The GMC CCKW (“C" designed in 1941, "C" conventional cab, "K" all-wheel drive "W", dual rear axles), also known as "Jimmy", or the G-508 by its Ordnance Supply Catalog number, was a highly successful series of off-road capable, 2½ ton, 6x6 trucks built in large numbers to a standardized design (from 1941 to 1945) for the U.S. Army. It saw heavy service, predominantly as cargo trucks, in both World War II and the Korean War. The original "Deuce and a Half", it formed the backbone of the famed Red Ball Express that kept Allied armies supplied as they pushed eastward after the Normandy invasion. There were 572,500 GMC CCKWs built in many variants including the Airfield Fuel Truck.
The Airfield Fuel Truck could pump fuel from the tank to an aircraft via an engine-powered pump at the front of the tank. This gave the truck an important advantage over the previous pump-less trucks and cars, in that it could be used in almost all locations, even those airfields without a dedicated pump. It mainly was used for filling the fuselage and main wing tanks of large aircraft, while possessing the ability to service their engines. The pump, which was accessed via hatches on the left side, could be used to fill the large tank up to three-quarters of its capacity, with the remainder added from a manhole on top of the tank.
Produced from 1943 onwards, early versions on the Airfield Fuel Truck mainly featured a closed cab. It was deployed on all fronts in WWII and was sometimes seen towing an additional 600 gallon (2,270 liter) trailer tank, which was connected to a hose. After the end of WWII, these sturdy vehicles were used in the civil sector, and provided help with reconstruction efforts in countries such as France and Brazil.
Facts and General Characteristics of the GMC 2½ Ton 6X6 Airfield Fuel Truck:
Manufacturer: GM's Yellow Truck and Coach Division, Pontiac, Michigan. Later they were also manufactured at GM's St. Louis, Missouri Chevrolet plant.
Type: 2 ½ ton 6X6 (all-wheel drive)
Height: 7 ft. 9 in. (2.36 m) to top of cab
Width: 7 ft. 4 in. (2.24 m)
Length: 21 ft. 5 in. (6,5 m)
Engine: GMC 270 Straight-6. 91 hp (68kW) at 2,750 rpm or 104 hp (78 kW) at 2, 750 rpm
Transmission: 5 speed X 2 range transfer case
Suspension: Beam axles on leaf springs
Engine Fuel Tank Capacity: 40 gallons (150 liters)
Operational Range: 300 miles (483 km)
Maximum Speed: 45 mph (72 km/h)
Aviation Fuel Tank Capacity: 750 Gallons (2,840 liters)
Facts and General Characteristics of the Model:
The model is painted and marked to represent a fuel truck used by the U.S. Army Air Forces in France during WWII.
Manufacturer: Tamiya Inc., Japan
Scale: 1/48
Height: 1.75 in. to top of cab
Length: 5.4 in.
Width: 2.8 in.
Parts: 90 (truck), 14 (figures)
Decals: 22
Hours to build and paint (including two figures): 21
Problems/Mistakes:
1. The left front fender is slightly warped and I could not correct that.
2. The cab sits too high on the chassis and I could not correct that.
3. I messed up the “AD” decal on the rear bumper.
