Arnie's Ford GPA (Tamiya 1/35)

[A_J_Rimmer]

I can understand that. Weird innit??
Nice build Arnie, quirky little vehicle - love it.

Thanks Doug! Yeah it's strange getting old, if that's even the reason. Sometimes it's like you forget what you're capable of - use it or loose it I guess.

It's a really funky little beast the GPA - I'd love to own one. It'd be awesome on the coast where I live.

[Guest]

I'd also like to have a rope around the capstan winch - just to show it is actually a winch - it's such a cool feature it needs to be show up a bit more.

There wouldn’t be a rope around the capstan unless it’s actually in use, though. The GPA has no winch in the sense most people think of it — that is, there is no drum onto which the line winds. Rather, one end of a rope is fastened to the thing to be winched (or that the GPA is to be pulled towards), the rope is wrapped around the capstan a couple of times, and somebody then just keeps tension on the free end as the capstan turns. Basically, it’s a device to pull on the rope but not wind it.

[ATTACH]515853[/ATTACH]
(source)

The GPA in the water in this photo is being pulled towards the one on the shore, because the chap with the rolled-up trousers is holding onto the rope.

[Guest]

It's a really funky little beast the GPA - I'd love to own one. It'd be awesome on the coast where I live.

Much like M29C Weasels, they were apparently not good in any kind of real surf, though

[A_J_Rimmer]

Much like M29C Weasels, they were apparently not good in any kind of real surf, though :smiling3:

True - not as successful a design as the DUKW apparently. Still would be fun to have a go though. :smiling: The Weasels would also be fun to have a go in.

[A_J_Rimmer]

There wouldn’t be a rope around the capstan unless it’s actually in use, though. The GPA has no winch in the sense most people think of it — that is, there is no drum onto which the line winds. Rather, one end of a rope is fastened to the thing to be winched (or that the GPA is to be pulled towards), the rope is wrapped around the capstan a couple of times, and somebody then just keeps tension on the free end as the capstan turns. Basically, it’s a device to pull on the rope but not wind it.

[ATTACH]515853[/ATTACH]
(source)

The GPA in the water in this photo is being pulled towards the one on the shore, because the chap with the rolled-up trousers is holding onto the rope.

Thanks Jakko - I've seen that photo before - it does make you wonder how effective the bloke standing in the surf would have been once the load was applied. I do get what you're saying, and I agree, but I'd still like to mark it out in some way - maybe if the bloke driving the GPA on the left didn't bother to disconnect the rope but just threw it over the front and moved on so to speak, with maybe a loose coil around the base of the capstan - does that make sense?

[Guest]

True - not as successful a design as the DUKW apparently. Still would be fun to have a go though. :smiling:

Quite likely, though I’m not sure I’d enjoy it going into the water

The Weasels would also be fun to have a go in.

I know some people who have two, though only one is a runner. But then, they also have an LVT (4), some non-running Shermans, a bunch of big guns, and their own museum

it does make you wonder how effective the bloke standing in the surf would have been once the load was applied.

He doesn’t have to put any real force on it, other than to keep the rope taut. The capstan turns, powered by the engine, and that pulls the weight.

maybe a loose coil around the base of the capstan - does that make sense?

Maybe having a coiled-up rope on the bow will give the right impression?

[Geoffers]

Just catching up Arnie, great work so far :thumb2:

Geoff.

[A_J_Rimmer]

Just catching up Arnie, great work so far :thumb2:

Geoff.

Thanks Geoff - apologies for the late reply btw, for some reason you were on my ignore list, which is strange, as I haven't added anyone to it... Something in the new forum move maybe?

Anyway - thanks. I've not had a chance to do much else to this over the last week or so other than start to paint the driver. I need to get a move on LOL.

[A_J_Rimmer]

I've finally managed to make a start on the driver figure. Base painting is done, washes and highlights to follow.