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Has The M274 "mechanical Mule" Ever Been Kitted?


Fred Horky

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Here's hoping that Armor in the right forum for this subject. It's not "armored" in the convnetional sense and in fact is as thin skinned (like NO skin) a military vehicle as you'd ever find.

 

A friend just sent an email with a link describing a project funded by DARPA (the DOD's advanced research people) to build a four-legged mechanical pack animal. It's being built by a bunch of eggheads in Boston and is INCREDIBLY complex. In fact, you'll just have to see it to believe it. :smiley23:

http://www.bostondynamics.com/content/sec.php?section=BigDog

 

The whole thing reminded me of the last Mechanical Army Mule of which I'm aware: the "M274 Truck, Platform, Utility, 1/2 ton, 4X4" that everybody called "the mule". Also an amazing device, especially since it was introduced over a half-century ago!

 

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Military_M274_Truck,_Platform,_Utility_1/2_Ton,_4X4

 

Back in my USAF airlift days, I'd hauled enough of them around in my airplane to develop an interest.

 

Anyway, it got me to wondering; has anybody ever issued a kit of that little "truck"? It was one of the few military vehicles that (dare I say it?) could be described as "cute"!

 

Fred Horky

IPMS# 6390

 

P.S. If the thing IS in kit form, pleaes forgive my question, but I'm an airplane guy and don't keep up with the armor/military vehicle kits. :smiley14:

 

 

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Glencoe Models also made one in 35th scale. If you have a Hobbytown USA near you, check that out as they seem to carry alot of the Glencoe kits and I always see a Mechanical Mule on the clearence table when I'm in there. I think that I have also seen the Dragon version as well.

 

If you really want to ++++ off the signifcant other, you could buy the real thing - there's an M274 on ebay now for about 3800 bucks....

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Guest Pyrman

The Glencoe kit (5401) is 1/15 scale. There is one seller in Richmond, IN that has seven of them, priced @ $10.99 each plus shipping/tax/title/registration/factory prep/etc. ;) The DML kits run about $10-15USD.

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Glencoe's kit is actually a repop of the old ITC/Ringo kit. It originally came with colorful parachutes so it could be hung from the ceiling looking like it was being airdropped. They did the same thing with their 1/24 scale T92 US Airborne tank and 1/24 scale M113 kit.

 

Dragon's kit comes in two flavors, one with the recoilless rifle and one without the recoilless rifle. Eduard makes a PE set for it that even adds a wristwatch for the crewmen and dogtags.

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The Glencoe kit (5401) is 1/15 scale. There is one seller in Richmond, IN that has seven of them, priced @ $10.99 each plus shipping/tax/title/registration/factory prep/etc. ;) The DML kits run about $10-15USD.

 

 

Ahh, my bad - I've looked at it a thousand times and never noticed it wasn't 35th.

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Thanks to everybody for your comments and information, on both the miniatures in kit form and the the 1:1 scale M274 for sale on Ebay. The latter is tempting, but since I already have three cars in a two car garage (one bay having two Corvettes stacked on and under a four-post lift) I doubt my wife would look favorably on adding the little M274, however "cute"!

 

Thanks again...

 

Fred Horky

IPMS# 6390

 

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Fred,

There is actually two Dragon versions made. Kit number 3315 and 3317. Both are currently listed for sale on EBAY.

 

 

Mark

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