Author Topic: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles  (Read 14249 times)

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« on: December 23, 2011, 02:04:41 AM »
Another idea that I had originally shared previously on another forum:



The argument as to whether the HMMWV could actually carry the Quad .50 mount is based on the fact that the Avenger Air Defense Missile System is mounted on a HMMWV and it is very large and bulky so I figured this would fit and might actually work with a little imagination.  I claim no authorship for any of these SketchUp 3D Models that were used for my digital kit bashes.  I combined the components from other 3D models to create and model an idea that could be shared with the reader of this topic for the purpose of discussion. 

Click on image or this link to my FaceBook ablum SketchUp Vehicles to see additional images of this and other SketchUp 3D Models. 
« Last Edit: October 26, 2012, 05:29:12 AM by Jeffry Fontaine »
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Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #1 on: December 23, 2011, 02:10:35 AM »
This was the original concept for an excavator mounted on the MLRS/FMTV chassis that I had created using Windows Paint and a couple of images scrounged off the internet a few years ago.



I wanted to create a combat engineer excavator based on the MLRS by mating the Revell of Germany Snap-Kit excavator unit to the MLRS/FMTV chassis.  I thought the idea was worth considering in scale model form and I have the kits on-hand to create the model.  I thought it would be best to see what it looked like as a 3D model before any polystyrene was slaughtered to create the model.  I think it came out looking pretty darn close to my original idea and with a few more bells and whistles added on like tool boxes and such it will look the part it was intended to play as a tactical power shovel digging bigger holes than an E-Tool would ever be capable of.

Screen capture of the 3D model created in SketchUp of my idea:


Click on images or this link to my FaceBook ablum SketchUp Vehicles to see additional images of this and other SketchUp 3D Models. 
« Last Edit: October 26, 2012, 05:12:04 AM by Jeffry Fontaine »
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Offline dy031101

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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #2 on: December 23, 2011, 02:12:55 AM »
The argument to whether the HMMWV could actually carry the Quad .50 mount is based on the fact that the Avenger Air Defense Missile System is mounted on a HMMWV and it is very large and bulky so I figured this would fit and might actually work with a little imagination.

Would you be interested in trying to put an Avenger missile launcher station on a M3 Halftrack?  :want:
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Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #3 on: December 23, 2011, 02:17:36 AM »
The argument to whether the HMMWV could actually carry the Quad .50 mount is based on the fact that the Avenger Air Defense Missile System is mounted on a HMMWV and it is very large and bulky so I figured this would fit and might actually work with a little imagination.

Would you be interested in trying to put an Avenger missile launcher station on a M3 Halftrack?  :want:

Nope.  That never crossed my mind during the modeling process.  I usually avoid half-tracks but in this case, the model had the Quad .50 mount so I downloaded it.  There was another project I worked on around the same time to model a half-track cargo truck and a wheeled armored vehicle based on the half-track with dual wheels on tandem rear axles.  It was posted on that other forum that can never be spoken of. 
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Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #4 on: December 23, 2011, 02:22:21 AM »
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something green, something mean...

What happens when you mate the turret from the M2/M3 Bradley fighting vehicle with the hull of an LVT-A4? Well you get something that looks like this in the attached screen shots. Thanks to the contributors on the 3D Warehouse at SketchUp for providing the raw materials for this very quick and interesting WHIF subject.



This could be built in 1/35th scale using either of the Italeri LVT(A) kits and a spare M2/M3 Bradley turret.  Not sure about availability of parts in smaller scales such as 1/144th or 1//72nd. 

Click on image or this link to my FaceBook ablum SketchUp Vehicles to see additional images of this and other SketchUp 3D Models. 
« Last Edit: October 26, 2012, 05:14:54 AM by Jeffry Fontaine »
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Offline Frank3k

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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #5 on: December 23, 2011, 02:24:47 AM »
Jeff,
 The HMMWV + Quad looks realistic. The Quad is about 2400lbs, which is well within the cargo capacity of a modern HMMWV. Add the optics and control from an M151 RWS and you have a rapid response Swiss cheese maker.

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #6 on: December 23, 2011, 02:27:22 AM »
Jeff,
 The HMMWV + Quad looks realistic. The Quad is about 2400lbs, which is well within the cargo capacity of a modern HMMWV. Add the optics and control from an M151 RWS and you have a rapid response Swiss cheese maker.

Hi Frank,

I recall reading something a while back that provided the all up weight of the M55 MGMC as being close to a ton.  The HMMWV can carry that without a problem but the additional things like ammunition and other items of the system might be a bit much for one vehicle.  Never hurts to just ignore that part of the problem and focus on what looks good :^)
« Last Edit: December 23, 2011, 02:46:47 AM by jeffryfontaine »
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Offline Frank3k

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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #7 on: December 23, 2011, 02:35:17 AM »
I recall reading something a while back that provided the all up weight of the M55 MGMC as being close to a ton.  The HMMWV can carry that without a problem but the additional things like ammunition and other items of the system might be a bit much for one vehicle.

Some HMMWV (probably not the latest uparmored versions) can carry between 4500 and 4800 lbs of cargo, so I don't know if that would be an issue. If it is, that's what trailers are for...

The LVT-A4 + Bradley turret looks believable, too. I'm not sure that it would have the room for the turret drive, 20mm armor and much  more than the gunner, TC and driver

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2011, 02:37:37 AM »
Another WHIF that I had been wanting to check out was the fusion of the Marder IFV with the Bradley IFV.  Personally, I am not very fond of the Bradley as it is a very cramped inside with a full load of troops and equipment.  It is also too tall.  While the Bradley does have an amphibious capability, it is almost useless unless you are crossing a mud puddle and as far as I am concerned it is an unnecessary feature that should have been deleted from the vehicle.  The only redeeming quality I can find with the Bradley IFV/CFV is the turret with the very reliable and hard hitting TOW ATGM and the 25mm Bushmaster cannon, both very effective and formidable weapons.

The Marder IFV on the other hand is a very well built vehicle (some very fine German engineering) and it has a very low profile when compared to the Bradley save for the turret which really sticks up in the air.  While neither vehicle is ideal and I figured it would be nice to see what a combination of the two would look like with a Marder hull and a Bradley turret.  I think it came out looking pretty good. 



This concept is certainly possible in 1/35th and 1/72nd scale.  Kits that could be used for this project are available from Academy, Tamiya, and Revell Germany just to name a few. 

Click on image or this link to my FaceBook ablum SketchUp Vehicles to see additional images of this and other SketchUp 3D Models. 
« Last Edit: October 26, 2012, 05:19:22 AM by Jeffry Fontaine »
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Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #9 on: December 23, 2011, 02:44:51 AM »
I recall reading something a while back that provided the all up weight of the M55 MGMC as being close to a ton.  The HMMWV can carry that without a problem but the additional things like ammunition and other items of the system might be a bit much for one vehicle.

Some HMMWV (probably not the latest uparmored versions) can carry between 4500 and 4800 lbs of cargo, so I don't know if that would be an issue. If it is, that's what trailers are for...

The LVT-A4 + Bradley turret looks believable, too. I'm not sure that it would have the room for the turret drive, 20mm armor and much  more than the gunner, TC and driver


Trailers or a spare vehicle for the rest of the gun crew to carry ammunition and additional equipment.  Both would work and I have an idea for something like that involving two vehicles with one as the weapon system prime mover and the other to carry the rest of the crew.  Maybe have one of the vehicles pulling a trailer, that could cover all bases. 

I think the LVT/Bradley would suffer from being a bit top-heavy which would not be good for rough water but it certainly looks good from a "can I build it?" point of view. 
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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #10 on: December 23, 2011, 04:02:54 AM »
Some wicked ideas here Jeff
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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #11 on: December 23, 2011, 04:37:05 AM »
Newest, armored version of Humvee, with this quad mount, but remotly controlled (so, with some eloctroptical equipment), wuld look "just in place" in Afghanistan, as a convoy escort, or something like that.

Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2011, 05:29:33 AM »
Newest, armored version of Humvee, with this quad mount, but remotly controlled (so, with some eloctroptical equipment), wuld look "just in place" in Afghanistan, as a convoy escort, or something like that.

A great tool for convoy escort, perimeter defense, or just raising hell.  I hope that someone will take this idea and go on to make a model of the concept.  While I have all of the items needed, I have a few other projects in queue ahead of this one and it would be sweet to see somebody turn this into something solid. 

Some wicked ideas here Jeff

The one advantage to using a 3D modeling program and not having to waste a kit in cutting it up only to discover that your "brilliant idea" is for naught.  :^)
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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #13 on: December 23, 2011, 05:31:40 AM »
True...but all my ideas are brilliant... :zombie:
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Offline Frank3k

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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #14 on: December 23, 2011, 12:36:56 PM »
A great tool for convoy escort, perimeter defense, or just raising hell.  I hope that someone will take this idea and go on to make a model of the concept.  While I have all of the items needed, I have a few other projects in queue ahead of this one and it would be sweet to see somebody turn this into something solid.


Jeff, I'm finishing the Academy M998 IED Gun Truck and I have an M16 gun carriage (the standalone quad kit is OS at Sprue Bros and just about everywhere else). I'm debating on using the M16's quad or wait until Feb. when the M55 kit will be back in stock.


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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #15 on: January 10, 2012, 07:38:24 AM »
Jeffry: Your SketchUp results are very nice. On the modelling side, though, an alternative alternative turret for the Marder might be the Delco from the LAV-25. It's similar to the Bradley turret but you'd be left with the LAV/Piranha II hull to play with instead of the Bradley that you dislike. Just a thought.

Actually, a retro Piranha with the Marder's RWS might look kinda cool.
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Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #16 on: January 10, 2012, 07:22:37 PM »
Jeffry: Your SketchUp results are very nice. On the modelling side, though, an alternative alternative turret for the Marder might be the Delco from the LAV-25. It's similar to the Bradley turret but you'd be left with the LAV/Piranha II hull to play with instead of the Bradley that you dislike. Just a thought.

Actually, a retro Piranha with the Marder's RWS might look kinda cool.

I have an Italeri LAV sitting here that originated with Frank3K that was partially built.  The turret access hatches appear to be much smaller than what you see on the Bradley turret.  Not sure if that is supposed to be that way or Italeri got their measurements wrong but they do look far too small for a normal person to fit through.  I may find a use for that turret yet but on something other than the Marder.   
« Last Edit: January 10, 2012, 07:24:24 PM by jeffryfontaine »
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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #17 on: January 11, 2012, 01:48:12 AM »
Nice Work Jeff.

I've got a stalled 1/72nd project which is a Luchs Turret on a Marder. Effectively, that makes it an Argentine VCTP, although in my backstory, it's for the British Army as an alternative to the Warrior. The basic version would have the turret with a 27mm "RARDEN II" (firing Bk.27 ammo) internally, but the one I'm making is the fire support version which has a breech-loading mortar in the turret front and the 27mm in the Marder's pedestal on the back of it. External stowage will be British-style.

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Offline Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #18 on: January 11, 2012, 04:42:35 AM »
Certainly a different approach to solving a problem.  If the upper gun system were to be independent of the turret in traverse and elevation you could have your self a very large remote weapons station. 
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Offline LemonJello

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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #19 on: January 12, 2012, 08:59:05 AM »
I have a spare Trumpeter LAV-25 that I'm going to mod the turret on to carry something in the 90mm to 105mm range as the USMC answer to the Stryker MGS.  I've got an assortment of brass tubing in many diameters to use for the gun already on hand.



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Re: SketchUp 3D Model - Armored Fighting Vehicles
« Reply #20 on: October 26, 2012, 05:21:08 AM »
Fixed links for images and html.
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