M16z1 MGMC Truck. Finished pics pg 2.

[NARSES2]

with rubber "feet" to reduce the risk of pinging.

Can't say I've seen clamps like that. I'll keep my eyes open 

[zenrat]

They are a Japanese brand.  Can't remember the name.  But i'm sure they are not unique.  They are definitely superior to clamps with plastic feet when it comes to pingability.

Today I airbrushed the body/chassis of the truck green.  No pictures, sorry.  I thinned the paint too much and nearly messed it up.  However I saved it discovering in the process that standing freshly painted (with acrylic) parts in front of a fan heater really accelerates drying with no apparent ill effects to the paint finish.  I compressed two days of painting into about three hours.  A good tip for future 1WGBs.
I also primed the gun turret.  Guns still elevate   

[frank2056]

Interesting build! I love that front bumper - the truck is either overcompensating - or more likely, the gun mount is so heavy it needs a ballast.

[zenrat]

The M16 halftrack had a winch fitted into the front bumper.  I have chosen to leave it out.

Here's the bulk of the truck as it was at the end of play yesterday.
M16 Truck WIP 16-07-26 01 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
I have painted it in what Vallejo call Refractive (or Reflective) Green which is apparently supposed to be the Infra Red Reflective Green used by the British Military.

And here's all the bits at the end of play today.
M16 Truck WIP 16-07-26 02 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Ammo and Jerry cans are painted Olive Drab.  Interior is painted Interior Green.  I am confident I will finish (there, that's mozzed it...).

[Rick Lowe]

I still think the base that comes with that kit is Cool... 

[zenrat]

I still think the base that comes with that kit is Cool... 

The railway tracks?
It's not bad.  I don't have time to build it for the GB now though.

I finished all the painting today (bar touchups).  Clear coat tomorrow.

[zenrat]

Finished.  Pics tomorrow after I brush a little weathering powder on it.

I did manage to retain the working gun elevation feature but it is very tight and paint is scraped off every time it is moved.  So it'll be staying where it is.

[Old Wombat]

Funny that! The quad turrets for my PBRs moved when I put them aside, now they won't move for love nor money! 

Don't know why, glue or paint fouling should have shown up before they were put away.

Still, less to worry about breaking, now. 

[Rick Lowe]

Don't know why, glue or paint fouling should have shown up before they were put away.

I have had moving parts move just after they were glued (checking, you see), but not after the glue dried.
I conclude I got glue on the moving surfaces and spread a thin layer all along them, when I moved same (for what turned out to be the last time...  )

[Old Wombat]

Don't know why, glue or paint fouling should have shown up before they were put away.

I have had moving parts move just after they were glued (checking, you see), but not after the glue dried.
I conclude I got glue on the moving surfaces and spread a thin layer all along them, when I moved same (for what turned out to be the last time...  )

Yeah, had that happen before now, but these were working for about a week (maybe more) after gluing & painting. 

[zenrat]

Lucky we are all adults and don't need the moving parts to facilitate our play...

[zenrat]

M16-z1 Gun Truck – Vietnam/Laos border 1969.

M16-z1 Gun Truck - 15 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The M16-z1 was a response to the production of home made Gun Trucks for convoy protection duties in Vietnam.  The US Army had in its inventory a significant number of M16 "Meat Chopper" Half Tracks which being armoured and carrying an M45 Quadmount would be perfect for this use if it wasn't for its top speed being only 40mph and it's tracks causing unacceptable damage to the already poor roads in the region.

M16-z1 Gun Truck - 11 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The answer was to re-engineer the vehicles, replacing the track gear with wheels, producing the M16-z1 Gun Truck (officially – M16-z1 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage).  A prototype was produced using the tandem rear axle from a White prime mover.  This proved the concept could work and showed the quickness and ease with which the conversion could be made. The Army being the Army "quick and easy" wasn't a concept they were familiar with so a more complex conversion kit was designed which also replaced the front axle and the transfer case.  Conversion kits were manufactured by Oshkosh and were shipped alongside the M16s they were to be fitted to.  The conversions being done in Saigon.  The surplus track gear, removed during the conversion proved very popular being installed on all sorts of vehicles from tuk-tuks to buses.

M16-z1 Gun Truck - 7 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The converted Meat Choppers proved very effective and were popular with their crews, staying in service until the US defeat and withdrawal.  The vehicle pictured is one of a batch provided to Australian forces. As per Australian Defence Force regulations it was converted to Right Hand Drive.

M16-z1 Gun Truck - 12 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

The model.
Revell (ne Matchbox) 1/76 M16 Half Track.
Running gear from 1/72 ICM B-21 Grad Multiple Launch Rocket System.

M16-z1 Gun Truck - 16 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr

[Old Wombat]

Nice one! 

1/72 on 1/76 explains the huge (but cool  ) chunkiness of the wheels.

[PR19_Kit]

Magic stuff Fred, even if I don't know a THING about all the bits you used for it. 

I want to see the tracked busses and tuk-tuks as well though......................   

[zenrat]

Thanks folks.

Nice one! 

1/72 on 1/76 explains the huge (but cool  ) chunkiness of the wheels.

The Soviets did use big wheels, but yeah, the scale discrepancy does help make them bigger.  All axles had to be narrowed to make it look like some effort had been made to tuck the tyres under the guards.

I'm getting the urge to do similar in 1/35.