I have the M-29C Weasel hull built and primed. This is going to be a quick build I think. Does anyone have a shot of the interior that can tell me if the hull sides and floor were painted white or were they OD? I've found some shots on Weasel.Org, but they''ve been repainted several times and it's really hard to tell what the original color might have been.

Thanks guys
Steve

Later Edit: Sorry guys, I thought I posted this in the Amphibs thread.

The interior matched the exterior - OD Green...

Gunnie

I thought that might have been the case, but thought I'd ask to be sure. Thanks Gunnie!

Steve

Steve,

I'm lucky enough to own the real thing. Yes as Jim said the interior that is visible from above matches the exterior whichever shade (there were many) of Olive Drab.
Not that you can model it with your kit but the floor panels and engine housing are removable and the undersides as well as the hidden interior are painted what appears to be Yellow Zinc Chromate. I don't know if thats true for all of them but that is the colors on mine and it was manufactured in 1943.

Sincerely,

Brian

Brian, do you have any pictures available of yours that can posted here? Sure would help us a great deal. I have the Azimut kits of both their weasels and look forward to building them. Thanks,Tom

Zinc chromate? really?...That's interesting.
Hey, if you think about it or have time, I would be interested in seeing some shots of it. In fact. it would make a cool walkaround for Big A.

Thanks for the additional info...I'll have to take a look and see if there is a way I could include the zinc chromate somehow...

Thanks again!
Steve

Aah I want a M29C kit as well :-) Hopefully I can find one at the scale model event "Scale World 2005" where most of the Dutch and Belgium Armorama crew will be present

Hello Steven
I have just e-mailed you some pictures of a M-29 Weasel. The Interior color is supposed to be original. I hope they are usefull

Erik

Hi Guys,

Yes I will post some interior and exterior pictures, I need to clean out the Wasps first but that should not take long. I will warn you my vehicle is not restored yet. I did find out that at some point in its life the US Air Force aquired it and they installed an Artic Hard Cab and applied a rathy hasty coating of red paint. I can barely make out the Air Force numbers applied but they are present.

Brian

Can't wait to see the photos! Thanks Brian!


Steve
Margarita Night is Friday at Steve's

Hi guys,

After destroying two wasp nests and killing several buzzing around I stuck my head inside to take these.



This is from the drivers seat looking into the engine compartment with the cover gone (you can see the top of the carburator) but the interior is definately some shade of yellow.


This is the cargo bed with the floor panels removed to show the hidden interior stuff ; driveline, exhaust and differential (which reminds me of a 40's vintage tractor differential) again more yellow paint.


Here is outside view of the artic hardtop made for it. I am assuming this was an Air Force add on. It is actually very well made but no nomaclature plate is present. The air scoop on the side is not suppose to be there either.


Here is the biggest headache of any Weasel owner; the tracks, the motor runs great and starts right up. I've drove it on and off the trailer but the tracks are falling apart and I think if I go more than 50' this side will completely fall off. I am following several leads on this
but most involve some serious $$$$$$$ unfortunately the tracks are band construction and not link and length.


But it will be restored and the hard top will be replaced by the correct canvas top when I get it done. I consider 1:1 the most challenging of all scales.

The insane do have fun!...........

Sincerely,
Brian

Is that a motorcycle chain holding the track together? Was this standard or was this something added to hold the track together later?

Great shots Brian, between you and Erik, I have some good stuff to work with now.

Thanks guys!
Steve

Steve,

This link may be usefull:

http://www.tanxheaven.com/ljs/m29weaselljs/m29weaselljs.htm

Not the C version but well...

Hi Steve,

It was like that when I bought it. The previous owner welded some short lengths of chain to try and keep the track together but he only tack welded it and you see the end result after driving it some.

I hear a common practice of M29 people is to secure #60 roller chain around both outside bands (there are four in total) to keep the tracks from falling apart. I also have heard of steel cable used in place of #60 chain.

We supplied many to the French and when the tracks broke they used two conveyor belts with the track plates bolted onto them. You have to have the gaps for the drive sprokets just right or they would cause lots of wear.

The M29C Weasel is only amphibious with pontoons that bolt to the front and back of the vehicle. I'm sure your model comes with them. Those are the "Holy Grail" if you find them for real.

It is a unique vehicle and will make a great project

Sincerely,
Brian

You've got yourself a real project, but I'd rather see it with you than in some scrap heap somewhere. Thanks for the pics and good luck.