Previous installment can be seen HERE

The actual vehicle is pretty much finished now. Only to add the ariel, and final weathering will be made when attaching to the base.
I sprayed all the bits and pieces for stowage today, so hopefully all will be ready in time for the original deadline date.
As usual all comments and critic are welcome.










I know not a lot of details are known about this vehicle, but I have 2 mortars for placing on the lift at the back. These mortars came extra with academy´s mutt with tow and mutt with trailer. Are they suitable for vietnam??
I used small junk jewellry chains instead of the sewing thread supplied in the kit, and want to show this feature better, so needed a decent load.

Wow, that model looks great!

Would the Nitto kit be better than the BlueTank one? I was even thinking of using this M8A1 kit as a basis for some sci-fi conversion. I read your link about the model in your other post, but in your opinion, is it really worth investing PE and tracks in this kit? Do the wooden side racks come off?

After all, DML's MLRS looks about the same chassis as the M8A1 for any sci-fi purposes.

Thanks.

Really Nice, I have always loved the M8, I still have pieces of an old 1/48th scale one i did over 30 years ago!

It looks very good. The weathering looks very good. I really like this vehicle - looks like something of Soviet design. This is deffinetly going on my "to do" list. Can you tell me which PE set and tracks you used (is it for the M41 Buldog)?

Hi Guys. Thanks for your comments.

Peter: Thanks for your nice comments. I havent a clue about the Nitto version ... maybe this is a copy. Can´t comment otherwise here. The airwaves PE is pretty basic and poor. Some mesh for the 2 front grills would be easily replaced, and the little tie-downs would be better scratched as these look poor. The only good thing that comes from the set, is the conical mesh on the cab roof. The AFV Club tracks are my favourite part. they were a dream to assemble and look great. I would recommend them for accuracy and appearance, but for sci-fi ... anything would do. The whole back body is flat ... the sides are assembled. There are locater holes that would have to be filled though.

John: Thanks. Eventhough, Id prefer WW2 vehicles, this caught my eye. Really is a cool vehicle. Have to agree with you there.

Paul: Thanks again. The vehicle is an extended chasis version of the M41, it has an extra roadwheel. I used the AFV Club indy tracks for it. 1 box will be ok, but there is not enough of the rubber pads to complete the whole bottom. As this wont be seen, it doesnt matter. There are loads of extra track parts though. If you buy their rubber band versions you will need 2 sets. So the price difference wont be much. The tracks can be assembled and placed without cement. I ran some thin cement over them though when finished. The rubber pads have to be superglued in position .. ordinary cement wont work. I painted and weathered the tracks first, andthen placed the rubber pads ... made painting them very easy! I also used airwaves PE .... not the best set ever ... see comments above.

That looks so much better than my efforts with this kit Frank. I used the AFV Club vinyl tracks - two sets are definitely needed and like you I found the Airwaves set a waste of time.

Peter - the 'Blue Tank' kit ise exactly the same as the Nitto original, but will probably be cheaper to buy if you can find either. Both are long out of production and will only be bought from old kit dealers or Ebay.

Thanks for the answers, gentlemen. Since my only plan and purpose for the M8A1 is sci-fi, I think I'll pass on this idea. Always nice to have the feedback of others to make a decision.

Frank ................really like it ....it has turned out v,v,good, you have got me thinking about building my recovery one again. Discovered ..2..kits in one of my boxes..... so posibility.
Again may I say....VERY WELL DONE.
aye
BARV

Thanks very much for yer very kind comments Dave and steve. One does one´s best you know :-)

I have a load of stowage in the works to load this guy up ... including 2 x M30 mortars for the lift. I dont have a lot of modelling time at the moment, and Im painting 4 figures in-between as well. One of them is a legends Vietnam tanker for this as well. Will also make a small base to set it on. More pictures to come in the next few weeks. Still hoping to meet the original deadline.

Frank,

Great job & I've appreciated your articles as you went along.

I've got this kit on my want list, so I can try to make the wrecker version.

I'll keep a copy of your pix for reference.

Again, well done,
John