Looks cool Gino! I love your choice of subjects, they're a nice change of pace from the usual M4s, T-34s, and panzers. (not that I don't love those too) 

Hello Gino! Another very cool one!

I have to agree with Cliff about your subject choices! And I would add that about half of the projects you build are things that I would like to build too, like in this case, where I have even the materials stashed appropriately.

One more thing that might help you. I don't know if you know this, but there was a special frame that was being used to fix the trailer to the cargo bed. Here's an excerpt of the old TM for the quad that even has some dimensions:

And here's the evidence it was indeed used in Vietnam. The upper arrow shows how the frame grabs by the little prongs present in all four corners of the trailer:

In this photo also it's shown how they carry the trailer wheels with them. One Vietnam vet told me some rews preferred to leave the wheels at the base, together with the trailers tow hitch, which was often removed to make more room in the truck bed. This would be the configuration of the trailer for truck mounting:

I hope this helps you - good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

That looks very interesting. I like that idea. I am not an armor guy but will be watching this. The engineering that went on in the field always surprises me. Some of it is fantastic . 

Thank you gents.  I have wanted to do this one for a while.  

Thanks Pawel, great pics.  I had heard there was a special mount, but not seen any pics of it.  I am not sure these were used on M54s in Vietnam though. I think the mounts were for CCKWs post WWII.  From pics I can see, the  M54s had an added armored(?) box inside the bed that the M55 sits in.  It doesn't look to have any extra parts on it.  Maybe they added some bolt plates or something to the added box, hard to tell.  Knew about the tires and tow bar already.  These will be very helpful though.

Gino, if you look on the second picture I posted, the lower arrow points to a kind of "pad" that belongs to the part described as "frame assembly" in the TM picture. This frame was bolted to the cargo bed and had four threaded rods with nuts (upper arrow) that angaged the "prongs" on the trailer to keep the quad from moving araound in the cargo bed. If you look closely, you can also see the spare barrel holders along the cargo bed sides. They probably didn't use the winch, just took a wrecker or a fork lift to put the quad up in the bed.

Looking forward to your next updates, have a nice day

Paweł

If you look at the below pic, you will see that the TM pic above of the mount pieces etc., are from the CCKW version, same ribbed bed.  Maybe the M35 quad guntrucks used these as well.

I am assuming that the M54 quads in Vietnam simply welded a few angle iron pieces to the added box in the bed in a similar fashion as the mount and bolted them down.  None of the other pieces seem to be there.

I have continued work on the guntruck. I have completed construction on the truck itself.

I added chains on the fold down bedsides and the tailgate.

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I also made the armored box that goes into the bed. I used the templates on the Star Decals sheet for the angled side pieces. I also added a radio on the rear wall, bars to hold the spares, and a pintle for an M60 MG.

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I have completed the M55 quad gunmount as well. It is the Dynamo kit, using the 3D printed Vietnam-specific parts (dark grey). I also used the templates on the Star Decals sheet for the armor for the gun turret.

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Here it is all mounted in th truck to see how it will look.

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I still have to add some mounts for the gun turret and then a bunch of ammo cans. Then on to painting.

Very nice, Gino!  I would have to say that you are the "Lawdog" of armor! 

Carry on!

Gary

Thanks Gary.  I just like adding lots of details, sometimes to the detriment of my sanity.  

Hello Gino!

Lookin' good. Please note, that most gun truck photos show the trailer facing with the tow bar stub towards the front of the truck. This might be important, because the quad has an interrupter circut that prevents it from shooting into the truck cab...

And please excuse me that I come back to my previous posts about the mounting hardware. I mainly mean that funny rectangular frame fixed to the truck bed. Looking at the bolts holding said frame to the quad I believe those frames were still issued during the Vietnam War and looks like it was more convenient to use something readily available than welding something on your own (but I'm sure that was being done, too).

Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

Thanks Pawel.  Already noted the tow bar stub.  It is just placed in for now.  It will be in the right direction when affixed.

I have pretty much completed construction on the Guntruck. I added styrene angle iron mounts in the armored box to secure the quad mount. I also added bolt heads to show how it is attached. I took some thin sheet styrene and made circular holders for the quad mount tires as well.

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I also used the AFV Club ammo box set (AF35035) to line the bed w/ammo cans.

The crews filled them with dirt to act as additional armor.

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Next up is to start painting everything. I may add a few more ammo boxes on top of the armor layer to be additional ammo for the guns as well.

That's an entire gun show's worth of ammo boxes

Yup, and I added a few more ammo boxes in back to feed the quad .50s…

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…and a few up front for the M60 MG on the pintle mount. A 40mm can up front for some variety too.

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CapnMac82

That's an entire gun show's worth of ammo boxes

And the originals probably cost less than the scale models!

Fantastic work!

Gary

Yeah, that's enough ammo to shoot down the moon! 

There was some point in the Second World War, I don't remember where it happened but nervious Japanese AA gunners on some warship were shooting at the moon, stars, etc. And the POed captain chewed them out 'We don't have enough ammo to shoot down the moon!!!'  

Thanks gents.  Gotta have lots of ammo as the quad .50 could spit them out quickly.

I was able to get some paint down this week. The truck is overall Tamiya TS-5 OD Green, which replicates the darker, post-WWII OD Green well. The ammo cans and some of the other smaller items are NATO Green (Tamiya TS-61) for a little variety. The armored box for the bed is flat black from a rattle can. The blue and white on the quad mount are hand painted.

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I was also able to get it up on it’s wheels. I used the Def Model M54 wheels. They are excellent and fit the AFV Club hubs w/no issues. The two spares are from the kit. The multi-direction mud tires usually look very rounded at the edges, while the kit tires look too squared off in the shoulders to me. They work as spares, but don’t look right as in-use tires, hence why I replaced them with the Def Model resin ones.

I used the Def Model Military multi-direction mud tires on the rear.

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Many of the gun trucks used civilian truck tires on the front, not sure why, but Def makes them too, which I also used.

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The truck all ready to go.

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Next up is decals. The Star decal sheet provides all the decals for the gun truck. The quad kit decals have a bunch of extra ammo can decals, so I will be adding some to those in the bed too. I will probably add a few various placards here and there as well, we shall see.

I won’t have an update for a while. I am off to VA this weekend for my youngest granddaughter’s 2nd birthday. So cake and fun for a few days and no work on the model.

Truck looks great, Gino!  Have fun in VA!

Gary

Thanks Gary.  Will do.

Love it!

      I have seen many in my younger days, sold off to Construction Companies. Looks brand new, ready to ship to the Marine or Army base of choice, "C'mon guys lets get those markings on, and on the rail car with it!" Oh! Couldn't help but notice in the early pics, Are you sure you got enough Bullyets?

Thanks TB.  I like how it is turning out.

Good! 

      You should be. You have done stunning work so far!

GAF

And the originals probably cost less than the scale models!

Dunno, cal..30 cans are around US$12-15 each; the cal..50 are $15-20 ("fat fifties" are pretty much $25).  The various 20, 30, & 40mm ammo boxes are all over the place for prices.

Dang those bulged tires are the bomb, they capture the overloaded look so well.

LOL!  How much did soldiers pay for ammo cans in Vietnam?

(Said in jest, as I realize how much empty ammo cans go for now.)

She's coming along nicely! Great to have her all together and ready for decaling when you get back. 

Thanks Gamera.  Back from a great visit.  Hope to get onto the decals this week.

I got all the decals on it this week, finished final assembly, and added a bit of gear to it. The decals are a mix of kit decals and from the Star Decal sheet for Easy Rider. Most are from Star, with only the instrument panel and cab placards from the kit decals. I also added some placard decals on the quad mount parts and added ammo can decals on all that have exposed sides that would be marked.

Here it is so far.

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Some close ups of the bed and inside the cab.

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And the quad .50 mount.

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Next up is to weather it and call it done.

Outstanding model! Can't wait to see some red dust on it.

Have you ever modeled an M211?

Bill

Thanks Bill.  I really like how it is coming out. 

As to the M211, I have not tried one.  It would be a lot of work though as you would have to scratch the whole cab, fenders, hood, banjo axles, etc., etc., etc. since there is no kit of one.