1/35 M76 "Otter"

[frank2056]

This is the Gecko M76- a weird little Duck - "Otter" but apparently it was effective and was well liked by its crews.



I decided to make this a post-Vietnam vehicle, after seeing these 1/72 M76 kits. (The Scalemates links show other pages):

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/mil-mod-mm-072-131-m76-otter-plus-second-waterline-late-type-usmc-vietnam--1457984


https://www.scalemates.com/kits/mil-mod-mm-072-121-m76-otter-early-and-wrecker-other-users--1457981


The wrecker and cargo hauler versions are tempting, but I haven't found pictures of the real vehicles and in any case, they seem like major surgery. I'm leaning towards something like the yellow or red vehicles.

The kit has a fair amount of tiny PE bits, but it isn't at the Hobby Boss or Bronco level of annoyance.  The assembly is rational (unlike Broco/HobbyBoss) and they are nicely detailed and marked in sequential order on the sprues (there are a LOT of sprues, though)

It took a while to get to this point. The tires are plastic and not vinyl (yay!) but all those wheels took a while to assemble and clean up:



One issue is that the prop should be angled up when not in use; I'll have to break the joint and angle it.

The kit has an option to add radios (which are pretty nice). After I built and installed them, I realized that they wouldn't be a good fit for my civilian version so I took them out.

Some of the PE is ridiculous, though - like these wingnuts in the driver's compartment:



I've knocked a few off, but luckily have only lost one.

Here is where I left it today. Some of the parts are just press fit in place. I'll paint it before attaching the tracks; I checked and they will fit in place with the rest of the superstructure in place:

[Wardukw]

Liking this mate 👌 👍
Thoughts have crossed my mind about getting one and seeing what I come up with 
But I shall sit and watch how yours goes 😏

[Mossie]

Quirky little thing, be good to see what you do with it. 

[PR19_Kit]

What a strange little device, but it looks very versatile. Those wingnuts are just CRAZY! 

[NARSES2]

It's an interesting looking little thing 

Those wingnuts are just CRAZY! 

They certainly are Kit,

[frank2056]

The kit builds nicely despite the sometimes ridiculous PE. The wingnuts could have easily been made from plastic; I used a plastic wingnut (from a Bronco kit, ironically) to replace the missing wingnut and it looks better. I may just replace the next set (there are 4-5 more in another location) with some stretched sprue.

There was one small strip of PE that was supposed to go in the engine compartment - there's no engine in the kit and no way of displaying the hood open - that they wanted you to apply after the section was glued to the lower hull. I passed on that task.

[kerick]

It looks just right for a snow cat vehicle. I'll be watching this one!