Tamiya M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage, also known as the M16 half-track. What did I get in this box of delights?

Another blast from the past.

Thinking back forty years or so, I remember myself and a small group of friends sitting around a table making models.

One of my friends bought one of these and when I first saw it I immediately fell in love with it.

Obviously when I saw this in the shop I had to have it.

Does the memory stand up to the reality?

The picture looks good. Lots of stuff going on here. It's the usual Tamiya fare...

The M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage, also known as the M16 half-track, was an American self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon built during World War II. It was equipped with four .50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns in an M45 Quadmount. 2700 were produced by White Motor Company from May 1943 to March 1944, with 568 M13 MGMCs and 109 T10 half-tracks being converted into M16s as well.

An image on the side and a ton of Japanese...Knock yourself out folks.

I've made two of these... A long time ago though.

The usual purchasing information on the side...

About 14$, 13 Euros or 11 pounds. That has to be great value.

Snipping the bands...

Tamiya kits always fill the box.

So, what do you get for your money? To be fair, it's not a lot of money...

Plastic. Lots of plastic.

Instructions for putting the plastic together.

As always, there are instructions in both English and Japanese.

Decals, or transfers if you are from my part of the world.

I don't know about you but that looks just what I want from a kit like this.

Now, the controversial part.

Rubber band tracks.
For me, they are what they are and will certainly not detract the the quality of model that I am going to build.

That's enough of that. Time to build a M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage, also known as the M16 half-track

Making a start...

Tamiya M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage.

Country: USA
Entered Service: 1943
Crew: 7
Weight: 10 tons
Dimensions: Length – 6.14m
Armament: Main – 37mm/ 1.46in M1A2 automatic gun
Secondary – 2x 12.7mm/0.5in Browning machine-guns
Armour: Maximum – 12.7mm/0.5in
Powerplant: White 160AX 6-cylinder 95kW/128hp petrol engine
Performance: Speed – Approx – 45mph.

We'll need the figure for the gun at the beginning to enable it to be painted.

Generally for figures, I will us a thicker cement to allow parts to be manipulated and the thicker consistency will fill small gaps.

There is always a bit of cleaning required.

A light scrape with the knife or a touch with the emery cloth is generally enough but I will undercut the details a little to sharpen up the detail if I think it's necessary.

Might as well put the other figures together at the same time.

Now I'll put the guns together.

Development started in December 1942 on a new vehicle as a replacement for the M13 which mounted the under-powered twin 12.7mm/50.cal M33 gun. The improved version, known as the M16, carried the M45 gun mount.
The new turret for the M16 was fitted with four 12.7mm/50.cal machine guns had to be raised by 152mm/6in so that the guns could clear the sides of the vehicle. The M16 could carry enough ammunition for eight minutes of firing of the M45 gun mount. The M16 could carry five crew members and had a top speed of approximately 45 mph.

Painting up the figures.

A green base first

Skin areas begin with a dark yellow, well, kakhi...

Lighter green highlighting on the clothing. It works on the gun mount too.

Carrying the texturing over to the gun section.

Lightening the skin with lighter tones.

I tend to do this while the paints are drying to create a blending effect.

The figure is well hidden

..And that is the gun mount complete.

Quick photo shoot time...

Better build something to put it on...

The White Motor Company started production on the M16 in May 1943 and continued until March 1944, with a total of 2,877 vehicles. The gun mount was placed in the rear fighting area which had been cleared of all internal fittings. The rear area had no rear door and the tops of the sides were hinged so the guns could fire over the sides and the end of the vehicle.

As an 'on the knee' modeller, older Tamiya models are perfect. A good quality model at a reasonable price and a wide range of subjects to have a go at.

Just fall together don't they?

Quite a lot to do with the wheels.

A dark green base with black or dark grey 'tires'

I'll put that to the side for now.

Putting the body together...

Adding details and weathering to the drivers area...

Let's have a look around the vehicle. See where we have got to.

Something to sit on I think...

Bit of khaki paint and wethering.

Rubber band tracks. They are what they are. I'm happy enough either way.

The winch has appeared too...

Well, they don't stand out as being horrible. They are just tracks...

Adding the decals.

The M16 would see service on most fronts during World War II. They proved extremely valuable to the Marines in the Pacific as they could bring a large amount of firepower into a concentrated area. These vehicles would remain in service with the American Army until 1958. However, the M45 gun mount would remain In service until 1970.

Well, they went on nicely.

The chassis had changed but the M45 would find widespread use during the Vietnam War mounted on M54 5-ton supply trucks. In 1980 these vehicles were still in service in 12 different countries.