Colombian Army half-track conversions

[Rick Lowe]

Hiya

I've seen a shot of one converted with a truck rear axle and dual tyres, but only the one mention.
(Converting back from 1/2 track to the Scout Car configuration)

Does anyone know where I can find more info, please, particularly the tac symbols?

https://www.reddit.com/r/TankPorn/comments/1kul9pz/wheeled_conversions_of_surplus_m3_halftracks_in/

(and yeah, Phill would be horrified!  )

[Weaver]

Didn't find any more pics on the Columbian ones, but I did find a Tapatalk discussion of the same photo where they came to the conclusion, via an arcane discussion of bracketry and racks, that the vehicles in question were M2s rather than M3s:

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/missinglynx/wheeled-conversions-of-surplus-m3-halftracks-in-se-t341454.html


Also found this modelling blog where he made a twin-rear axle version that was apparently used by Military Police in the Washington DC area. Unfortunately it seems like there are no pics of these vehicles, just some drawings which he found in a book. Shows that it's possible though:

https://fidelismodels.com/blogs/hobby-advice/halftrack-armored-car

[zenrat]

I think Phill would have liked more ways to whiff a half track.  Especially an Sd.Kfz 251.  Think of the number of wheels he could have fitted to replace those long tracks. 

[Old Wombat]

I think Phill would have liked more ways to whiff a half track.  Especially an Sd.Kfz 251.  Think of the number of wheels he could have fitted to replace those long tracks. 

 

[kerick]

Then there was the conversion of the M8 armored car to take a TOW system on top of the turret and a 0.50 cal in place of the 37mm gun.

[Charlie_c67]

Not knowing much about tanks half tracks and the like, why was it usually the rear axles that were tracked not the front? Surely with the power at the rear you risk ploughing on in a straight line rather than making turns in muddy and snowy weather?

[Weaver]

Not knowing much about tanks half tracks and the like, why was it usually the rear axles that were tracked not the front? Surely with the power at the rear you risk ploughing on in a straight line rather than making turns in muddy and snowy weather?

Not sure about M2/M3s, but in the 251 the tracks did tank steering too. IIRC small deflections of the steering wheel turned the front wheels and large ones activated the brake on the track that was on the inside of the turn.

[Captain Canada]

That conversion by MikeCreek looks really good ! I love the look of that machine. I've bought a pile of stuff from Fidelis for my HO Army train, goof guys.

[jcf]

There's a lot of extraneous blah-blah on page 2 about the history of where the military police unit was stationed and the history of the unit. 90% is irrelevant.
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[jcf]

The German half-tracks are actually three-quarter track vehicles and the front axle,
suspension and wheels serve to support the weight of the engine etc. and are the
primary steering of the vehicle on hard and intermediate surfaces.

In contrast the US machines are half-tracks as the front axle is shaft-driven from a
transfer case mounted to the rear of the transmission. Essentially a 4X4 with the
rear axle and suspension replaced by tracks as it was directly developed from the
M3 4X4 Scout Car. They did not have differential steering.

[Rick Lowe]

Thanks for the info Harold, Jon & all - nice to see the rest of the article on the DC M3 with rear wheels, too. 

And the discussion on Missing Lynx is interesting.
I had picked it was an M2 myself: the side lockers are a dead give-away, likewise the older style front lights. Hadn't realized the lockers hinged at the bottom, though.
All useful stuff.

WRT the -251, I have seem someone put a GMC (or Sdkfz 231(6-rad), more likely) style twin axle with dual wheels onto one, possibly over on BtS?

The planning and plotting continues.
Now to find the correct markings... 

[Rick Lowe]

And I found this one, too - not my type of thing, but if anyone wants to run with it...

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235040594-m8-greyhound-with-m55-quad-gun-colombian-army-paint-job/

[jcf]

A complete archive of all issues of the Armored Car Journal newletter is available over
on the WarWheels site:
Armored Car Journal

[zenrat]

And I found this one, too - not my type of thing, but if anyone wants to run with it...

https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235040594-m8-greyhound-with-m55-quad-gun-colombian-army-paint-job/

"No details inside due to lack of references..."

And there in eight words is why what we do is better.  We have a superpower with which we can overcome this limitation.  It's called IMAGINATION...

[Rick Lowe]

A complete archive of all issues of the Armored Car Journal newletter is available over
on the WarWheels site:
Armored Car Journal

Oo - thanks, Jon - I'll have a peruse when I have a bit more time.   

"No details inside due to lack of references..."

And there in eight words is why what we do is better.  We have a superpower with which we can overcome this limitation.  It's called IMAGINATION...

Yep; some folk have forgotten about 'Imagineering', or 'Creative Gizmology', or just plain old 'Logical deduction'...
They make some lovely stuff, but you have to wonder whether some things just don't get made, because they can't find complete photographic coverage. Which is a sad thought.