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1/35 M561 Gamma Goat, WIP, 09/19/10, Weathering

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  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
1/35 M561 Gamma Goat, WIP, 09/19/10, Weathering
Posted by redleg12 on Monday, June 21, 2010 10:08 PM

Fire Mission…..M561 Gamma Goat

Introduction

 

The 1/35 M561 Gama Goat is a new release from Commanders Models.

http://ironshipwrights.com/armor/armor.html

You can find my in box review at

http://www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=5086

Background

 

 

The M561 Gamma Goat was first developed and introduced during the early 1960s. The original concept was to develop a light 1 ½ ton vehicle which could be air transported and also work well in jungle areas.

 

The M561 was built by LTV Lycoming and over 15,000 goats were built. The vehicle was considered amphibious and moved in the water via its 6 powered wheels and bilge pumps were standard. It was a unique vehicle with a number of variants including the ambulance version M792.


For those of us how served and used a Gamma Goat it was a vehicle you would not forget. On the bad side t
he air-cooled engine overheated and high pitched noise of the engine required hearing protection while driving the vehicle. The double hull construction and complex articulated drive train made maintenance difficult at best. On the good side it went anywhere did anything and was a comfortable ride.


The M561 faded out of service with the advent of the HMMWV in the late 80s. For background photos you can go to

 

http://www.primeportal.net/trucks/hans-hermann_buhling/m561_gamma_goat/

http://www.gamagoat.com/

The Build

The kit is an all resin kit which comes with a PE fret for the fenders and some other details. The instructions are short and crude and not for the faint of heart. To properly assemble this kit you will need to look at reference photos as the directions will not help.

Some initial assembly of the power section. After cleanup of the parts, I assembled the fuel tanks and bilge pumps on both sides Also their support frames under the fuel tanks.

Glued in the dashboard assembly and the headlight assemblies

This view you can see the crew area and the engine area. The kit comes with an engine and other power parts. This will be the last you see of this area as I decided not to have the compartment open.

I also installed the trans-axels for the front and middle tires in the power section along with the rear tow frame for attaching the cargo section

Next up were the PE fenders. The PE set is a good quality, slightly heavier than most but very workable. The resin required some “notching” in places but with a little work they fit just fine.

Well I am off and running. I will be adding a BUNCH of scratch or parts box details. Next, some work on the cargo section.

As always, your comments either positive or negative are always welcome.

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Monday, June 21, 2010 10:19 PM

When you drove ahead of one in a column, dont you think they looked like a kids toy pull phone? All it needed was some big goofy eyes in place of the headlights.

Looking forward to your build on this Redleg. Certainly a vehicle long overlooked in mainstream styrene.Yes

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Monday, June 21, 2010 10:33 PM

LMAO.....never thought of it that way but yep...just remember the maintenance nightmare and how LOUD they were.....yet it was the best off road vehicle...it could go anywhere!!

I somehow don't think the styrene folks will be making this anytime soon (until I am about 3/4 through this resin build...with my luck!!). I is about as mainstream as the Ontos but does not have all the nice barrels!

Thanks for stopping by

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 2:48 AM

Hello Mike!

It's so good to see you taking a shot at the Gamma Goat! I have to tell you your choice of subjects really impresses me, most of the time you tackle subjects I'd gladly do myself too! I'll be watching, good luck with your project, and have a nice day

Pawel

All comments and critique welcomed. Thanks for your honest opinions!

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: On my kitchen counter top somewhere in central North Carolina.
Posted by disastermaster on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 4:01 AM

This is gonna be good..........

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b232/gluetank/Decorated%20images/th_T1-4-copy.jpg

 https://i.imgur.com/LjRRaV1.png

 

 

 
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 5:10 AM

Pawel - I love the different and strange. I need to do the different....it keeps the blood pumping

Steve - Glad you like the little guy....always a pleasure to have you along for the ride.

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 6:53 AM

Drove a Goat in convoys many miles...  It was the most comfortable military vehicle, driver-wise, I ever drove... But LOUD!!!!   Always wanted to put a red star on ours, the thing NEVER "looked American"...

LMAO on the "pull-toy" ref... Yer RIGHT!, lol...

You going for the "Battery Commo Goat " or a "Prime Mover for the M102 in the 82 AB" look, Redleg?

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Piscataway, NJ!
Posted by wing_nut on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 8:00 AM

But where is the pull string make boom part?

Marc  

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 9:11 AM

Hans- Actually......this will be the FDC Goat....I will be mounting antennas on the trailer......trying to decide if I go all out with an ANVRC 12 system in a rack and the charts laid out for view. If I can get the vehicle together with a minimal PIA...I may spend the time to set up the Funny Duck Club!!

Thanks for stopping in and the questions

Marc - There is more to artillery than just a lanyard!! We are a deep and complex bunch.....Wink

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 12:44 PM

Ah, FDC... Didn't occur to me since ours was in a 577 when I was SP... When I was Towed, the FDC was in a CUCV...

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 1:21 PM

Looking forward to seeing your usual magic on this one Mike! Beer

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 2:13 PM

Hans - If you were 101 or 82....you were almost all goat!!

Bill - And as I reach into my magic hat......Presto....a Goat!!

Thanks guys

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 3:22 PM

Another great piece Mike.  I'll be watching this little gem.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    October 2008
  • From: SE Pennsylvania
Posted by padakr on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 3:32 PM

That is cool.  I remember seeing them in Germany when my Dad was stationed there.  Don't remember them being all that loud, but it's been 30 years and my memory fades.  After the M60s drove out the gate, everything else seemed quiet.

I look forward to seeing more pictures.

Paul

  • Member since
    June 2008
  • From: Iowa
Posted by Hans von Hammer on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 4:46 PM

Where they're loud is inside... Driver can't even talk to the guy in the other seat without yelling at full-bore..

  • Member since
    June 2009
Posted by Guney on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 5:06 PM

Very good choice....I'll follow....Good luck...Smile

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 5:57 PM

Gino - thanks for stopping in.....another strange little guy...you know me!!

Paul - Besides the 82 & 101, Germany was a mainstay of the Goat. Thanks for stopping in

Hans - WHAT DID YOU SAY!!!!

Guney - Nice to have you along!!

Rounds Complete!! 

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Goffstown, NH
Posted by New Hampshire on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 6:18 PM

I love odd subjects, and this sure is odd! Big Smile  Can't wait to see how this little guy turns out.

Brian

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 8:48 PM

Brian - Nice of you to check in....to the house of strange Wink

What is even worse....like Hans, I drove one of these Surprise

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Michigan
Posted by tonka on Tuesday, June 22, 2010 9:06 PM

Mike,, look forward to this one as well. Cannot believe you dove right back in, no wasting time huh? Smile

You know if you really wanted strange you would build this one as USMC vehicle!! Geeked

I too remember these and the maintenance headache they were for the Motor T guys! We dumb grunts would  rather walk than ride in one...  well OK not really,,worse ride is better than best walk! 

Good luck and keep pushing!!

]

  • Member since
    August 2009
  • From: Cary, North Carolina
Posted by M1Carbine on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 1:55 AM

Red - interesting subject, I haven't seen one of these in years and didnt even know they had a kit for it.

 

Bob

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 5:18 AM

Tonka - Thanks for the visit. The bench always has something on it. Now, I am anal....only ONE kit at a time and no new kit comes near the bench until the last on is DONE Geeked When a kit is done I take a day to clean the bench and the area around it, the move on. I normally begin research on my next build while working on the current build, thus  I have started lookng at the next one already....

That's just me!

As far as the USMC Goat....of course....it had bilge pumps Big Smile...a bad ride is always better than a good walk Wink

Bob - Actually the kit is new...just out this past March. It is a resin kit and....not for the faint of heart but....it's a Goat!!

Thanks for stopping in

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Michigan
Posted by tonka on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 7:38 PM

Mike,, Wish I had the discipline to have just one on the bench at a time..I always finish them but do so in stages... Doing a dio of the Chosin Reservoir march by the 1st Marine Division for the Korean War GB...finishing a 120MM fig for it also,, plus a Revolutionary War militia fig for a friend, 1 car and 3 planes...I punish myself!!

By the way just saw a Roco 1/87 scale Gamma goat on ebay,,,HMM another interesting dio idea...

]

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 9:06 PM

That comes from the years of artillery combined with being an engineer.....I am somewhat the Monk of modelingGeeked

The thing that counts is your enjoyment.....I enjoy my anal ways.....you work best with multiple projects....different strokes

Now.....1/87 scale.....tooooo old and eyes toooo bad for that....I cut off toe nails bigger than that Surprise

I usually stay 1/35.....best is 1/40 if it is not available in 1/35

Back to my insanity

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 9:15 PM

Mike,, Wish I had the discipline to have just one on the bench at a time..

redleg12

That comes from the years of artillery combined with being an engineer.....I am somewhat the Monk of modelingGeeked

I guess that makes me a Monk of Modeling as well.  Yup, my years of artillery precision makes me only build one model at a time and keeps my bench insanely orderly and clean as well.  So is this thing we do. Wink

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

  • Member since
    October 2007
  • From: N.H.
Posted by panzerguy on Wednesday, June 23, 2010 10:13 PM

   Mike I know it's going to be as fun watching you build this advance party limo a it was to drive the full size version. I also predicted that this guy is going to be a big attention getter at AMPSYes.

   Only bad experience I had in one involved some deep water and a faulty bilge pump in the trailerEmbarrassed

"Happiness is a belt fed weapon"

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Thursday, June 24, 2010 5:06 AM

Gino - Are we related??? Hummm....must be the cherry juice in the veins!!

Steve - for you....

The goat is different!!!. The guys from Commanders Models may be at the show....but for the rest of the visitors Surprise

Thanks for stopping by....hope this build does not bring back wet nightmares Wink

Rounds Complete!!

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Thursday, June 24, 2010 5:25 AM

HeavyArty

 

 

I guess that makes me a Monk of Modeling as well.  Yup, my years of artillery precision makes me only build one model at a time and keeps my bench insanely orderly and clean as well.  So is this thing we do. Wink

Sign me up as a Monk as well then! One at a time for me too!

I have to say that with Autos, however, it sometimes pays to have one thing drying and gassing out while you work on another. I found that that does indeed extend the time it takes both projects to get finished to what seems like an inordinately long period.

This is a really interersting choice, Mike! I'm always impressed at someone taking on a full resin kit1

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Thursday, June 24, 2010 9:58 AM

Karl - Thanks for stopping in.....I can understand those LOOOONG dry times with gloss.

As far as an all resin kit.....as you like to say, this hobby is, for a large part art.....just think of resin as a different medium......oil instead of pencil...

Some of us broaden our horizon with "autos" others with "resin".....just a different stroke

Thanks for the confidence.

Rounds Complete!! 

"The Moral High Ground....A Great Place to Emplace Artillery."

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: Michigan
Posted by tonka on Thursday, June 24, 2010 11:29 AM

Monks of modelling,, never thought of it that way,, you guys could have a club!!Big Smile

Being a grunt and a Marine on top of that,,I tend to shoot from the hip,,

I work with engineers all day and have several working for me,, my 'non-anal-ness' drives them crazy!

But I totally agree we should all build because its FUN! And enjoy and learn from the other styles...

1/87 is small,, especially if I had to put the bilge pumps in...

As always look forward to more pics and following the build...

Kevin

]

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