The M52 is part of the M54 famaily of trucks used form Veitnam to Desort Storm. The M52 tractor was used along side the M809 tractor that look simalier the the M54 seires. The tractors where used to pull cargo, fuel, commuacation and shop trailers till the introduction of the M923 series of trucks in the late 80s and replced these trucks in full time service.You can still find thes trucks in the Natanol Gaurd units thrught out the U.S
For some resion I love the trucks used by the army. It wasn't till the in the last few years that majior model companies started making a few kits of these trucks with the introduction of AFV clubs M-35 and a Italeri's M923 kits in 35th scale. This was a start but still there are still many more trucks that can only be found in H.O. scale Roco kits. But being a die-hard 35th scale modeler I wanted some to gowith my tanks as I belive that a army is more the just tanks and AFVs.
This model would not have came into existance if it wasn't for one person I meet via the internet,my friend Joe Wallace of Rochester New York. After meeting him in hobbywed's chat room we found the we had the same interests in Milltary trucks.(Glad I'm not the only not out there!). After talking and extanging ideas for awhile he told me of the M54 cab he sratched buildt and the resein cast that he made,I ask him if I could get a copy of them and a few weeks later I had them in my mail box. What I got was more then just a cab,but fuel tank wheels and fifth wheels after I saw that I knew I had to build the model has the tractor version of the M54, the M52.
All I needed now was a donor kit for the chassie, Italeri's M923 kit was the best chose I had
since parts of the drive train where very similar or just alike between the to trucks. the only changes I made to the chassie was to sorten it behind the last set of wheels and cut alittle off of the front to accept the cab that Joe sent me.
With my sratch building skills being limited I did manage to come up with a mounting pab for the fifth wheel and the storge box and spare tire holder which was modified form the M923 kit to fit on the left side of the truck
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