B-17 Crew Jeep

B-17 Crew Jeep

Tamiya/Kitbash, 1:35

An enterprising USAAC sergeant built this 6x6 Jeep during World War II. He used two Jeeps to create the ultimate crew Jeep. It was used to transport entire bomber crews (about 10 men) to their aircraft with one trip in one vehicle. Other crew chiefs needed two Jeeps or carts. The Army played around with the idea of a standard production 6x6 Jeep, but this was not put into mass production.

I got the idea for this conversion when looking through Graham Scott's book the Essential Military Jeep: Willys, Ford, and Bantam Model 1941-45. It had a picture of one of the experimental 6x6 Jeeps. Wheels and Tracks #41 had a thorough article on the 6x6 Jeeps. It was in this issue that I saw the photo of the bomber Crew Jeep. If a crew chief can use two jeeps to make one, then by golly so can I! I picked up two Tamiya Jeeps and started cutting.

1+1=1

After staring at the photo in W&T for days, I figured I would use an entire Jeep as the front end up to the rear plate join. I cut the frame of the rear portion just in front of the rear leaf spring mount. That way I wouldn't have to figure out a new way to attach the rear leaf spring assembly. The body was fitted to the cut frame and cut in a similar place. The frames and bodies were lined up and taped down to a piece of floor tile and glued together. The floor tile ensures that the pieces are flat and level.

When cured, the gaps in the body were covered with 10 thou plastic sheet. The seam on the outside of the body was filled and sanded smooth. The frame had extra pieces scabbed to the sides of joins to act as reinforcement. I figured I would do this in real life to a real Jeep. The body and frame were test fitted several times as I built things up to ensure nothing got in the way of each other. The underside of the body and the frame were given a generous splash of mud colored paint. I think I used Mud from Polly S, any dark earthy color will do. The engine was not used and the hood glued shut after installing the radiator. Considering that this is a hack job by a parts poor sergeant, I did not connect the two rear axles. How often are you going to need 6-wheel drive on a flat airfield driving bomber crews around, anyway?

With most of the heavy handling done, the rest of the Jeep could be assembled normally. You'll notice the absence of tools on the sides, again due to the fact that this was used in the comfort of an allied airfield.

USAAC Olive Drab

The model was painted with hand brushed Polly S acrylic paint. I used USAAC Olive Drab for the green, RLM 66 Scale Black for the tires and seats. Scuffmarks and chipped paint was painted using Metalizer Titanium and Exhaust. The rust was achieved by mixing red, orange and black chalk pastel. A brush was dipped into Tamiya thinner, then dipped into the pile of pastel mix and applied to the model where I wanted the rust to be. When the thinner dried off, the pastel was left nice, bright and strong. Dry chalk pastel dry was also placed and rubbed down for dust effect. Don't forget to splash a little mud on the sides of the vehicle!

Now where did I put that 1/35 scale B-17…..

Page created August 19 2002.