Warren D

Here's what I know as of now. The instructions provided with this kit (35351) show how to build the chassis for the cargo truck. I downloaded the instructions for the plain M51 dump truck and it shows how to build the chassis using the short frame rails on parts tree "S". I have also found that the fuel tank and battery box locations are different as well as the front axle on the short frame is set back from that on the longer frame. This means that no matter what else I do, the front axle isn't going to look right. I've tried to contact AFV Club and will wait for their answer; I'll need 5 trees worth of chassis parts to start over. As of now, I've got a $100 box of parts....... If you want this kit, download the M51 dump truck instructions and follow them for the chassis, then jump over to the gun truck instructions for the rest (at least until they correct things which could take a while). The following is a list of errors in the instructions provided with the kit: Numbers are the same as the numbers on the instruction sheet, 1. Use frame rails from S tree, not A1 and A2. 3. Do not glue B13, let them pivot until the axles are in place. 5. Use drive shaft A12, not S22 (though this may change with the shorter frame, I still think the A12 will be the correct length) 27. Do not install R30 at this time, wait until it shows again in step 29. 32. Locations for parts S39 and S40 are reversed, the larger S40 goes on the inside, the smaller S39 goes on the outside. 35. When assembling the gun box, use solvent glue and install in the dump body before it cures. There are small locating holes on the front of the gun box that nest in the pins on the inside of the headache rack supports and once the gun box is rigid, there isn't enough give to get the box secured in the dump body.

I hope to do it justice. Looks like a brand new kit. I got mine from the auction site, came from Taiwan. I have a few more GT's in the stash and will be working on them as time allows. Coming up are: Wolfman (M151), Black Widow, Satan's Little Angel, Bounty Hunter (M54 w/quad 50's), Nancy, Untouchable, Eve of Destruction and an M-37 version that may be of my own tribute M-37 GT. There may also be a deuce and a half (name TBD).

***There are major problems with this kit. I finished the chassis last night and went to fit the dump body and noticed that the frame rails are too long. Further investigation shows that the instructions included in the kit are for the M54 Cargo truck version which uses the longer frame rails on sprue A even though shorter rails are included in the kit on sprue S. The extra length appears to be behind the axles but the fuel tank and battery box locations are also wrong as they are too far forward. I'm still investigating for other conflicts but this build is all but over for now. I've been able to shorten the chassis by removing the overhang at the rear but not sure I can remove the fuel tanks and battery boxes without destroying the frame rails. I will be looking to contact AFV Club later this morning, they will need to revise the instructions. They need to use the instructions for the dump truck chassis not the cargo truck.*** Recently, I started getting back into the 'Nam gun trucks. I'm finishing off one I started 15 years ago and then this new one popped up. AFV Club does it's usual fine job, lots of detail (maybe too much as the parts are getting very small!) This is based on a M51A2 5 ton dump truck (the more common M54 gun trucks were converted cargo trucks). At the end of this build I'll be listing the errata in the instructions, there have been a few errors I've found so far. I started with the dump body and gun box which went together well, working on the chassis next. I build in large sub-units, basically everything that I can paint as a unit.

And then when I don't get to building everything they hopefully get back into circulation.

Last I read, he was still re-doing his garage space to accomodate stock etc. He works full time so who knows. He had indicated to me last year he had planned to have stock around the end of first quarter but we all know things can and do change.

A moldelling tip for the GT crowd; GT's were kept very clean. The only time they were dirty was when they had just come back from a convoy escort. The GT crews were all volunteers from within the Transportation unit and they all took pride in their Guntruck and kept it as clean as possible. They would often wipe them down with diesel fuel, which would in turn attract more dirt/dust but you use what you can find!

The James Lytle series of books on the Vietnam Gun Trucks are a great reference. I have a few AFV truck kits with Real Model resin GT conversions that I'll get around to someday before I die (I better get crackin'!) I drove 5 hrs to a convention of the Gun Truckers a decade ago (maybe more) where there were several replicas in 5 ton, deuce and a half and even M151. I have each truck in it's own gallery: https://pbase.com/baywing/gun_truck_gathering I have built my own tribute GT from an M37 in 12"=1' scale....

Good job, I never knew the kit nor the prototype existed. I wonder if it ever got off the ground, literally speaking

Looks great, nice job on the Holmes!

Looks good Charles, glad to hear you're on the mend.

Thanks! I got to run the real one last year, was good to crank the handle again, it's been many years.

Thanks, I did this as it was delivered, it looks a bit different today (not sure why) Thank you

Finished painting another HO Scale brass trolley. This is the Shelburne Falls & Colrain Street Railway #10. The prototype is the only survivor of this line, built in 1896 by Wason in Springfield Ma and is on display at the Shelburne Falls Trolley Museum in MA. This brass model from Fomras dates back at least 25 years and is one of very few made (I'm thinking no more than 50, possibly 20-25). Decals were tough, the files I had access to were pixelated but did the best I could.

Would need to be from scratch. Thanks Thanks Thanks, I wish my hands were as steady as they were 40 years ago...... Thanks

This is a brass trolley made by Fomras many years ago. It is painted as the prototype (which is at the Shoreline Trolley Museum in Branford, CT) and decalled using the decals provided. Probably the most amazing thing is that the decals were still viable after over 20 years.

Great looking build and good photos, too!

Sorry to hear that Charles, hope you heal quickly.

Looks good. I'm not sure if I still have my first issue build, if so, it's long overdue for a refresh.

More great info on the foil. Do you use the regular aluminum foil or the thicker stuff? Reynolds makes both......

I find that resin is ok to work with, it's softer than styrene so you have to use some care not to over-do the filing/sanding. The biggest thing is to make sure any mold release is removed. A good primer also helps, since I can't get Mr. Resin primer anymore, I just use standard auto primer (Rustoleum). Light coats work best. The hardest part of resin cab builds for me is fitting to the chassis. If it's a cab without interior that adds to the build time. I'm not wild about the resin that 3D printers use, it's extremely hard and brittle. The cast resin is better, at least in MHO and YMMV.

Nice job with the detail on the wood deck.

Very well executed!

Well done. We never had pups in Southern New England when I was growing up, streets are too tight.

I think Charles has illustrated a great point in this last post; a thorough knowledge of your subject allows the level of detail that results in accurate models of exceptional quality!

Nice looking rig!