I have started on another vehicle that has been on my build list for quite some time. It is an O/C (Observer/Controller) M998 HMMWV from the NTC (National Training Center), Ft Irwin, CA. I was an O/C there for three years (Aug '03 - Jul '06). At least two weeks out of every month we were in the field training rotational units on counter-insurgency in a desert environment . For those two weeks, this was my home.
It was a basic M998 HMMWV with no windows, no doors, and only a cloth tarp over the driver area.
I was on the Wolf Team, Artillery Trainers. This is a later model with a full roof section and heavy-duty bumper. Mine was set up like first few above.
I started with the new ICM M1097A2 kit since it is stripped down and has the B pillar included. It is very detailed and looks great. I enjoyed building it. I had no issues with it.
I started on the frame. I swapped out the front winch bumper and rear heavy-duty bumper for standard bumper and tow pintle as a standard M998 has. I cut the rear crossover from an old HMMWV kit and the front bumper is from an Academy M998 Gun Truck that has the option of either the winch or standard front bumper.
I wish they had done a complete engine on it though. The only area I think is lacking in the kit.
Next, I built up the body and added some of the O/C vehicle specifics and gear. The box on the back was where we slept. The top opened like a lean-to and inside is a foam mattress and your sleeping bag. It wasn’t too bad.
Lastly is some of the gear that will go on it. A couple tough boxes for storage, a cooler, water jugs and igloo cooler, radios, Plugger, speakers, bags, etc., etc…
The build sequence ICM displayed in one of their promotional videos made me think the model is overengineered with loads of pieces. I don’t mind a bit of challenge when assembling the kit, but some parts seemed to be made of 3-4 pieces just for the sake of raising the piece count… Am I wrong in my assumption?
Thanks gents. Like I said, I have wanted to do this one for a while. I actually built about 10 of these when I was at Ft Irwin as farewell gifts for outgoing personnel. I just never built mine.
One of my earlier efforts.
I didn’t find it over-engineered nor too many pieces. I feel it was laid out well and logically for the amount of detail it has. The basic construction went quickly and only took a few hours. It went together well with no issues.
I liked it so much that I have ordered another for a future build of my HMMWV when I was a Battery Commander in Iraq. I tested the Italeri Command HMMWV canvas top and doors on it, and they fit like a glove.
I can see your post at FSM but can’t log-in to reply. So here goes.
“That box with the mattress in the rear really caught my attention… Must have been a little extreme camping experience… Can you write something more about it? You probably didn’t have to worry about rain catching you in the night, but I would love to hear more about sleping under these conditions. Heat/cold? Water? Critters? Did the shooting wake you up at night a lot? Was it sustainable or did you need a good break after it was over?”
The box was pretty comfortable. It was like camping, just without a tent. It was better than the usual Army sleeping method of a sleeping bag on the ground. Critters were not an issue and artillery and tank fire at night was like a lullaby; great to fall asleep to. When it was hot, it was just hot, but it cooled off pretty well at night. When it didn’t you just sleep on top of your sleeping bag in your underwear. When it was cold, we had an extra-long heater hose that you could put into your bag to warm it up and a starter cord for the HMMWV so you didn’t have to get out of your bag. I also had an extra-long radio cable so the handmike could be stretched back to the box. Overall, it was a great way to camp out in the desert. We would even gather at night around a campfire and cook our meals over the open fire. It was a cowboy lifestyle that was quite fun.
Hello Gino!
Ain’t that sad, what’s happenieng with the FSM Forums? Thanks a lot for your message? You sound like you liked your time in the desert, I’m happy to hear that. Like I wrote, I think it would be cool to have a dio of somebody actually sleeping on the truck. Good luck with your build and have a nice day
Paweł
I added all the gear and radios, etc. I then gave it some light drybrushing with armor sand. I also gave it a couple washes with a dirt brown color and a sandy color.
And I did notice that the antenna was broken. I already replaced it.
Up front. The top is made from a piece of wine bottle foil flattened and painted a khaki color. All of the interior decals are from the kit. The rest of the decals were home-made by me with computer decal paper. They are a little thick, but will do.
Beautiful work Gino. Really excellent representation of your ride. All the gear and little personal touches are phenomenal. It really gives life to the truck and makes it look lived in, which it is. It’s always fun building one of your own rides, adding all the little touches you remember being there and stuff you added yourself. These are very special models. Fantastic job.
Well done, nice built of the ICM kit!
I was thinking about to use the ICM kit as base for the academy M997.
A long time ago I had an M998 built by an o/c team here in Germany.
