Done & done...we'll keep it stickied while it's generating interest (great thread by the way, Steve)

THX and yes its a great thread !!!!

Hi all,

I've searched high and low on the net, and haven't managed to find a picture of the inner hubs on this vehicle. I'm wondering where all the hoses go which drape down behind each suspension unit. There's 3 to each front wheel and 5 to each rear.

It would appear the rear end has an air operated parking brake, so that would cover two hoses??

I look forward to seeing the tens of pics you'll all be posting???

Nige

Yes, that antenna is for a Harris radio. The accordion shaped piece is a simple rubber cover over the tilt/whip adapter-

OUT-FREAKING-RAGOUS! Thank you for that, it was way more than I expected. Great shots.

Again, thank you and keep safe!

Kylie

Thanks Steve,

That pic is a great help!!

Nige

Steve;
great thread and timely. Cheers.

No problem. I've got my buddy sending me a few thousand of his pictures from our deployment in the mail as well, so I may have more to add. We didn't roll in M-ATV's, command prohibited it so my pictures are a bit lacking or are of sister unit's trucks. I will be starting a MaxxPro thread in the same vein in the near future as well.

Any other requests? I'm thinking of adding some weapons stuff maybe, I have the Live-Resin 240's, SAW's, and M4's which are incredible. The weapon system is the focal point of the truck, yet to most modelers it seems to be an after thought.

All that and much more on my CD. which also includes two versions of the RG-31 and the RG-33 . With interiors, I might add.

This is true. Rob's CD's are excellent, especially if you are into Surge era Iraq stuff.

No wonder I couldn't find the thread - it's at the top now! Does anyone have some pics of the suspension behind the wheels? The Kinetic kit seems to be lacking all the bolt heads that would connect the suspension units to the frame. Looks like the Panda kit has some at least.

Thanks,
Jim

Front or rear? I have both. I think this is why a lot of folks seem to dig my walkarounds...

One thing I think that's important to note when it comes to all vehicles from the war on terror is there is a difference between what you'll see in Iraq versus from Afghanistan. Contrary to popular belief, we fought/fight two very different enemies there who use different tactics and our vehicles, systems, and tactics differ in each theater of operations.

I won't get into details as to the why of this as it's unimportant for modeling for the most part. Just realize just because you see something on a vehicle in Iraq, that does not make it appropriate for Afghanistan and vice versa. Examples of this are the Rhino anti IED system, the armored turret roof for the O-GPK, and those huge wire deflectors you see on OIF MRAPs. You might see them in small numbers here and there on OEF trucks, but mostly you won't, and if you do they are most likely quickly removed. For example, the Rhino, this was a solution to an Iraq problem. As such all M-ATV's came equipped with them, and most were removed quickly as they didn't need them in Afghanistan. Same with the O-GPK armored roof, though some did keep them.

I will also add this caveat, I've never been to Iraq, only Afghanistan and even then only RC-East. For the most part I can't speak with authority on Iraq, though we have plenty of others here who have BTDT who can. That said I'll continue to try to address your questions as best I can in the context I can provide.

Steve

Good info on the USMC's Panama City mine rollers for the M-ATV.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/47209/thread/1329334473/SPARK+bracket%2C+part+two

...and a few more pics of this mine roller here :

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/182683

HTH

Frenchy

Thanks Frenchy, please feel free to post some pictures in here where you feel appropriate. You're a great source of photo reference!

Yes please Frenchy, I'm still wondering where the five hoses to each rear wheel and the three hoses to each front wheel go at the hub end.

Please help!!!

Regards

Nige

Unfortunately I'm afraid I have no such close-ups...Steve or Rob are the ones to ask for this kind of stuff.

Frenchy

This is all I've got. If you're looking for that level of detail, Rob's CD's would be an excellent investment.

Sorry to keep giving new links all over the place, unfortunately this board will not allow me to edit older posts to keep updating one.

We also have this excellent walk around here on this site.

https://armorama.kitmaker.net//features/4093

There is hardly anything in that truck in the link, hardly a combat load. That truck has been downloaded since it's on the FOB and they don't want their stuff ganked and or they don't go out very often. You need a number of things to make an effective and realistic load out for an operational M-ATV. [/quote]

Hardly anything???? Where would you sit if you crammed any more stuff in there???

Am I correct in thinking that those seats are mounted purely via straps? I can't see any mechanical link between the truck and the seats??

Nige[/quote]

Welcome to the second biggest complaint users have of the M-ATV. To illustrate what we would take on missions, check out the pictures below. This is a MaxxPro of course, so we could fit more, but this isn't even that big a load.

The largest load we ever carried was in my RG-31. I had 1,500 rounds of .50 and almost 6,000 rounds of 7.62, 2 AT-4's, and a Javelin and CLU all inside the truck. Then add in a few thousand rounds of linked 5.56 for the SAW's and a thousand or so 5.56 in pre loaded M4 mags and extra 40mm 203 ammo and frags smoke and associated bang for the dismounts. That's just ammo of course, then you have extra fuel, water, food, the coffee maker, speakers for the iPod and an assault pack for each crew member and dismount, and that's just ammo and gear, now you still need to fit 5-6 people in it and it fills up quick.

When looking at these pictures, this was after our final mission when we were turning over our trucks to our replacements, so we were a bit light on some things. Also keep in mind that a Cougar, MaxxPro, and RG series all have external stowage compartments in which a lot of that stuff gets stored. M-ATV's don't have any stowage compartments, just the bed.







As for the seats, and this applies to MaxxPro's as well, they are designed to compress during a blast so as to absorb the energy that otherwise gets put right into the passengers body breaking their back/legs/neck etc... They are suspended through a series of ropes and pulleys as can be seen on the walk around posted by Chris Green on this site that I linked to above. Rob Skipper's CD is excellent for interior shots of the M-ATV. I don't have any as my command would not allow us to ride in M-ATV's.

Thanks for those pics Steve.

This thread is very useful to me, as I'm trying to upgrade the Panda kit interior. I'm hoping someone will make an engine set for this kit as I would like to display it with all dors and the hood opened up, much like a maintenence scene?

Why would your command not be allowed to ride in the M-ATV?

Nige

http://www.aworldoftroubles.com/2011/03/m-atv-new-armored-vehicle-banned-by_11.html

This was not my troop, but a different unit in a different province. Reasons are about the same, that's all I'll say on this open forum however. We had our reasons.


Supposedly those issues have since been fixed.

OMG!!! I just saw the picture Steve!!!

I cannot believe the front of a vehicle can be ripped off in that way?? Would a Maxx Pro survive that kind of abuse??

Nige