M16z1 MGMC Truck.

[zenrat]

M16z1 MGMC Truck.

Inspired by THIS i am combining these two kits.

M16 Truck start 01 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

M16 Truck Start 02 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The M16 is still sealed in the bag.  I got it from someone here.  I apologise for forgetting who it was.  The Grad has had the MLRS parts removed for other purposes.
I'm thinking it'll be an ad hoc convoy escort vehicle.

[Rheged]

Interesting!    Might the backstory possibly include a reference to the  Sherman Calliope :-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T34_Calliope

[zenrat]

First update.
Today I have mostly been preparing the half track chassis by removing the moulded in front suspension leaf springs and the rear axles.
You can see what the chassis piece used to look like on the destructions in the picture below.

M16 Truck WIP 11-07-26 01 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

And i've converted it to RHDrive.  This involved hacking off the moulded in steering wheel plinth, patching the resulting hole, and regluing the plinth on the right side.  Pretty easy given the very low level of detail in the ex Matchbox Meat Chopper.  If I had more than a week I might try and graft in some of ICMs cab detail.  But not if I want to finish.

M16 Truck WIP 11-07-26 02 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[zenrat]

Interesting!    Might the backstory possibly include a reference to the  Sherman Calliope :-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T34_Calliope

Probably not as the rocket tubes are not in the box.  They are in a HEMTT box which has had its chassis shortened.  An idea I had which has stalled.

I had toyed with the idea of making this an unarmed Half Truck loaded up with crates and drums but I had to drop the idea as I can't find where I put all my 1/72 crates and drums so it'll be getting the quad 50's.

[Rheged]

As usual, "no plan survives first contact  etc" .  However it turns out, I'm sure it will be worth close inspection.

  For future reference, in addition to the Calliope,  there are  also the South African  Valkiri  and Bateleur systems to whiff and thus befuddle the unwary.

[zenrat]

The wikipaedia page for the BM-21 Grad has pics of a number of interesting variants.

[buzzbomb]

Considering what else was put on M3 halftrack, this is firmly in the "why not" category.
Interested to see how this is engineered. 

[zenrat]

Today I got the axles together and added adaptors.  The wheel track needs narrowing a touch but they will fit nicely.
I attached the floor to the chassis and the body sides to the floor.  Fit is so-so.  Tape and clamps were needed as will be a smear of filler.
And I glued the turret together.

M16 Truck WIP 12-07-26 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[Mossie]

I'm on my phone. Had to zoom in before I realised that interesting red thing wasn't part of the build. In my defence, Fred has previous. 

[Rick Lowe]

Fred has previous. 

Oh, so very, very many instances... 

Interested to watch this one, Fred.

[zenrat]

 

It's a clamp.  Not immedistely obvious from that angle.  You'll see it again in today's photo.

Today I got the axles narrowed and on, the wheels built and painted, and the rest of the bodywork in place.  I also realised that the turret had appeared to have been designed by Matchbox to have moving elevating guns.  Revell neglected to detail this in their destructions.  Possibly because soft detail (worn moulds?) would have made it hard to achieve without additional reinforcing.  I have added additional reinforcing and am hopeful of success.

M16 Truck WIP 13-07-26 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[Rick Lowe]

Yep, the original kits had that feature.
I haven't built one in years...

I recall someone on either ATF or UAMF decided the kit was a bit narrow* and widened it by cutting it up the middle & adding spacer pieces.
It went ok, but it's more work than just using an Airfix kit...

*I tend to agree with him, too.

[zenrat]

Well, the guns still elevate.  I managed to glue them in without getting excess where it wasn't needed.
Two more guns added and some light greebling to cover a seam and an ejector pin mark.
M16 Truck WIP 14-07-26 03 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

I painted the tyres.
M16 Truck WIP 14-07-26 02 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

And primed the rest.
M16 Truck WIP 14-07-26 01 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[NARSES2]

Now if I'd attempted to clamp that number of wheels/tyres using those clamps I'd still be looking for at least one wheel that had gone into orbit and probably one of the clamps to for good measure 

[zenrat]

The wheels are stuck onto cocktail sticks and the clamps are new ones I got at expo with rubber "feet" to reduce the risk of pinging.