M548

[cooper_xl]

I fell in love with a truck some time ago. It's big, heavy and ugly and I didn't see any built until today(as far as my research went). And when I revealed the idea to a coworker, he said that rode those in the army so he became my official advisor

 

This build is already finished and some of you might had seen it completed but I want to share the process to you, curious minds!

 

 

Introducing the M548, a cargo and transport vehicle from the 60s:

 

 

 

 

To the build!

It's a big one, measuring 25x58cm, in true 1/10 scale:

 

 

 

First cuts:

 

 

 

The nose:

 

 

 

 

Test fit:

 

 

 

 

Back to the nose:

The 1:1 has 2 headlight clusters, containing regular headlights, blacklights for stealthiness, horn, blinkers,etc(depends on the variant). on mine I went for regular lights, red lights to simulate the blacklights and horn

 

 

 

 

Tought in machine them but 3d print makes it easier,machined only the housing and the lenses were cut from 1:1 car lights:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The running gear  were metal heng long gearboxes:

 

 

 

 

 

They came with tiny motors(280 or 370) so I've adapted them to 540 motors.

 

 

This running gear seemed  perfect for this truck. 2 gearboxes with 1 motor each seems that would take too much space but no:

 

They sit perfectly under the cab floor like the 1:1 and the bottom of the gearboxes align perfectly with the underside

The complete running gear it's 2 motors, 2 ESCs, 1 (or 2) bats. I was afraid of having to buy a stick radio like all tank guys have but I've tinkered with my usual radio that offers 4 mixing slots and have found the perfect way. Progressive control in both throtle and steering

 

 

[Bajadre]

awesome job brother very cool tracked ride that 👍i also liked those monster russian ones they use in the  antarctica too 😎

[cooper_xl]

more stuff:

 

Side windows

 

 

 

these rear vents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most of the m548 I've seen online(and the ones on our national army) have canvas top but i found that are hardtop variants and knew right away that's the best option:

 

 

 

 

 

So, stacked a couple of layers of pvc and tried to do the round corner windows

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[cooper_xl]

 

Crew door:

 

 

 

I wasn't planning on opening doors but a friend convinced to do that and being honest,looks better and helps with the interior

 

 

Next, I progress on the "dash",the real one is barebones,military style

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mine it's not 100% accurate but after paint and details, I think it will look good enough

 

 

 

 

 

 

The dials extend to the other side of the sheet,will have wires behind to simulate the connections and only the tip of the LEDs will be showing

 

[cooper_xl]

Beginning of the roof:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Far from finished and not glued yet to allow working on the interior

[cooper_xl]

Tailgate

The 1:1:

 

 

 

 

I assumed that the tailgate can be opened to both sides so I went with it

 

 

Basic shape, 2 layers of PVC and one of the hinges:

 

 

Closed:

 

One way....

 

...or another

 

 

 

2 long rods act like hinges.To open,just need to remove one depending on which side the tailgate opens

 

 

 

 

More on the interior

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the steps to climb:

 

 

 

I sanded them better after these photos

 

 

 

Sometimes the photos trick the size of things because there's no reference points. So this is....

 

 

...the truck's actual size

 

[cooper_xl]

 

 

The hull:

 

 

Had to bent a 0.8mm aluminium sheet and with the angle grinder made the last bends. Rivets to hold the corners and epoxy to reinforce

The truck is very dirty because of handling it at the shop to fit the hull

 

Front:

 

 

 

Bottom:

 

 

Gearboxes in place:

 

 

 

 

Not having the "hull" done, delayed progressing on the body. With the hull, everything was figured out.

 

 

Another view of it,to show better how much space it has for transmission and electronic

 

 

 

mAh for days  🙂  ..(actually, I'll use only 1 battery)

 

 

Was planing to do these "fenders" as part of the hull but they were looking bad:

 

 

 

 

This section was also to be in aluminium but because the hull is removable, there will be gaps showing, so I enclosed it in PVC. Now it's easier to add details

 

 

Then, made this bulkhead(?) with service panels for the engine

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is he floor of the cargo bay. Had the piece cut from the beginning

First, some reinforcements :

 

 

Then, a kind of hatch to change batteries:

 

 

Maybe some magnets to close properly:

 

 

Tailgate on:

 

[Stormbringer]

really enjoying these build threads mate 

Edited December 4, 2022 by Stormbringer

[cooper_xl]

5 hours ago, Stormbringer said:

really enjoying these build threads mate 

 

Thanks! This one was challenging but fun...I think you'll enjoy the mechanical side of this

 

 

 

Well, I couldn't leave the truck unattended...Seriously,cat?

 

 

How to close the doors? Seems to work

 

 

 

I wasn't liking the squareness of the rear. Looking at more photos, realize that was a mistake. Redone it with angled sides:

 

Got the cushions for the seats:

 

 

 

The footrests:

 

 

 

And the levers to steer:

 

 

I needed an idea for these "hooks" (?):

 

 

 

 

 

They are all over the cab,inside also. My logical way to do them was in metal but i needed a bunch. Already did ones for a 1/6 willys but were bigger and only 4 of them..

So I tried to model and 3d print them . Are a bit small but the printer handled well

Are a bit rough but sanding and paint will improve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Stormbringer]

lovely cat tho 

[cooper_xl]

M548s  carry a set of tools on the front. Sledgehammer,shovel, picaxe and axe

 

Started with the sledgehammer:

 

 

 

 

 

Axe done and put to work

 

 

 

 

 

I really split these logs with the axe 🙂

 

 

 

Shovel:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ran out of space for a picaxe

 

 

Edited December 5, 2022 by cooper_xl

[Stormbringer]

really good job on the tools mate 

[cooper_xl]

Worked on the rear section, that small door to the cargo area

 

 

 

 

 

A splash of color to see how it looks

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Glued the roof and did the opening of the hatch

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the windows were cut, didn't notice that the real ones  weren't square. Small detail but bothered me ...

 

So...

 

 

 

 

 

Another job was making the hooks for the canvas. Was thinking in buying those tiny hooks for bras but then, i preferred to do only to see how it could look

 

 

 

 

[Stormbringer]

certainly coming on 

[cooper_xl]

Looks are important but it also has to move...

My attempt of replicate the real traction wheels:

 

 

 

 

 

made the hubs for the traction wheels:

 

 

quick mockup:

 

 

 

 

 

I had the idea of machining the road wheels from aluminium and use rubber around like the 1:1 but it was too much trouble with the tracks I've got

Speaking of tracks, I know they're are not similar to the 1:1 but they were the best cheap ones I've found

 

 

And one of the road wheels:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhaust:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, most of them have that truck style exhaust with the cap on top that opens but I've found this one with another exhaust type and went for it:

 

The reason? It's easier to add the smoke generator later

 

 

 

 

 

[Stormbringer]

looking good and getting there 

[cooper_xl]

Another step:

 

 

Detail,with the M2 bolts

 

All assembled:

 

 

 

Were made in 4mm stainless steel rod, TIG welded and the brackets are from 12mm square tubing.

 

 

 

First test:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-LzyysaeVU


The setup is: 2 55t on 60A ESCs and a pistol radio that allows more than one mixing. Basically there's 2 mixes, one for throttle and one for steering and they work together

__________________

 

[Stormbringer]

looking good and cool on the double mixing in the tx 

what tx are you using ?

[cooper_xl]

4 hours ago, Stormbringer said:

looking good and cool on the double mixing in the tx 

what tx are you using ?

 

At that time I was using a Carson FS REFLEX WHEEL ULTIMATE TOUCH (that's a mouthfull!) ,4ch radio with some cool features(not winch friendly, unfortunately) . One of the features is 4 mixing slots and because I never had the manual, was really proud  of figuring out this all own my own 🙂 .  Basically, I've used 2 slots: one makes the 2 motors go forward or backward, the second allows to turn. And if you went full throttle and needed to turn, one of the motors began to slow down depending on how hard you were turning. At the extremes, made the M548  rotate in place

[cooper_xl]

Ring mount and legs for the Browning M2  .50. Is a notorious  feature that had to include..

 

 

 

The ring is a 2 piece part that I've machined from POM. Could do it in 1 piece but this way, rotates 360º

 

First, the front legs

 

 

 

 

Then,could do the rear ones

 

 

 

The asymmetry on these is on purpose.For some reason the 1:1 is like this...

When epoxy hardened and added reinforcements,cleaned the "welds"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Stormbringer]

very smart mate 

[cooper_xl]

Rear door: Added the steel tow cable with all it's mounts:

 

 

 

 

 

 For the curious, there's aluminium for the half circles and hooks , copper on the middle mount, brass on the cable ends and the cable itself it's steel(a bike brake cable)

 

 

 

 

And these:

 

 

 

First, the cutoff handle(pulls a  chain for the fire suppression system on the engine)

 

 

And then, the handles(?) to help enter the cab

 

 

Some creative liberty to make them work with the door handles

 

 

 

And, all the wheels painted(except tension wheels)

 

Edited December 11, 2022 by cooper_xl

[Fat Freddy]

Fantastic. Next level stuff. 

👏

[cooper_xl]

The tracks: In  stock form , look too clean and being all black,don't seem scale. So i tried to weather them to look metallic and worn

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is the first one, used a rust red, and 2 different grays

 

because the red was too "red" for rust, on the second track applied a bit of dark brown and seems better

 

 

 

 

Stock and weathered:

 

 

For those who are wondering if the color will hold, against the ground? sections  that are in contact with the ground lost the paint but the black plastic turned to a dull gray

[Stormbringer]

good effect on the weathering