Solido 1/18th 1953 Chev Army Panel Van

tankduel · Post by **tankduel** » Sun Mar 20, 2005 9:44 pm

Found this on offer downunder
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Toys-models/Di ... 226798.htm
Anybody got one? Did they have anything similar to this in WW2 that it could be passed of as?

Threetoughtrucks · Post by **Threetoughtrucks** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:39 am

The only thing close in WW2 would be the 1 1/2 ton Chevy Radio Van.

It was slightly bigger than the '53 shown and had double wheels on the rear axle. I drove one in a parade and it is a special vehicle.

The '53 shown has the "invasion circle" around the star on the door. That was only used on and around D-Day. A '53 would never have the circle.

If you can't locate a pic of the big radio van, let me know and I'll post pics of the one I drove.

TTT

Luftwaffle · Post by **Luftwaffle** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 3:31 pm

Not to be a nerd or anything, but are those...hubcaps?

Threetoughtrucks · Post by **Threetoughtrucks** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 7:59 pm

And what is wrong with hub caps??

The '53 Chevy Panel Truck was one of a series of straight civilian vehicles that were sold to the Army with no extras or options. Plain Jane hubcaps were part of various "basic packages" that the Army purchased.

In the '50s vehicles like the M-37 would be used for combat situations but vehicles like the Panel Truck and cars were used for "rear area" operations where 4 wheel drive was not needed.

In Korea in the '60s, I served a year in a unit that included, besides about 50 M-37's, about 75 jeeps, over a hundred 6x6 Dueces and 5 ton wreckers AND about half a dozen Panel Trucks and a '57 Chevy 4 door Belair (3 speed standard on the column, AM radio). My regular assigned vehicles were a M-37 and an M-151 but I used the '57 Belair once in a while, driving my boss around the 1st Cavalry Division area on the DMZ.

TTT

tankduel · Post by **tankduel** » Mon Mar 21, 2005 9:34 pm

TTT,if you could post a pic of the radio van that would be great.
Luftwaffle;we are all nerds of course(I admit it anyway);welcome to the board. My wife saw some of the pics I come up with ;laughed and remarked 'oh my god ,you're a nerd' hehe

Threetoughtrucks · Post by **Threetoughtrucks** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 7:56 am

TankD:

A nice picture of the radio van on my webshots parade under Parade Photos

http://community.webshots.com/user/threetoughtrucks

Since I was driving that day I don't have any more decent pics of the truck. I was susposed to be along for the ride, but my buddy was pressed into service as a mechanic/driver on a cranky old M-20 Armored Car. By the way, he made a picture on the cover of a newspaper and all I got was the pleasure of driving his truck in the last and biggest parade NYC will ever see, all due to Donald Trump (of all people), who organized, and paid expenses to truck big (and slow) trucks, tanks, armored cars and half-tracks from all over the area. All as a tribute to WW2 veterans. Hey, can you imagine driving thru all of Brooklyn in an Army convoy of trucks and armored cars from one end of Brooklyn (Floyd Bennet Field) to the city with about 20 motorcycle cops running from intersection to intersection, sirens screaming anbd without stopping once to mid Manhattan. What a rush. After the parade, we reversed the route with even more cops. What a great, fantastic day. I'm not a "Donald", but he sure did a great thing that day, he even catered lunch for the convoy.

Sorry, I get wound up. I'll calm down now and go and find something to watch on the History Channel or the Military Channel to watch.

TTT

tankduel · Post by **tankduel** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 2:33 pm

Thanks TTT,looks close enough (for me) ,if I win the auction I will post some pics. And good for Trumpy!!!
We get History channel here,which has a healthy dose of war docos as you know;but there's a Military Channel too? I hope they make that available here soon!

Threetoughtrucks · Post by **Threetoughtrucks** » Tue Mar 22, 2005 3:51 pm

The Military Channel used to be Discovery Wings channel. It is great, GREAT. A day doesn't go by without something interesting. They have enough planes and vehicles to make any of us happy.

Call your cable company, tell them you want it. All cable companies operate by adding stations that customers want to see. There is also a International Military channel that has basically the same stuff but I'm happy with what I get. I pushed to get the Military Channel. Whenever I went to somebodies home I would call the cable company and complain that they didn't carry the Military Channel. It wasn't me, I don't have that many people that invite me into their house.......some people, believe it or not go whole days without talking about the latest 21c rumors or the latest 1:6 toy (SdKfz 250 is todays conversation, and my latest purchase as a pre-order). Sorry, not 21c, can't wait for that blue moon to come out to get a 21c half-track.

TTT

flayrah · Post by **flayrah** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 8:12 am

Tankduel, I had one of these models and it is undersized IMO. Not 1:18 but more like 1:21 (as are many "1:18" models - why can't the manufacturers get the scale right?!). I'd advise you write the seller and ask him for the height of the truck from ground level to the top of the roof.

tankduel · Post by **tankduel** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 1:54 pm

Thanks for the heads up Flayrah,I am the lead bidder,I have asked the seller to remove my bid and list the measurements from ground level to the top of the cab;where would I be without this board?Probably the unhappy owner of a grossly undersized model! I'll post the measurements when I get them.

grockwood · Post by **grockwood** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:17 pm

As already mentioned Solido and Mira diecast are usually under scaled. Johnny Lightning is releasing a 1948 Chevy Panel Delivery in Coke Cola markings so you would have to repaint it in OD . Here is one on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... eName=WDVW

victory · Post by **victory** » Wed Mar 23, 2005 7:33 pm

I have a solido Military Chevy Panel Truck and its height dimension is about 3.75 inches. Hope that helps.

krieglok · Post by **krieglok** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 1:09 pm

There is an excellent book called "US Military Wheeled Vehicles" by Fred Crismon. It shows hundreds of trucks and cars used by the US since around WW1 to present. The book has a great shot of a 1951 Chevy Suburban/carry-all which is the same body style and trim as the model shown above. The only difference is the suburban has windows in the back. The shot in the book shows the truck painted in white(MP) with chrome hubcaps. Many vehicles were used in non-combat roles. The book even has photos of Ford Pintos painted in MP schemes for patrolling around bases in Germany. If it was built, the Army probably had one.

TJ