somalia flatbed question

I would say that is a good guess. I assume you are talking about the movie "BLack Hawk Down"?

I have been toying with the Idea of making one of their vehicles as well. Problem is though, most all civilian vehicles [which I want to kit bash] are in 1/24 and 1/25 scale. I do have a recoiless rifle left over from my Hogan's Heroes 1/25 jeep build that I'll be using. Too bad I have no idea how to asssemble the gun because though the gun was included as an extra in the kit, directions for it's assembly was not included in the instructions!

Those improvised armed trucks are called "Technicals" in that part of the world. Most seem to be Toyotas. That could say alot about Toyota products, ya know? There aint no Jiffy Lubes or Mr. Goodwrench's in Mogadishu.

RotFLMAO!
Indeed. And if Honda made a pick-up they'd be invincible!lol

I don't recall any U.S. M-2 type fifties mounted on technicals, but the X-Soviet .51 cal (DMSH ?) was seen in the back of a few Toyotas. If I got the nomenclature wrong, it's the TC,s HMG on top of the T-62 I'm talking about.

Well I don't know for sure but considering that the U.S. .50 cal has been around since WWII I wouldn't be surprised if they were mounted on technicals. Surplus crap turns up EVERYWHERE!lol

I was there for 4 1/2 months and you wouldn't believe the stuff the skinnies mounted on technicals. M-2 .50 cals, Soviet 12.7mm (but mainly ma deuces), recoiless rifles, the cannon pods off the nose of MIG-17's or MIG-19's, (actually saw one of these near Baidoa) and Soviet rocket pods (like the ones you see on Hinds and Hips). The Somali military was supplied at one time or another by both the US and the former Soviet Union. They also took 14.5, 16, and 23mm anti-aircraft guns (ZPU's) and mounted them on flatbeds. Use your imagination and think road warrior.
BTW, the term technical came about in the early stages of JTF Provide Relief when the various aid organizatons (ICRC, etc..) needed protection for there food and supply shipments from the various clans who would steal them. These aid organizations didn't have authorized funding for guards or "muscle" to protect the shipments and warehouses, so they created a "technical" fund. They used the money from this technical fund to hire clansmen for protection. That's where the term came from.

COOL! Thanks salbando!

Salbando, you beat me to it. Listen to him, he's very correct. The locals were very inventive, "think road warrior" is the way to go. If it shoots, they put it on the back of anything that drives.