipment for 7th Med Com. You really have to trust people when your inside the tank cleaning the bottom.
Know the M-35 well, drove one on and off from 1977 thru 1992. In Korea, CONUS, Germany and Saudi. Got issued all new M-935 5t along with DepMed system in Saudi before going to Iraq. The joy of total equipment exchange in a hostile zone, retrain and deploy in 'combat', OK they did run faster than we convoyed.
Don’t know if this will help or hinder your progress.

Dave

For the un-initiated, PMCS stands for the Preventive Maintenance Check System. Basically, you take the operator manual (know universally regardless of equipment as the -10) and go down a PMCS checklist. If you find a fault you consult the checklist and it tells you how to record the fault or deficiency. The -10 designation is derived from the last two numbers in each equipment manual's numerical designator. Now, I distinctly recall hauling those bad boy fuel cells around using a standard 2 1/2. We had the god forsaken "gas burner" 5 tons, but it was a 2 1/2 that carried those cells in a Cavalry Squadron. Let's not even bring up the disasterous GOER series of vehicle.... Nice discussion piece.
DJ

You're right, Dave. I noticed the picture is not a deuce (I've been looking at detailed pics of deuces for a whole year, every evening ). But there's a fairly good plan of an M35A2 21/2 ton truck with the exact same fuel cells on page 76 and 77 of TB430209 (1992 version).
I thought this may lead me to believe the same cells were used on the M35A2 ?
For argument's sake - I've read all above remarks on transporting water in fuel trucks - I'd like to point out that this manual has only one caption describing the vehicle :
"Truck, distribution, fuel/water: 6 x 6, 2-1/2 ton series - M35A2".
Still, I'm happy to read DJ's confirmation that he actually SAW such cells on the M35...
Thanks for your input, Dave.
For those interested : I made the outline of the first fuel cell. Now I have to do the rounded sides and then I can make the lid and detail. Then I'll copy it to make the second one (you didn't expect me to make TWO now, did you ?
The fun part will be the fuel pumps, though.

I hereby make another attempt to find someone who has a picture of the TOP of such fuel cell, so I can be sure the lids are ok... !
Thanks to all for your support.

Jan

I havnt forgot about you Jan, unfortunatley, I wont be able to take the pictures you want till the middle of March.

Pete--I hesitate to ask, but my battalion turned in GOERs for further use by the National Guard. Might you have any of these dinosaurs in the motor pool?
DJ

We have 2 trucks with Fuel cells. Both are on the M923 series 5ton trucks. Those are just for are purposes. Our A company has all the HEMMT refuelers and Fuel Tankers.

Pete--thanks. I wonder who got stuck with those damn GOERS. Poor suckers, they are probably still cursing me out.
DJ

Thanks, Pete.
Patience is the main virtue of any good modeler. I'll try to survive till March... !
Jan

PS : (at the risk of being the laughing stock of half the US army that reads these posts ) What on earth are GOERS ???

They were the predecessor to the HEMTT series, but instead of eight wheels, they had only four large wheels. They rode high and were bumpy and had a tendancy to flip IIRC. Fortunately for me, they were relegated to hard target duties by the time I entered active duty.

GOERS were amphibous cargo trucks. You can see them in the movie Tomb Raider. The big vehicles they use from the port to the dead zone. They had large soft low pressure tires and bounced like crazy when driving empty. They always looked like a pig to drive.

Dave

Dave--they were a pig to drive! We sent them from Schweinfurt to Grafenwohr two days before the battalion arrived. It took them that long to make the 60 mile trip. The poor kids who drove it were usually sea sick by the time they got there from being bounced around. I wish I could have shot them up on a range.
DJ

DJ,

First fuel cell is done and now immersed in silicone. Hope to cast a little resin brother by tomorrow. Then comes the fun part : the pumping system !!! :-)
Jan

PS : Is Schweinfurt a real name or a nickname ?

Jan--good ole Schweinfurt is the ball bearing capital of Germany. We tried to bomb the hell out of it during the War. I was there in the mid-70's with the 1st Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division. Great tank battalion. We had two M60A2 tank companies and opne M60A1 company when I got there, then we received the first of the M60 High RISE (Reliability Improved System Enhancement) Passive (refers to the sighting system tanks. Just as I was leaving the first M1's were coming off the flatcars. I believe the area now houses a brigade of the 1st Infantry Division.
DJ

THANKS !
You've no idea how welcome these pics are. I was just about to give up on continuing this project. The fuel cells are all done, but I had to cheat a bit on their tops, as I had no pictures prior to your posting. THen of the fuel pumps, I was missing some angles too...
Your pics are all a scratchbuilder can dream of... !

There's one glitch, though. As I leave on holiday on 2 April, I still have loads (aaaaah) of work to do for the office. I leave at 6am and get home around 8pm... and after dinner I still try to do some homework. I'm not sure I'll be able to fit in a lot of modeling time before I leave.
But with the

Jan? I think we lost him to modeling/job fatigue. sad.....



Jim

Jim,
That may well be the case. I do intend to make it to Major before I "retire" for three weeks on holiday, though !

After that, look out for a new and improved GeneralFailure !

Im glad I could be of service!!!! By the way, I dont know if you noticed, the way the fuel cells are secured, i guess is a field expident method. Reading the past post, the guys where saying they where attached on wooden frames. Metal Brackets where welded to the sides of the bed and turn bucles and slings secured them on our trucks.
Cant wait to see the finished project!!!!!!!!!!