M-706 635th Security Police Squadron

[ikar]

Starting with the H.B kit, I intend to change it to the Air Force version.

Shots of the build will follow when I get some difficulties solved.

[ikar]

Because of the sink hole and imprinted company markings on the hull floor, I am making patterns for the floor plates out of thin sheet plastic. The engine compartment panels have been built and set in place with the necessary auxillary power outlet, vent door, and panel fasteners made and attached.

[Aaronw]

I really like the Cadillac Gage armored cars and was happy to see Hobby Boss do them. Don't believe I've seen one built so will be curious to watch this.

[ikar]

If you go up to R&R

I put a shot of the old verlinden kit. For some reason he decided to mold his with a tarp draped over the gun mounts. I think it was a combination of him being lazy and not knowing his subject. Nobody did that. You couldn't get you weapons mounted and if it rained, you just shut the blast doors.

Verlindem did a diorama for the Thud and put the job names of the maint, figures on the back of their T-shirts and had a recip. engine in the reventment. Again wrong.

[ikar]

Still trying to get the photobucket working.

I have to build the interior because it's pretty bare. It needs panels around and over the wheel wells, a second pedal for a standard shift, lights, a correct instrument panel with the right starter panel and more.

[jminer]

I'm looking forward to seeing the progress on this. As a former Security Police/Security Forces guy, I like to see the historical equipment of the career field. Sounds like you're going the extra mile on this build, too. Can't wait to see it!

Justin

[ikar]

Welcome. When were you one of "them"? I was the first class to go through the revised split specialist course in 1971.

[jminer]

Welcome. When were you one of "them"? I was the first class to go through the revised split specialist course in 1971.

Thank you, ikar. I was in from 92-98. Started out as a Security Specialist and then everything got combined to SF in my last year and a half or so. Sounds like we book-ended the split career fields.

I was in the 155th SPS NE Air Guard for my entire enlistment. I was fortunate enough to be able to go to Panama, attend military GPS school, did MOUT school at Camp Gruber, OK, did Silver Flag Alpha at Indian Springs, had several ATs to the CRTC in Gulfport, MS, and even went over to Istres, France and Aviano AFB Italy to support Operation Joint Endeavor during my time in.

How was going through the first class for the specialist course?

Looking forward to seeing your progress!

Justin

[ikar]

They separated us into L.E. or Security with K-9 being picked some where along the way. We got a chance to see Nemo, then retired, and had a classes based on civilian cops with changes being made for military law. At the time all they had for the security guys to practice on for aircraft were metal piped with sheets of aluminum stuck into the ground. Later they acquired real fighters such as F-84Fs and F-100s.

When we got our orders for South East Asia, we would be sent back to Lackland for combat school (also known as AZR). It was held at Lackland, the Medina annex and finally Camp Bullis where we lived in tents or outside. If you were chosen for a heavy weapon you were next sent to Fort Hood to handle the 50 cal., 81mm mortor, or 90mm recoiless rifle.

We had a few incidents with some of the classes. One class was trying to send a squad to a specified location while evading the instructors and they had a huey causing trouble by flying low over their position. From what we were told the instructor with them tried to wave the Huey away with no luck so in the interest of safety he pulled out a artillery simulator, pulled the pin and threw it. The Huey managed to catch it as he made a low pass and it went off inside, bringing down the copter, fortunately with no injuries.

The class ahead of ours had a serious injury during M-60 drills when someone forgot to use their glove and was taken to the hospital with the barrel seared to his hand. We-re pretty sure he was medically discharged.

In our class on the grenade range I was waiting in my position as the ones ahead of me threw their grenades in turn. My instructor would stand up, watch and get down for each one. At one point he's standing there and all of a sudden yells "Oh S(*t" and dives to the ground next to me as the M-26 goes off. The whole area shook and a few seconds later I felt a burning on the back of my neck. I got hit with some shrapnel. It had to be a air burst to get me behind the barrier. It wasn't serious but did hurt a bit. They treated me and sent me back to the observation point.

here's a few shots:

the tower and sturent observation point:

the throwing positions:

the hill at Medina:

[Drifterdon]

Looking forward to this one as well. Wore the blue beret from '84 to '97. We had a derelict V-100 sitting on the perimeter while I was stationed at Osan AB, ROK '91 to '92. I think they drug it back to the SP motorpool to try and restore it right before I left.

Don :salute:/>/>

Found this doing a google search. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Cadillac_Gage_Commando#/media/File:Cadillac_Gage_Commando,_Osan_Air_Base_(1980).JPEG

Edited September 16, 2015 by Drifterdon

[ikar]

Nice shot. I hated O.R.I.s and the beret, preferring my bush hat, flop hat, and cammoflaged fatigue hat.

The 706 was a fun thing to drive. We had names for it, pig, big car, and yes, we did call it a rubber duck. It was never really explained where this name came from but most of us suspected the song had a lot to do with it since it was designed to float and had a bit of rubber.

[Drifterdon]

We had only our beret or BDU cap to wear when we weren't wearing the Kevlar helmet. I did have the green fur burger hat while I was stationed in Alaska. That was one warm hat.

I hated the ORI's as well not to mention the Phase I and II exercises and the Foal Eagle exercise. I sucked more rubber than I care to remember while in MOPP IV in ROK. At least it was all just exercises. Not the real deal that you guys faced in SEA.

I mostly drove the standard issue Chrysler Gran Fury police car or whatever we had available while stateside. I did drive the HUMMER quit a bit as well as the Duece. What a pig that one was!

Edited September 16, 2015 by Drifterdon

[ikar]

I'll show you a pathetic vehicle.

Thanks to Jimmy Carter we got these in a attempt to same money by not having the dark blue paint job and just taking off the shelf things. Then we found out that we had to buy new smaller light bars and the siren was mounted in the engine compartment on the firewall.

Hard to get in or out no room, and when windows broke they had to be sent from Japan. We actually did get a dedicated police car, the Plymouth Volari'.

[Drifterdon]

I'll see your POS Chevy LUV truck and raise you one POS Plymouth Reliant K Car. Not me in the photo but I drove these crap wagons on the USAF Academy and you want to talk about gut-less. Good thing we had radios to call and have the gates shut down or we would have never caught anyone!

[ikar]

Forgot to mention that one day over there the PACAF ORI team arrived, and left. They met with both our Base and Wing Commanders who we assumed explained that they were crazy pulling one during a war and maybe they should go on the Bangkok for a while and write glowing reports of how well we did.

Before that we had a inspection team say our weapons were some of the best maintained in the theater.

A few nights later after getting dropped off at my post I decided to do the thing they always told you not to do, I opened my rifle t see how clean it was, I pulled out the bold and pointed it at the light near my gate shack, looked down the barrel and saw nothing. I pulled out my radio and could not contact anybody. Sometime later a jeep pulled up and explained that he only caught part of my transmission and came over to check on me. I showed him my weapon and he gave me his .38 and took my weapon with him. Now I had only 6 shots instead of the standard M-16 load of about 90. Soon I felt the ground vibrate and knew the sector's 113 with its Q.R.T. was in the area. Eventually it came down the dirt road and pulled up behind a tree. Figuring that it was better to hang around with an armored vehicle with a 13 man squad that stand by a hole in the wire with a pistol I went over and talked to them. They had been sent by Air Base Defense Control to watch over me and the fence. The jeep returned with a new rifle. It seems that someone had taken a cleaning rod and jammed it in the barrel. That and a bad radio was not a good sign, so for a couple house I had some company, just in case.

Not a bad car if you consider sometimes we had to drive whatever was available from motor pool. Ever try pulling someone over or just responding in a 1 1/2 ton steak bed truck? It's not easy and can be embarrassing.

[Drifterdon]

I can't beat that. Good to know that you had a 13-man QRT to back you up. At least all my weapons were in somewhat good shape if not a tad old. Our unit at the Academy was the last to get the M-9 Beretta issued. We carried the good old S&W Combat Masterpiece till the late '89.

Here's to your service sir! :cheers:/>

[Hajo L.]

Great story of true comradeship! Great to hear that your buddies took care of the lonely, pistol-waving guard! ;)

HAJO

[ikar]

Love the model 15. I'm going to have to find one.

In a related note, during a sapper attack (too long a story for now), a maint. guy wandered away from the rest of his friends to get a better look at what was going on. He found our. A short guy in cammoflaged fatigues met him and put a A.F. revolver in his face and pulled the trigger three times. Three clicks, no bangs. Either the weapon wasn't loaded or the ammo was no good, they never said which. I heard he was eventually sent to Clark A.B. for psych work.

[ikar]

Finally Ii think I have the problem solved.

Pictures at last: Hobby Boss M-706

Engine compartment panels with Aux. power outlet. The small discs are for the panel retainers.

The floor panels had to be covered over as well as the wheel wells.

The basic kit is designed around the V-150, (it was imprinted on the floor panels), a more advanced design with an automatic transmission. I had to add a second pedal for the shift s well as a tube for the water drive below that.

Edited October 4, 2015 by ikar

[ikar]

Back to building.

I've made the seats a bit more realistic by making the collapsing mechanism that raises and lowers it out of sheet plastic, but it a second pedal, the water drive shaft, the plates that covered the wheel wells, and the foot rest for the right seat

I was considering the jump seats when I realized that they were wrong. the kit showed them as having the thin end facing front. I had to change them because the 706 eats faced the other way and had a support strut coming down from the bottom.

I have some of the rubber pads for the inside cut and will apply them after I paint then black and the interior sky.

I have the blast doors marked out and soon I'll have to make a decision on it I should keep them closed or open them.

Edited October 14, 2015 by ikar

[RKic]

Nice to see some old fashioned modeling skills at work. I'm always interested in seeing a good conversion.

My 2 cents. Since you have some nice interior, you should leave the blast doors open.

[Hajo L.]

Looking really good, too bad that there isn´t a 1/72 kit available of this vehicle.

HAJO

[ikar]

Actually, there is. I just can't remember who made it.

The project is getting more complicated than I figured. I have to close off the areas by the driver and assistant. The fuel tanks were stored there and once again the area is wide open.

Also, I will have the blast shields opened but probably will have the side gun mounts stored flat, just not sure on that yet.

[ikar]

While once again I try to figure out what I'm doing wrong to post pictures, here's an update.

I have cut opened the top of the hll and after several attempts have the correct size of the opening installed. The parapet armor is in place and I have started to add the gun port covers, fuel tank covers, closed off where the fuel tanks were located.

A couple more problems I have noticed: the Bilge vents are only on the driver's side so one will have to be added directly opposite and the original should be opened on the bottom and not left to look like a solid block.

The very last page of the instructions shows a chain coming out of the which housing instead of a cable and hook.

The gun port covers have a round part that should be carefully removed. It's too easy to damage the port covers.

A small chain was used to secure the fuel covers to the vehicle.

[ikar]

I have finished the parapit gun mounts, built and added the right bilge vent. It seems they overlooked that one.

I have found a lot of spare parts that they included for other versions, a modern version of the M-60 for one. It also has three extra pairs of hatches, a couple circular pieces that I think might belong on the big gun turret version. The added a chain that they show of the winch compartment. You can save it for something else or wrap it around the towing hook and eyelets but otherwise it serves no purpose. The winch was equipped with a high strength cable incase the vehicle got stuck or had to pull another vehicle free.