Here are some Weasel pic's I had not seen before (don't pay attention to the modeler's web page)
(copy)
M29C Weasel amphibious carrier - Studebaker - part 01
Hi, Tankers !!!
This project is based in a kit partially (badly) built that I bought with pennies on eBay. The beautiful junk arrived at my house in a plastic bag. These plastic parts were forgotten in my closet until last week when I was looking for a kit to build. I decided to reincarnate this classic. I will not do anything too far-fetched, but I'll try to improve something in the little monster ...the M29C Weasel amphibious carrier, built by Studebaker. Let's see more...
History:
The M29 Weasel was a World War II tracked vehicle, built by Studebaker, designed for operation in snow and water.
The idea for the Weasel came from the work of British inventor Geoffrey Pyke in support of his proposals to attack Axis forces and industrial installations in Norway.
In 1943 plans were made to invade German-held Norway, and it was appreciated that some form of snowcrossing cargo carrier would be required.
Pyke's plan to hamper the German atomic weapons development became Project Plough for which he proposed a fast light mechanised device that would transport small groups of commando troops of the 1st Special Service Force across snow. In active service in Europe, Weasels were used to supply frontline troops over difficult ground when wheeled vehicles were immobilised.
After a series of trials a tracked vehicle known as the T15 Weasel was selected for service and this was later developed into the T24, still named Weasel and developed for use not only over snow but over mud, rough terrain and swamps.
In time the T24 was standardized as the M29 Cargo Carrier and from this evolved the M29C amphibious light cargo carrier. The name Weasel was once more carried over, even though the official name Ark was promulgated.
The first 2,103 vehicles had 380 mm tracks, a later version had 510 mm tracks. The M29 was amphibious, but with a very low freeboard; the M29C Water Weasel was the amphibious version, with buoyancy cells in the bow and stern as well as twin rudders.
The M29C amphibious carrier was a simple conversion of the cargo carrier M29.
Changes were made to the flexible rubber tracks to enable them to provide propulsion in water, flotation chambers were provided at front and rear, and twin rudders were added for steering in water,
The land M29 had already demonstrated its abilities to cross just about any type of terrain, including snow, sand, muddy and rough stony ground, and the M29C retained all these qualities.
In water it was somewhat slow and it could not operate in other than inland waterway conditions, so its use in surf or rough water was very limited. But when used correctly the M29C soon proved to be a valuable vehicle. Its uses were legion, especially during the many island-hopping campaigns in the Pacific theatre.
Rice fields were no obstacle and the M29C was equally at home crossing sand dunes. The M29C and the land-based M29 Weasels were used as ambulances on many occasions.
Another use was for crossing minefields as the Weasel's ground pressure was very low, often too low to set off anti-tank mines, A technique was even evolved whereby the Weasels could be controlled remotely using hand-operated cords, but this technique had its limitations. The Weasels were also very reliable: they rarely broke down and their track life was later found to be far in excess of anticipations.
Once ashore they were used to cross terrain that no other vehicle could attempt, and they carried men, supplies and even towed artillery using their rear-mounted towing pintle.
Variants:
The Weasel used a petrol engine Studebaker Model 6-170 Champion, a 6 cylinder 169.6 cubic inch 4-stroke engine running on 72 octane gasoline delivering 70 bhp at 3,600 rpm. Fuel capactity was 130 L. Under average conditions typically could range 266 km.
Performance
Maximum gradability: 100 %
Turning radius: 3.7 m
Fording depth: Will Float (M29C)
Maximum width of ditch vehicle will cross: 91 cm
Maximum vertical obstacle vehicle will climb: 61 cm
Maximum allowable speed: 58 km/h
Maximum allowable towed load: 1,700 kg
The M29C was also used by signal units, for its ability to cross water and land impassable to other vehicles made it a very valuable wirelaying vehicle. But it was as a supply or personnel carrier that it was most useful.
Although unarmoured, M29Cs were often used to carry armed troops across water obstacles and land them in front of an enemy position, other M29Cs then following up with ammunition and supplies, By the time the war ended about 8,000 M29C Weasels had been produced, and orders for a further 10,000 were then cancelled. But the M29C concept had been well established by then and since 1945 many follow-on designs have been produced. M29Cs were used by several of the Allied armies. The British army made use of a number during 1944 and 1945 and for a few years after that.
Some European armies used them for years after the war, and numbers can still be found in civilian hands, hard at work over swampy terrain.
Specs:
The kit:
Now, in 2014, talking about this kit is interesting. This kit is one of the dinosaurs of military modeling, having been manufactured by Monogram in 1957. This beast is two years older than me, which is amazing. This is the art box:
My kit arrived like this;
The tracks were resected and contracted, but in good shape. After gluing the seam, the tracks just do not fit in the Weasel's suspension.
In desperation, I had an idea: put the tracks in boiling water and pull the tracks, expanding its length. As soon as I could stretch the plastic, plunged the tracks into ice water, keeping the stretch ...
As the tracks was already glued, its diameter increased. Adapted the tracks on the bogies and wheels and the track was relatively loose.
(copy)
M29C Weasel amphibious carrier - Studebaker - part 01
Hi, Tankers !!!
This project is based in a kit partially (badly) built that I bought with pennies on eBay. The beautiful junk arrived at my house in a plastic bag. These plastic parts were forgotten in my closet until last week when I was looking for a kit to build. I decided to reincarnate this classic. I will not do anything too far-fetched, but I'll try to improve something in the little monster ...the M29C Weasel amphibious carrier, built by Studebaker. Let's see more...
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| Hello, Yankees !! |
The M29 Weasel was a World War II tracked vehicle, built by Studebaker, designed for operation in snow and water.
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| The M29C Weasel under trials... |
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| WWII era Studer's poster |
In 1943 plans were made to invade German-held Norway, and it was appreciated that some form of snowcrossing cargo carrier would be required.
Pyke's plan to hamper the German atomic weapons development became Project Plough for which he proposed a fast light mechanised device that would transport small groups of commando troops of the 1st Special Service Force across snow. In active service in Europe, Weasels were used to supply frontline troops over difficult ground when wheeled vehicles were immobilised.
After a series of trials a tracked vehicle known as the T15 Weasel was selected for service and this was later developed into the T24, still named Weasel and developed for use not only over snow but over mud, rough terrain and swamps.
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| Studebaker T15 Weasel |
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| Studebaker T24 Weasel |
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| M29 Weasel |
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| M29C prototype amphibious under test |
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| M29C rear - Notice the twin rudders |
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| M29 in snow... the wide tracks allow large fluctuation |
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| M29C in the mud... |
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| ...and in the sand !!! Awesome !!! |
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| The M29C moving perfectly into a flood in the Netherlands ... |
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| .. as in a swampy area in the Pacific. The Weasel was unstoppable. |
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| M29C as ambulance... |
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| ...another "medic' Weasel in the crossing of the Rhine |
Once ashore they were used to cross terrain that no other vehicle could attempt, and they carried men, supplies and even towed artillery using their rear-mounted towing pintle.
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| M29 towing a 57mm AT gun leaving a landing craft during the Rhine River crossings on 24 March 1945 |
- T-15 prototype
- M28 (G154)
- M29 (T24) without float tanks (G179)
- M29C with float tanks
- M29C Type A: with center-mounted 75 mm M20 recoilless rifle
- M29C Type B: with (T106) rear-mounted 75 mm recoilless rifle
- M29C Type C: with center-mounted 37 mm Gun M3
The Weasel used a petrol engine Studebaker Model 6-170 Champion, a 6 cylinder 169.6 cubic inch 4-stroke engine running on 72 octane gasoline delivering 70 bhp at 3,600 rpm. Fuel capactity was 130 L. Under average conditions typically could range 266 km.
Performance
Maximum gradability: 100 %
Turning radius: 3.7 m
Fording depth: Will Float (M29C)
Maximum width of ditch vehicle will cross: 91 cm
Maximum vertical obstacle vehicle will climb: 61 cm
Maximum allowable speed: 58 km/h
Maximum allowable towed load: 1,700 kg
The M29C was also used by signal units, for its ability to cross water and land impassable to other vehicles made it a very valuable wirelaying vehicle. But it was as a supply or personnel carrier that it was most useful.
Although unarmoured, M29Cs were often used to carry armed troops across water obstacles and land them in front of an enemy position, other M29Cs then following up with ammunition and supplies, By the time the war ended about 8,000 M29C Weasels had been produced, and orders for a further 10,000 were then cancelled. But the M29C concept had been well established by then and since 1945 many follow-on designs have been produced. M29Cs were used by several of the Allied armies. The British army made use of a number during 1944 and 1945 and for a few years after that.
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| A M29C of British Signal Corps, outskirts of Namur, Belgium, January 1945 |
Specs:
| Tracked amphibiam vehicle | |
| United States | |
| 1,700 kg dry combat: 2.020 kg |
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| 4.80 m | |
| 1.68 m | |
| 1.30 m 1.80 m to top of windscreen |
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| 4 | |
| Studebaker Model 6-170 Champion 6-cylinder 70 hp (56 kW) 12 V 3 speeds 2 speeds |
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| Tracked 280mm 1.9 Psi |
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| 266 km | |
| 58 km/h (land) 6,4 Km/h (water) |
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The kit:
Now, in 2014, talking about this kit is interesting. This kit is one of the dinosaurs of military modeling, having been manufactured by Monogram in 1957. This beast is two years older than me, which is amazing. This is the art box:
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| Monogram's kit art box |
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| The built kit and other parts...from scrap box... |
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| The booklet; old times... |
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| the vinyl tracks... |
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| Track too tight |
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| tracks stretched |
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| Tracks was too large for the suspension |
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| The heat softened the plastic and the tracks tried to return to the initial length ... |
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| Perfect !!! |
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| The hull, after bath to remove the dust ... |
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