Technicals and Guntrucks

philp · October 20, 2010, 12:06:54 PM

Can't find another thread so starting this one

I have a thing for Guntrucks, especially those used in Vietnam. Still have the 35th scale kit with the quad .50s in my stash even thou I have moved back to 72nd scale.

Another one I always wanted to do was a PLO Unimog armed with a ZPU-4. Wondered if the old Tamiya cab (from their motorized Unimog) would fit the Revell kit. Course, still need the gun but looks like Storm Miniatures is working on one. Now, can I find that Tamiya kit?

While doing some searching, found this neat thread in the Armorama forum with lots of neat technicals and all kinds of weapons so thought I would start a new thread to get other links and maybe some of your builds (whiff or RW).

http://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=148320&ord=&page=1

dy031101 · October 20, 2010, 12:47:56 PM

The second last one on Page 3 reminds me of an old fan illustration of a guntruck with a M901 hull (complete with the TOW launcher) on its cargo bed...... I couldn't find it now though

Would monster trucks make good basis at least for a technical?

Weaver · October 21, 2010, 10:07:41 AM

Ace make a towed Zu-23-2 AAA gun in 1/72nd, which is a natural for a technical.

philp · October 21, 2010, 08:05:29 PM

I need one of those but it will go on a Lebanese M-113.

Jschmus · October 22, 2010, 12:53:42 AM

I saw this and had to share, given this new discussion. This has to be the smallest vehicle I've seen rigged as a technical.

http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/10/21/5329457-if-al-shabab-held-a-photo-op-would-anyone-come

Weaver · October 22, 2010, 01:07:11 AM

Skiff do a BTR-152 and an MTLB in 1/35th scale, both of which have a Zu-23-2 in an improvised mounting on the top. You could buy either, transfer the gun to a technical, and still have a viable model left.

AFV club and Academy (?) both do 106mm RRs in various kits.

The perennial problem with doing a technical in "big" scale is, of course, scale. Most military gear is in 1/35th and most civilian vehicles are in 1/24th. You're pretty much limited to military trucks or "dual use" types like Hummers or Landrovers.

ChernayaAkula · October 22, 2010, 02:05:19 AM

^ MIG Productions do a couple of resin technicals in 1/35. Not really cheap, though. CLICKY!

philp · October 22, 2010, 07:20:54 AM

I have looked at the MIG kits and, while very nice, way out of my price range.

There were several snap together trucks from Monogram/Revell which would be usable with a little work. Remember a Toyota pickup and a Blazer (I think). Course, the Italeri Landrover can be used and there were several M-35s in that thread I listed at the start that could be made with the AFV kit or the Academy in 72nd.

philp · October 22, 2010, 07:26:48 AM

Some more good links for Guntrucks:

http://academic.uofs.edu/faculty/gramborw/atav/guntrucks.htm
http://thescrr.com/GunTruck/
http://community.webshots.com/album/124599660fVnKRb
http://www.guntruck.com/
http://www.gag.com/~cabell/photosguntrucks.htm

Mossie · October 22, 2010, 08:08:00 AM

Quote from: Weaver on October 22, 2010, 01:07:11 AM
Skiff do a BTR-152 and an MTLB in 1/35th scale, both of which have a Zu-23-2 in an improvised mounting on the top. You could buy either, transfer the gun to a technical, and still have a viable model left.

AFV club and Academy (?) both do 106mm RRs in various kits.

The perennial problem with doing a technical in "big" scale is, of course, scale. Most military gear is in 1/35th and most civilian vehicles are in 1/24th. You're pretty much limited to military trucks or "dual use" types like Hummers or Landrovers.

You should just be able to get away with mixing 1/35 weapons with 1/32 car kits. Tends to be mostly cars rather than trucks in this scale, but you could cut down a kit to turn it into a pick-up.

philp · October 22, 2010, 02:30:33 PM

Whoops, was a Bronco, not a Blazer, also a Chevy Pick up.
http://hollandplasticmodelkits.nl/Invoegen/monograminsert.htm

Also do a Fire Truck and a few semi's that could be cool armed with guns.

philp · October 22, 2010, 02:35:50 PM

Looks like some Wargame fodder out there also.
http://wpggamegeeks.blogspot.com/2009/12/trucks-for-truck-stop-and-mini-batrep.html
http://four-color-figures.blogspot.com/2009/11/gzg-bulldog-truck.html

Weaver · October 23, 2010, 05:30:56 AM

Trumpeter do a couple of 1/35th kits of the Chinese BJ212 jeep, one of which come with a 106mm recoilless rifle. They also do the RR as a separate kit, and various US, Russian and Chinese army trucks in 1/35th.

Military Wheels do a 1/35th Russian UAZ-469 jeep in two versions, one with an HMG and one with an RR. They also do some modern Russian trucks in 1/72nd.

Weaver · October 23, 2010, 05:46:35 AM

Quote from: Mossie on October 22, 2010, 08:08:00 AM
Quote from: Weaver on October 22, 2010, 01:07:11 AM
Skiff do a BTR-152 and an MTLB in 1/35th scale, both of which have a Zu-23-2 in an improvised mounting on the top. You could buy either, transfer the gun to a technical, and still have a viable model left.

AFV club and Academy (?) both do 106mm RRs in various kits.

The perennial problem with doing a technical in "big" scale is, of course, scale. Most military gear is in 1/35th and most civilian vehicles are in 1/24th. You're pretty much limited to military trucks or "dual use" types like Hummers or Landrovers.

You should just be able to get away with mixing 1/35 weapons with 1/32 car kits. Tends to be mostly cars rather than trucks in this scale, but you could cut down a kit to turn it into a pick-up.

A quick trawl through ebay didn't reveal much that was sensibly usable in 1/32nd, although Aoshima and Araii seem to do larger modern commercials which hold out the prospect that they might do smaller ones too.

If you wanted to be silly/radical:

1. Araii do a variety of little Japanese three and four wheeled delivery trucks that would look truly silly with weapon mounts.

2. You could always turn the Airfix MGB roadster into an MGB-HMG...

3. There are some Airfix very early vintage cars in 1/32nd: how about a pre-WWI technical (the first armoured cars were pretty much along these lines!).

chrisonord · October 23, 2010, 08:15:21 AM

In 1/72nd scale you can use the keil craft trucks, there are articulated and ridged trucks, as well as just the tractor units, I have a Mercedes tractor unit which will get drafted into military service, I just need to find it a trailer. As part of my Cartel airfield defence, I am going to put one of the ZSU-23 AAA towed units on the back of a ICM Zil or Graz flat bed trucks I have. That would still be pretty lethal against ground targets though.
The Academy M977 has plenty of room on the back for numerous weapons too, maybe build a Bradley or LAV-25 turret onto it, or 2

Chris.