Thx for the input Gunnie regarding the guntrucks, and I'm also appreciative of the medical opinion regarding my eyes

Follow up question then. Do your guntrucks have ammo cans serving as the floor on your models? If so, how many cans does it take approximately? Really thinking about building a gun truck and just wanted to know so I can get started on them ahead of time (kind of like I'm doing now with all these gerry cans, and 200 liter drums)

Tread.

Also, look forward to the release of the James Lyles book. I'm sure you're keeping tabs on it. Please give us all the 'heads up' when that day comes. :-)

Yes Sir, I model the ammo can spaced armor where appropriate on my gun trucks. I originally made the mistake of lining "Nancy's" cargo bed with some 150 resin ammo cans the first time I built her. I found out that was incorrect and pulled them all out when I rebuilt the gun truck - she didn't carry that feature. On my newest gun truck, 'The Gamblers" (which maddeningly Hobby Fan has come out with a conversion - I have Sabot's Luck - just in reverse :-) ) I've lined the floor of the fighting compartment with them again. "The Gamblers" has 70 ammo cans on the floor right now, and I'll be making sand bags for the floor of the Cab. These features are appropriate for a first generation truck like him. I haven't posted any pictures of "The Gamblers" yet on my website.

The first time I did this, I cast my own ammo cans. I did this for my gun truck "Babs" which is similar to "The Gamblers" - though "Babs" is my nickname and not representative of a actual truck in Vietnam. I used an incorrect mixture of resin and hardener when I gave this a try. Always wondered why the bottoms of my ammo cans "sweated", but heck - damn the torpedos, full speed ahead!

About a year later, I took "Babs" out of the display for annual cleaning and inspection, and I noticed her rear dual-50cal setup was leaning to the right. When I inspected it, to my horror I found that the supporting legs of the pintle had been melting away - a reaction with the thermosetting resin that I didn't mix properly and the plastic parts in the fighting compartment. The entire underside of the cargo bed had been melting away - leaving only a thin skin where some pretty thick plastic had been. Needless to say, I had to strip that gun truck down to the chassis to remove any leftover goop - and I rebuilt it all.

A few years ago Verlinden came out with a Super Pack of 50cal and 30 cal ammo cans - 50 of each for $8 bucks at the time. If you can find them - this is the way to go - TRUST me!

Don't create you own episode of Dexter's Laboratory if you don't have to...

Gunnie

As usual Gunnie, another post just jam-packed with useful info. Unfortunately it's somewhat painful info (but apparently not as painful as your 'melting' guntruck experience ). From what you're telling me I'm going to need approximately 70 ammo cans for the cargo bed. Whew! A modelers work is never done. Maybe I can find a modelers Fairy God Mother or something to whip me up a batch of ammo cans, whadaya think?.....Hmmph, thought so.

I guess I'll try a search on EBay or something. Otherwise I'm stuck with the long road.


Thx again for the info.

Tread.

Let me check and see if Verlinden is still producing that Super Value pack - I'll let you know what I find out...

Gunnie

Tread - still lookin' for the Verlinden Super Value set of 50cal ammo cans, but I found a good alternative.

Legend Productions, #LF1039, is going for $7.46 at Squadron Mail Order. This is a pack of some 35 50cal ammo cans and some 40mm ammo cans - some of which have separate lids! That's good for wise-ackers who like to put stuff inside 'em :-)

I ordered three of them - and have been happy with all other resin products they produce.

Gunnie

Hello,
Did you know any M54-M113' d-guntrucks with the track hull back to front...?
Thinkin about weight distribution, it would be better...No ?
Talkin' weapons, aren' t the miniguns ( M21, 7.62mm ) more powerfull than the Quad .50' s...I mean " sprayin' power " ? !
Mike the Toad

:-) :-) :-) Many thx Gunnie, I think I'm going to order 3 packs myself! Actually I don't really mind, I usually just sit in front of the TV with the History Channel on scrapping away with my #11 Xacto...

Tread.

Welcome to Armorama.com Mike the Toad!

No, I've seen no photo of a M113 Hull being mounted facing rearward in the cargo bed of the M54. The loading ramp was closed on the APC, but the gun truck crews used the rear door to get into the Hull. Mounting it in reverse would preclude this. The Hull was stripped internally too, so weight distribution wasn't an issue that predicated the manner in which the Hull was carried.

Both the M55 Quad Turret and the XM-134 Mini Gun are formidable weapons, but the Mini Gun cannot level small hills, wipe away enemy troop pockets, or flatten small groves of trees like the Quad could in short order. The weapon earned the nickname "meatgrinder" for a reason. The 50cals on the Quad were, however, prone to jamming and overheating in sustained bursts of fire. Gun Trucks often carried more than a full set of spare 50cals for this reason. In that light, you could argue the Mini Gun a better weapon option.

Gunnie

Haven't seen any which were loaded with the nose to the rear of the truck. I suspect the M-113s were loaded on gun trucks with the nose forward so the crews could use the rear ramp and door of the M-113. Made loading stuff in the M-113 easier. Tim :-)