Oh yeah! I'm curious to see how you do this conversion.

Nice work, Gino.  As a suggestion, I would use 1/25 CJ/Wrangler Dana 30 open knuckle axles as these would approximate the GM 10 bolt front/rear axles in 1/35 if you can find some.  The last truck to use closed knuckle axles was 1975 F-250's so the WC axles are kind of out of place in my opinion.  Another thing is that the WC used a divorced transfer case while the Blazer used a married TC without an intermediate shaft with the Turbo 400 automatic trans.

Hello!

Another interesting project! How does that die cast model compare to the resin kit in terms of price and availability?

Wouldn't it be cool to have the entire undercarriage 3D printed in one piece for a "drop in"?

There was also this cool bit about the keys for a CUCV, maybe you could write about it too?

Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

Thanks guys.  It will be a fun build.

As to the underside, I am not too worried about it being exact as you can't really see any of the details once the truck is upright.  It is close enough.

The die-cast only cost me $8, so it is a much better deal than the resin kit and it can be found all over eBay and at toy stores here in the states.  The extra 3D parts and WC kit added a bit more, but not too bad.  I could only find the resin kit directly from Miniman Factory and it was almost $100 with postage from Hungary.  So a much better deal w/the die-cast to me.

Pawel

There was also this cool bit about the keys for a CUCV, maybe you could write about it too?

Yes, they were all keyed the same so any key would fit any vehicle.  This was so if you lost a key, you could still get into and start them w/another.  Pretty cool, esp. when you wanted to screw with your buddy.  

It was fun doing that. They were good trucks. I discovered the key situation by accident. Like I said had fun withit. Going to follow this one closely. 

Thanks lurch.

And outstanding build, if one that takes a person down memory lane.

CapnMac82

...one that takes a person down memory lane.

Thanks and yup, me too.  When I was a wet behind the ears 2LT, I was Gold Bar Recruiter for UF ROTC for the summer before I went to OBC.  The ROTC unit borrowed a CUCV from the local NG unit that I drove around all summer to high schools and junior colleges recruiting new ROTC cadets.  It was a fun summer.

Very cool Gino, great choice and looking forward to seeing how you adapt the die-cast into a detailed model. 

We've always been a Chevy/GMC family and my dad always had a truck so I'm assuming the one we had back then was a simular civilian version (around '77 model probably) - though to be honest I was pretty young then so my memory is pretty hazy. 

Thanks Gamera.  Work continues.

With Thanksgiving and putting up Christmas decorations, I haven't gotten much done lately. I did get a bit more done on the details though.

I am getting close to finishing the cargo area interior. Here is how it actually looks.

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I added reinforcement ribs in the rear cargo area and added a tailgate interior with ribs. I also added a mount for the fuel can. I made them from sheet styrene. I still need to add the mount for the spare tire. You can see the antenna mounts on the sides as well, also made out of styrene sheet.

The door interior.

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I added the window cranks.

On the exteriors, I made the mirrors and their mounts from left over resin blocks. I sanded and carved them to shape and used a piece of wire to connect them.  You can also see where I added a small strip of styrene in front of the front wheel opening to represent the turn signal.

Up front ,the dash board.

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I added the headlight knob and switches for the blackout lights on the lower left. I also added the STE/ICE (Simplified Test Equipment/Internal Combustion Engines; early engine diagnostics system) port on the center bottom.

I replaced the turn signal indicator rod and the shift lever with thinner wire and a bird-shot ball.

A also added the 4-wheel drive selector lever in the center front floorboard as well, again using sheet styrene, wire and a bird-shot ball at the top.

On the inner roof, I added a styrene sheet headliner. I still need to add a dome light and sun visors.

Finally, I detailed the grill and bumpers. I added the NATO slave cable adaptor on the left side and the blackout drive light on the right side of the grill.

I also attached the brush guard using pieces of styrene for the mounts. On the bumpers, I cut slots for the blackout marker lights and added pieces of 1/16 square brass tubing for the shackle mounts. Lastly, I added the bridge classification plate from left over PE parts.

I still need to make a radio rack and add the radios inside, along with the front seat mounts. More work to do.

Thats looking great. It is still bringing back old memories. Looking great with all the detailing you are doing. 

Oh my, I can smeel the mix of Marlborough, Coenhagen, instant coffee, motor il and sweat . . .

Thanks gents.  It is a fun build filled with all sorts of memories...and smells. 

I didn't have much experience with the old CUCVs until they were about out of the inventory. In the Guard we had a few of the "five quarters", old Dodge 880 series pickup trucks.

In the Regular Army, we used M151s and M998s. When I commanded that maintenance school, we had a few contact trucks and one pickup truck version that had a snow plow we used to clear the motor pool.

My most time with one was when I had to evaluate a NYARNG unit doing their AT at Drum. I drew a regular CUCV Blazer. Decent enough truck for running around from company to company in the field.

Your truck looks good. It's quite a project to make this into a "true" model kit. Didn't someone do a resin one a few years back?

Thanks Rob.  It has been a fun build so far.  Yes, there is/was a resin kit.  I found one, but shipping from Czech Rep was almost as much as the kit and the total was almost $100.  This is much more cost effective and more fun in the long run, for me anyways.

She's lookin' great Gino!!! 

Maybe I should do something like this. My big bugbear with vehicles is the gloss finish, if I can do it matte like this I might actually get it to work! 

Thanks Gamera.  I say go for it.  There are quite a few options of 1/35 civilian/staff cars that have a flat finish.  Lots of other wheeled softskins and armored vehicles too.

Neat build Gino. 

I have memories of those things once they hit the surplus market. People snagged them, brought them to me for work and then they hit the ranch or trail. No one ever asked me to re-key one though, even when they spent a bunch of money on them and I told them anyone else with the keys to one could drive theirs off. 

Thanks Russ.  You would think that rekeying would be a no brainer.  I guess they were hoping noone near them had another or a spare key.

HeavyArty

Thanks Gamera.  I say go for it.  There are quite a few options of 1/35 civilian/staff cars that have a flat finish.  Lots of other wheeled softskins and armored vehicles too.

 

Thanks Gino, that is an interesting idea. Maybe I'll try a rusty grimey technical sometime in the future. 

Work continues on the CUCV. I have been able to lay some paint on it. I painted it inside and out w/Tamiya TS-61 NATO Green.

Here are some of the interior details so far.

The seats were painted w/a red-brown spray can. The bases are left over PE from a Stryker kit.  I think they were originally the rear jerry can racks, which were also in plastic and looked just fine.

I also scratched up a spare wheel mount and radio rack using sheet and rod styrene.

The same brown was used on the inside of the doors as well.

I added the sun visors from sheet styrene as well, also sprayed the same red/brown.

The dash board. I used 1/32 generic airplane decals for the instruments.

I hand-painted the brown and black camo on the exterior. I still need to blend it with a coat of dullcoat and them some weathering.

Lastly, here is a look at the underside. I added the dual exhaust from solder with the ends drilled out.

Looks great Gino, good to see you back to work on this! 

Looking good Gino. I seem to remember the vinyl interior seats looking an almost maroon color, but I guess they would vary.

When I was in the Guard, we used to have the old Dodge versions of these trucks and they were called 5/4 tons (Five Quarters), not 3/4s.

I'm having a CRS on the seat color.  I want to remember GMC calling the color "cordova."

Dodge having an equally "artiste" name, too.  And the color running from chestnut to cheap wine--and the brown always making me wonder why they had not selected for plain black vinyl.

The only thing missing on this build is a single chronically low tire

That thing must have been LOUD!

Bill

Thanks gents.  Yup, the interior brown varied quite a bit.  Also added a few horespower and a bit of noise with the bigger straight pipes.

Rob Gronovius

When I was in the Guard, we used to have the old Dodge versions of these trucks and they were called 5/4 tons (Five Quarters), not 3/4s.

Hi Rob.  Yes, all the pickup version Chevy CUCVs were 5/4 tons as well.  Only the M1009 Blazer CUCV was 3/4 ton.

Excellent! I love stuff like this. Jada has tons of cars and trucks noone makes in plastic so they are great for putting togther kits you just can't find. I started a simlar project with a 64 Nova before Moebius releasted the new Novas. I'll get it finished one day. Great idea and it is coming along nicely.

BK

This reminds me of my basic course at Knox. We were at the ground recovery site and there was a CUCV. Another lieutenant asked me if the painted black star where the front license plate would go meant that it was a general's vehicle.

I was like, yeah, "General Motors" and told him it was the subdued national insignia.

Very nice work.