Charlie Still Don't Surf!: 5 Ton Gun Truck w/APC References

[Sharkmouth]

Aces:

Big Bad John:;

with King Cobra:

Cobra:

King Cobra (various styles including the one in the AFV Club Kit):

King Kong. note the passageway from the engine hatch to the truck cab:

View attachment 141734

The Judge, note different mounting style:

Regards,

 

[Sharkmouth]

The Outlaw and The Big Kahuna:

The Big Kahuna on bottom left:

The Gamblers with The Big Kahuna:

Paladin:

Sire Charles:

Tom:

Unidentified trucks... please help if you can:

Road Runners, note that this is a larger bridge carrying truck (same as Coyote Dusters):

Regards,

 

[Iron Mike]

Do I detect a theme here???????

 

[l brooks]

Unidentified trucks... please help if you can:
View attachment 141738View attachment 141739View attachment 141740View attachment 141741

The Outlaw and The Big Kahuna:
View attachment 141742

The Big Kahuna on bottom left:
View attachment 141746

The Gamblers with The Big Kahuna:
View attachment 141747

Paladin:
View attachment 141743

Road Runners, note that this is a larger bridge carrying truck (same as Coyote Dusters):
View attachment 141744

Sire Charles:
View attachment 141745

Tom:
View attachment 141748

Regards,

Nice!

 

[errains]

Great pics!!! I didn't think the 5Ton/APC combo was so prolific. Koolness nonetheless....hmmmm

 

[Sharkmouth]

Great pics!!! I didn't think the 5Ton/APC combo was so prolific. Koolness nonetheless....hmmmm

It is for AFV Club's kit. Another option is Real Models' conversion for Italeri's Big Foot truck.

Since the 2.5t trucks didn't carry the APC at all, that would be another post... if I find time.

Regards,

 

[moon puppy]

Not the gun truck!!!

 

[Ken Abrams]

Wow, what an awesome thread!

Before his recent passing, Mr Tserng had sent me a package as thanks for some help with their new half track projects (I use plural because we discussed three, even though only the M16 has been released).

In that package was the new gun truck, which I wasn't sure if I'd even ever build. This thread just may be the inspiration needed!

 

[moon puppy]

Charlie still doesn't surf huh. How many is this now?

 

[Sharkmouth]

A few more...

Here, the truck with hull mounted is received by the crew and no paint is on it yet:

First painting by Steve Hall. Note white outlines:

Eventually, the name filled in with red. It is considered the second repaint:

This is the third repaint:

V.C. Birth Control; The Pill

Another photo of Outlaw

More of King Cobra

Another photo of The Big Kahuna

Regards,

 

[moon puppy]

OK So I gotta ask the question. These M113 APCs they load up on the back of the trucks. Were they all knocked out and unserviceable or did they just knock off the running gear and use them?
Then that begs the question, if they were serviceable, why didn't they just ride the M113 on the convoys?

 

[Heavens Eagle]

Once you said they were 113s on the back of the trucks I took another look Bob. I never really noticed before. Interesting that the 113 hull was light enough to do that.

 

[Sharkmouth]

These hulls were stripped of suspension, engine, transmission, and fuel tanks. This recovered and stripped hull seems to be going for modification. Very similar to the previously posted gun truck, The Judge, it is a different truck and the inner pieces of the final drive are still visible.

To explain the process, I have re-arranged the photos of The Colonel into chronological order (as explained by the painter of the actual truck). See previous post.

More photos... Roach Coach

and Sir Charles:

Regards,

 

[Sharkmouth]

V.C. Birth Control/The Pill

The Lifer

Big Bad John

Highland Eliminator 553 Engineer Co (FB) "3rd Herd" Pleiku

Regards,

 

[Sharkmouth]

Note that several gun trucks use the M328 on M139 chassis with its 36inch (1 yard) longer wheelbase. These include:
Coyote Dusters
V.C. Birth Control The Pill
Road Runners/The Big 4th
Highland Eliminator 553 Engineer Co (FB) "3rd Herd" Pleiku

Another thing to keep in mind are the tire sizes. Most five ton truck models had 11.00x20s with dual rear tires; tractor wreckers had larger 12.00×20s. Bridge trucks and all M139 chassis-based trucks had 14.00×20s.

Regards,

 

[Sharkmouth]

@Ken Abrams, note that Echelon Fine Details has a sheet on Lifer and King Kong. The latter is simply missing the template for the engine hatch passageway.

Star Decals has its own rendition of The Lifer and two of the three variants of Colonel:

Fill Colonel red with OD for first paint job as this is the second:

All available from Sprue Brothers in the US.

Regards,

 

[sharkman]

Interesting!

Never knew these APC conversions even existed before your post Saul!

 

[Steve Ski]

Wow, a hefty chunk a change in that box, woof! I do love them Gun Trucks, bookmarked.

 

[Ken Abrams]

@Ken Abrams, note that Echelon Fine Details has a sheet on Lifer and King Kong.

Thanks Saul, I appreciate the heads up! Pulling the trigger on the markings is the easy part, coming up with the courage to start that monster kit is a whole other story!

Wow, a hefty chunk a change in that box, woof!

Hey Ski, long time!

There certainly is! He was such a kind and generous guy with huge love for post WWII AA halftracks so we had lots to talk about.

There was a few other items in that box as well, not sure I'll ever use the stuff but it was such a nice surprise.

 

[jeaton01]

14.00-20 is a big tire.