Military Wrecker - Revell - 1:32 Scale

[CDW]

It was a glorious day of sunshine, children, grand children, lots of great food, music and dancing, and a whole lot of cooling off at the pool today. Our youngest daughter turned 23 and she will be leaving for New Hampshire in two more weeks so today was her day. 

Tonight I took some photos of where I'm at with this wrecker, just a few more details to work out before the finish of it.

I realized something a couple of days ago worth mentioning about this model. Turns out this model was re-released by Revell in 1983, but it's originally a Renwall model, Revell buying the molds after Renwall went tango uniform. So that dates this model/molds back into the 60's when all those great old Renwall models were being produced.

I have a few more details to work out with the rear and forward winches. I thought I had some small chain I could use to hang off the front bumper but I could not locate it. Lost in the proverbial black hole of Calcutta. 

 

The four stabilizers are movable and can be positioned either stowed or lowered.

 

[lmagna]

That has to be about the cleanest military vehicle I have ever seen Craig! FANTASTIC build. It is clear that this kit has waited a LONG time for the right person. Was the big crate just extra "scenery"?

[CDW]

4 hours ago, lmagna said:

That has to be about the cleanest military vehicle I have ever seen Craig! FANTASTIC build. It is clear that this kit has waited a LONG time for the right person. Was the big crate just extra "scenery"?

For 12 long years I worked directly for a US Army Major General. His nickname was Mr. Standards. Now we were not in a combat situation, but I can tell you with first hand experience many times over, you would not want to be on the receiving end of one of his inspections with a vehicle of any type that was dirty, rusted, or generally untidy. Heads would roll and buttocks would look like a Piranha had chewed them up when he was finished. I have literally watched him make officers cry. I am imagining this recovery vehicle was assigned to a unit under his command and was getting ready for inspection. 😄

Been there, done that, and got the tee shirt many times over.

[CDW]

One thing I could/should have done that would have been a lot more realistic would have been to remove the molded on stabilizers on each side of the boom and replace them with some scratch built stabilizers. When the vehicle was moving or when it was lifting a maximum load weight, these stabilizers would be lowered to the mounts below.

 

[lmagna]

1 hour ago, CDW said:

I have literally watched him make officers cry.

It doesn't take a general to do that. We got a colonel at one point that came in and started doing somewhat the same thing to our unit. He seemed to be more interested in spit shine pretty rather than effective combat readiness. He also instituted a number of other VERY unpopular activities that made very little sense in a combat zone, in fact some of them were outright dangerous. He lasted about two months and transferred out. I suspect they thought he was going to wake up one morning with a grenade in his bunk! Even still, we seldom let our equipment get too dirty or worn looking for any length of time. We never seemed to have a shortage of OD green paint especially around inspection times!

[Landlubber Mike]

Looking great Craig.  I like these work horse types of vehicles.

[CDW]

Just now, Landlubber Mike said:

Looking great Craig.  I like these work horse types of vehicles.

Thanks Mike. I like them, too. These days, there are more of them available in all shapes and sizes than ever before, this being one of the earlier examples from the 60's.

When this model was introduced in the 60's, these vehicles were still in service.

[Egilman]

3 hours ago, CDW said:

For 12 long years I worked directly for a US Army Major General. His nickname was Mr. Standards. Now we were not in a combat situation, but I can tell you with first hand experience many times over, you would not want to be on the receiving end of one of his inspections with a vehicle of any type that was dirty, rusted, or generally untidy. Heads would roll and buttocks would look like a Piranha had chewed them up when he was finished. I have literally watched him make officers cry. I am imagining this recovery vehicle was assigned to a unit under his command and was getting ready for inspection. 😄

Been there, done that, and got the tee shirt many times over.

 

2 hours ago, lmagna said:

It doesn't take a general to do that. We got a colonel at one point that came in and started doing somewhat the same thing to our unit. He seemed to be more interested in spit shine pretty rather than effective combat readiness. He also instituted a number of other VERY unpopular activities that made very little sense in a combat zone, in fact some of them were outright dangerous. He lasted about two months and transferred out. I suspect they thought he was going to wake up one morning with a grenade in his bunk! Even still, we seldom let our equipment get too dirty or worn looking for any length of time. We never seemed to have a shortage of OD green paint especially around inspection times!

That is why the term REMF strikes such a chord with all servicemen that have actually seen combat........ According to my father, it applied to anyone no matter the type of rank insignia they wore, he related a story where he actually was in the next room when the colonel, was berating a major for his lets say greater than spic and span tendencies in the "name" of efficiency. The colonel gave him the "Short" course on military efficiency in a combat zone, which had nothing to do with paint. He was soon separated from the division, yeah, completely out of the division he was that disliked and that was in Korea..... I can imagine similar things happening in all combat zones.... 

 

Some people just cannot figure what is important in what situation....

[Egilman]

3 hours ago, CDW said:

One thing I could/should have done that would have been a lot more realistic would have been to remove the molded on stabilizers on each side of the boom and replace them with some scratch built stabilizers. When the vehicle was moving or when it was lifting a maximum load weight, these stabilizers would be lowered to the mounts below.

 

You could still do it brother, it's not that difficult. But it's true that it will be more difficult than having it off the model....

 

It looks great either way, it's may be a 60's kit but your build shows that modern techniques can make them look very very good...

 

Well done my friend....

[CDW]

Just now, Egilman said:

You could still do it brother, it's not that difficult. But it's true that it will be more difficult than having it off the model....

 

It looks great either way, it's may be a 60's kit but your build shows that modern techniques can make them look very very good...

 

Well done my friend....

Difficulty has nothing to do with it. It's just a matter of how I want to spend my time and what I want to spend it doing. 

 

[Canute]

I always liked the Renwal kits. Thought the details were much sharper than Revell or Aurora. Their ships looked sharp.

[Old Collingwood]

Very nice finish - she has come up a treat  - looks the business  with the boom and  pullys attached.

 

OC.

[mtaylor]

9 hours ago, lmagna said:

It doesn't take a general to do that. We got a colonel at one point that came in and started doing somewhat the same thing to our unit. He seemed to be more interested in spit shine pretty rather than effective combat readiness. He also instituted a number of other VERY unpopular activities that made very little sense in a combat zone, in fact some of them were outright dangerous. He lasted about two months and transferred out. I suspect they thought he was going to wake up one morning with a grenade in his bunk! Even still, we seldom let our equipment get too dirty or worn looking for any length of time. We never seemed to have a shortage of OD green paint especially around inspection times!

 

Had a Captain like that in 'Nam.  Was grunt but for some reason they put in an aviation shop.  Had people saluting, dusting the rafters in the hanger and polishing the concrete floor in the shop. Always had starched jungle utils and spit shined combat boots.  He was the bane of everyone's existence.  After I rotated home and discharged, I heard he got not so gentle wake up call that involved explosives.

[Canute]

Had a CO in Thailand that expected us to be in our 1505s if not on the flying schedule. And he didn't do much flying himself. He didn't last long as squadron CO; got booted to a "training" position to get his ticket punched for a remote combat tour. Another REMF.

[Edwardkenway]

Nice Craig, very nice!!

[CDW]

Just now, Edwardkenway said:

Nice Craig, very nice!!

Thanks Edward

[popeye the sailor]

I feel like I missed most of the party......your about done    the wrecker looks great.....really like the use of the two drabs.  these older kits are why I enjoy being a nostalgia nut.....especially if I had built them before.  it gives ya a chance to see how evolved your skills have become.   really sweet looking model.........hell yea on the rusty chains