MJ-1 Jammer (Bomb Lift Truck)

[-Jim G]

During the later half of the 1970s I found myself enlisted in the USAF and loading weaponry onto aircraft. The MJ-1 'Jammer' Bomb lift truck was a part of my everyday life. Recently, I decided that I wanted a model of it because am a weird and eccentric kind of a guy. I didn't think that it would be something that would appeal to anyone else.

I posted a few pictures of my white prototype onto a Weapons Loader Facebook page, and I found out that I am not the only Weirdo - I have gotten over a thousand likes, and about 500 comments. Many of the comments included pictures of themselves sitting on Jammers. Many, many of those pictures were taken in Vietnam.

This has inspired me to finish and publish the model. For many of those that are requesting the model, this will be their first exposure to paper modeling. I am striving to make the model relatively simple to build, and make the instructions easy to follow.

[-Jim G]

The Jammers in Vietnam were AGE yellow in color. Starting in Europe, they were painted green. Eventually they were green everywhere. Nowadays they are gray.

[-Jim G]

Model in built and unbuilt form


Cut out all of the rectangles in the page first to make the two-sided and structural pieces


These are the pieces that get glued back-to-back

[-Jim G]

While the laminated pieces are drying, score all the panel lines in the cab and cut it out.


Pre-bend all of the panels and glue tabs



I numbered all of the glue tabs to give a sequence to building the cab. Apply glue to the no. 1 tabs first and cinch them in place with a tweezers...


Onward to the No. 2 tabs, etcetera.


Finally getting around to the no. 8 tabs, and the cab body is finished

[-Jim G]

Now to cut out all of the laminated pieces.


Glue the structure together thus.


Glue the lifting arms and cross pieces together and let it all dry. Note that the outer (rear) lifting arms have to fit outside the inner arms. This is when to verify that.

[rifleman]

good looking model well done

[-Jim G]

While the structure and the lifting arm assemblies are drying, it is time to cut out all of the rest of the parts.


Make the wheels by forming the tread into a cylinder, then gluing the inside and outside disks to them.


I am building this model so that the lifting arms and table are moveable (pose-able), so I have to cut away the bottom of the aft hole on the outward lift arms so it will not interfere with the straight pin which I will use as a pivot. This will not show on the completed model.


Now to trim the other arm.


It is very fiddly, but I attach the lifting arms to the cab frame with straight pins. Once I get the pins in place, I apply glue to the outside of the frame at each of the four pin penetrations. When the glue dries, I use a side cutter plier to cut off the pointy end of the pins. Best to wait until everything is dry before attempting to attach the table.


Similar, but even more fiddly and frustrating are the straight pin pivots for the lifting table. Here to I apply glue to the pins at the table penetrations and I leave it dry before cutting off the pins.

[-Jim G]

Apply glue to both sides of the front wheel arms


Form the front wheel forks as shown


I just glue on the wheels, but you can use pins for axels and let them rotate
Similarly, attach the rear wheels to the frame assembly

Glue on the front fenders, and the tilt plate on the lifting table.


Fabricate the fire extinguisher.


Also Make the headlight


Glue the fire extinguisher and headlight onto the cab. Also glue on the steering wheel and seat cushion. I formed a gear shift stick from another straight pin

With the cab body installed over the frame, the model is complete.

[-Jim G]

I put the Jammer in the Armory section of Papermodelers forum because this thing carries more missiles, bombs, gun pods, jamming devices, armament pylons, and fuel tanks than any other vehicle in the US inventory

[Miles Linnabery]

Dear Jim :
Dare I use the work Cute unique model looks to be well designed.
Thanks for sharing
Miles
Will it be on Ecard model site?