Army_Air_Force Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 In the real world of military vehicle collectors, the "Holy Grail" would be to find an original Jeep in its shipping crate. Of course, other than those at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean in the holds of sunken ships, it's very unlikely anyone will ever find one. The whole "Jeep in a crate for $50" idea came from a post war scam, trying to con people out of their money. However, there are a number of photos around the net showing Jeeps in crates, although how they were packed and how disassembled they were seems to vary from picture to picture. This model was built for a friend, with the hood number matching his Jeep. The Jeep is from the Italeri kit with a scratch built crate from ramin strip wood and 1/32 birch plywood. The metal tie down straps are black painted paper, with painted wire over paper holding the wheels into the tub. It is presented in an A4 box frame. 34 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Brilliant! Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malpaso Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Nice and original. Speaking of which I’ve seen two CJ-2s recently camped up as MBs, the owners pretty unaware that the civvies model is way rarer in the UK! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAG058 Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 I like this a lot, nice one! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yetifan Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Really great idea, love it! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HansReggelsen Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Yes - A great idea and well executed! Cheers Hans J 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt.Squarehead Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Superb! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted July 8, 2018 Share Posted July 8, 2018 Novel Idea. Looks great. John. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 A great idea, very well done! Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
593jones Posted July 9, 2018 Share Posted July 9, 2018 Great idea and superbly executed! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_W Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Reminds me of a story my Father told me. He joined the RAF in 1945. One of his first jobs as a juniour airman, he was taken to a hanger full of brand new Harley Davidson's. The Americans didn't want them back, but because they were Lend/Lease they couldn't be sold on the civilian market. So they were given sledge hammers... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 I knew a guy years ago in my R/C model club. He was out in India and was tasked with writing off all the B-24 Liberators and Mustangs so the Indians couldn't have them. They drained the oil and ran the engines until they seized and took a sledge hammer to the wings and tail of the P-51's. The B-24's were parked in a revetment back, two petrol bowsers tied to the landing gear and driven apart at speed, as the bombers fell, they broke their spars on the revetment. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichO Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 We found one! In 1975, we answered an add for an original 1945 Willy's jeep for sale, by the U.S. Army. No running miles. Our family drove to another state to collect it. When we got there to take it home, we found the item it was in a million parts in a crate! We had to rent a trailer to bring it home. Our family spent that summer putting the thing together. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 I have two on the road, and having stripped and rebuilt one, I know they take up around three times as much space in bits as they do as a complete vehicle!! My wife spent a year looking out of the kitchen window at the body tub sitting on the patio! 🙂 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeepboy Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 (edited) I sold my Willys last year 😞 It wasn't being used as life was too busy. I'd had twenty years of fun and adding all the bits and pieces but I think I grew out of it. All my friends and neighbours were gutted as they loved the idea of a mate with a Jeep and it looked good in the garage next to our little Mk1 green MX5. Even wifey shed a tear as it trundled away on the back of a low loader. Bought a VW camper and it's given us much fun with our Jack Russell. I have an Italeri and a Tamiya kit - I am now spurred to replicate your great idea - thank you for the inspiration. Edited July 10, 2018 by Jeepboy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 I modelled two of my own fleet too, but haven't got around to building the third in the fleet - a '43 Ford GPW.. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 I really like this build......in fact, it's one of the most original models I've ever seen. My brother is currently restoring a '42 Ford GPW, a quite painstakingly work. Striped down, sandblasted and restored chassis, rebuilt engine (zero miles right now), axles, transmission, etc....Will ask him some pics...... Cheers.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 Here's my Ford as collected ( looking complete but in a very poor condition ), under the 2 year rebuild and complete. With the rest of the fleet. For the 100th Anniversary of the RAF, both Jeeps had some temporary magnetic RAF markings made. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 Thar reddish primer seems quite familiar...!!!!!! After sandblasting it, he gave a few primer coats, then Waxoiled the whole thing, and finally a few overcoats of an original 40's Chrysler paint.....found an old pantone at a local shop. if you want, I can give my brother your email address, so you can get in touch and chat about your little mules..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted July 10, 2018 Author Share Posted July 10, 2018 Message sent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Posted July 10, 2018 Share Posted July 10, 2018 12 minutes ago, Army_Air_Force said: Message sent. OK......your website is amazing.....Love the RAF M201.......My brother's first Jeep was a M201 as well.....He started restoring it, but finally found an original Ford GPW, and the decission wasn't difficult..... I'm pretty sure he'll get back in touch with you, I think you share some interesting hobbies, scale modelling, military vehicles restoring, and ww2 militaria collecting......If you liked Single Malts, you could be twins.... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clive_t Posted July 11, 2018 Share Posted July 11, 2018 Great build of an unusual theme, excellent! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buzby061 Posted July 11, 2018 Share Posted July 11, 2018 Very imaginative & well presented. Thinking outside the box! (I’ll get me coat!) Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Army_Air_Force Posted July 11, 2018 Author Share Posted July 11, 2018 1 hour ago, Buzby061 said: .....Thinking outside the box!.... ".........and that's when I shot him Your Honour!!!" 😉 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ripaman Posted July 12, 2018 Share Posted July 12, 2018 Very nice Stephen and what a great way to show it Regards Richard 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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