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M474 Pershing Missile Carrier

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  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Berkshires, MA
M474 Pershing Missile Carrier
Posted by Foxer on Saturday, January 11, 2014 1:46 PM

This is a vehicle I was assigned to in the US Army, along with the Erector Launcher. The XM474 was a modified M113 Armored Personnel Carrier and designed to transport the U.S. Army Pershing Missile System. There were 3 additional M474's in the complete system, one to carry the gas turbine Power Station and the Programmer Test Station (PTS), another for the 200kilo-ton Nuclear Warhead and one carrying the Radio Terminal Set. The Pershing Missile was a 34' long, 40" diameter 2 stage missile launching vertically with the nuclear warhead re-entering the atmosphere to the target about 400 miles away (probably was even greater).

I converted a Tamiya M113 APC for this model, just as the Army did. This is for the Pershing 1 Missile I was assigned to in 1967-68. Later versions of the Pershing, the 1A and the II, rode on special wheeled vehicles.

The images below were taken at the White Sands Missile Firing Range during practice firings. The tracked vehicle in the photos is the one I modeled.

And, here's a few shots showing the M474 better

 

and, now the model ...

 

For all you armor modelers out there, these vehicles were kept spotless with no weathering allowed. Also, the markings are correct ... no identifying numbers on the front or rear and no stars or U S Army on them! These tracked vehicles and our trucks were driven on German roads and no identification was allowed. The bumpers had a 1 or  2 digit Battery number and a 1" colored circle identifying the battery,

I recently acquired a Topping model of the Missile and Erector Launcher and will be posting a work-in-process of that build in the near future. I also am starting on another M474 that will carry the ER, this one will get the PTS and Power Station.

Hope you all can bear with my glacial builds which will end up in a diorama of the complete Pershing Missile System ready to launch.

Mike

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Saturday, January 11, 2014 2:44 PM

WOW!!!!

SERIOUSLY COOL!!!

THis is some very cool work! Can't wait to see more!!!

  • Member since
    December 2013
Posted by jetmaker on Saturday, January 11, 2014 9:37 PM

I'm very much looking forward to seeing more of this.

That. Is. Awesome!!!

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Saturday, January 11, 2014 9:42 PM

Well done, very impressive. I can't wait to see it progress farther.

  • Member since
    August 2007
  • From: back country of SO-CAL, at the birth place of Naval Aviation
Posted by DUSTER on Sunday, January 12, 2014 1:07 AM

Out Standing !

nice job of converting.   Looking forward to your future posts.

  

Steve

Building the perfect model---just not quite yet  Confused

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • From: Poland
Posted by Pawel on Sunday, January 12, 2014 9:50 AM

Well allright, I found that thread at last! I will be watching, thanks for the info and good luck with your project

Paweł

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

www.vietnam.net.pl

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Sunday, January 12, 2014 6:35 PM

Outstanding work.... I built the Pershing on the trailer M757 ...but this version from scratch is very nice and great to see.

Peek at the M757 here... www.redleg2scale.com/.../M757.html

I will keep my eye open for the next updates on this build.

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Berkshires, MA
Posted by Foxer on Monday, January 13, 2014 5:37 AM

That's a really good looking build. of the1A, redleg! The duct to the cable mast looks very realistic ... what did you use to make this?

I suspect you were in Pershing (by your name) ... is this true?

Mike

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by T26E4 on Monday, January 13, 2014 1:49 PM

Excellent work Foxer.  Look fwd to seeing progress on this one.  I love seeing scratch conversion jobs.

Roy Chow 

Join AMPS!

http://www.amps-armor.org

 

 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 5:47 AM

Foxer - Nope, never on the missiles...always a cannon guy!

The duct cable was made using 24 gauge wire wrapped around a tube to make the internal spring. Then the spring was covered with airplane (jap) tissue. It was shaped while the glue soaked tissue was drying. It took a couple attempts to get the final product including some colorful metaphors!!

Thanks for the peek. Nice to see someone else modeling the big boy!!

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    April 2009
  • From: Berkshires, MA
Posted by Foxer on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 5:19 PM

I/m going to have to look into that "airplane (jap) tissue". I did plan to wrap some kind of spring, but the wire sounds good. My first thought was to use shrink wrap tubing like I use for hoses in my car builds. The tissue that can set in place as the glue dries sounds better!

Mike

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by redleg12 on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 9:08 PM

If you need more info on my build which may give you some ideas for yours drop me an email and I will send you some information. You can get me through the website!

Rounds Complete!!

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

  • Member since
    October 2013
Posted by Alpha 43 on Thursday, March 6, 2014 11:31 AM

This is outstanding! Can't wait to see the rest of your build.

Earl

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