WIP: Academy 1/35 M966 TOW Vehicle Kit

RESlusher

Hey guys I'm back!  I've been away for a while pursuing other interests; but last night I cracked the seal on the old Academy M966 TOW Vehicle kit.  Pictures to come as I go along.

While away, and no I wasn't in jail, I got into competition pistol shooting and picked up my "Technician" level ham radio license.  What can I say?  I missed you guys!

So, what did I miss?!

Yeah, I figured I'd pick up something small and easy first...so I can kinda ease back into it.

The Academy TOW is not one of the best. I would suggest you try to get an AM TOW.

Glad to see you back...looking forward to your build

rounds Complete!!

Welcome back and looks like a good project to get the juices flowing again!

Constructor:   Your probably right; but it's a decent enough kit for me mess around with for a little bit to shake the cobwebs off

Bill & Mike:  Thanks guys!  I was missin' the smell of CA in the morning!

I'm looking forward to seeing this !!  Will be following along

It is actually a pretty good kit with a detailed TOW II and its accessories.  The Academy HMMWVs were the best until Tamiya's came out.  I think they are still superior in many ways over the Tamiya kits.  Academy's still have better detailed body's with underside details, which Tamiya missed.

That would have a TOW System not TOW 2.  That's an early M966 which would sport the Tow system.  The TOW 2 were tested up in Alaska and had some small set backs at first   The missile was refined and the TOW 2 missile then entered into service in late 1997.

Here is wrecked TOW 2 missile during it's field trails, Jan-Feb 96.

Gino!!  Long time no see, amigo!    Where's your gun laid these days?! 

I snapped a quick pic of the frame and axles at the end of the first step before the AL Wildcard Game.  I remember why I don't do more wheeled vehicles.  I hate doing the suspension! 

I remember seeing a TOW lawndarting itself into the ground about 100m from the launcher on a Bradley during ODS...this mass of "spaghetti" in the middle of the fireball. 

TOW II entered service in the 1980s. I trained on them at FT Benning in early 1984 and we received th them in 5th ID at Ft Polk in 1986. I know that units in Europe and units like 82nd Airborne had TOW II before we did...

Ya know, I thought it was earlier than the late 90s; but I've slept a lot since then!

TOW II was fielded in '87 and the M996 was the HMMWV designation for the system when mounted on a HMMWV.  

Hi Richard.  I have been busy lately.  I am now in VA and stationed at the Pentagon.  We have been working on the new house.  Lots of stuff to do as a new homeowner.  I am getting a bit of time to get back to the bench though.

Nice start on the frame

Sorry for any misinformation   Looks as if the Army had them well before say the USMC.  So...as far as I know the USMC did not have them until the mid 90's.  That's when we had received them along with the Javelin.  With reference to the M996, yes that was a designator for TOW, but again we had some very small changes to the turret mount at that same time.

Thanks for the correction and the lesson

PW, you may have been seeing the testing of TOW 2B or TOW ITAS at that time. TOW 2B changed the missile and warhead from direct contact impact fuse to one that would fly to over the target and explode downward thru the thinner top armor with a sensor fuse. TOW ITAS was a change to the sighting system of the missile. Both were fielded in the 1990s. TOW 2A, which had a tandem warhead to defeat the Reactive Armor on Soviet tanks, was fielded around 1987. The Marines had the basic TOW from some time in the 1970s. One of my co workers was also a TOW gunner at the same time period I was, but he was in the Marines. If you need more info on TOWs hit me up with a PM.

STIK - Thanks for that much more in-depth explanation and you are absolutely correct!  I too was a TOW (USMC) and was firing the BGM-71C-E, dual warhead, twin probe, direct impact missile.  Was referring to the TOW2B top attack missile in my first statement but did not make it very clear

I guess we are nitpicking My association with TOWs ended in late 1987 with the basic TOW 2, so all those new fangled fancy ones are Buck Rogers stuff to me

Backblast area clear!

I knew a guy in Basic that was a real genius.  We used to say his MOS was going to be "In-Flight TOW/Dragon Repairman"! 

Here's tonight's installment...

Slusher, looking good so far.  I'm currently building the troop/cargo carrier version over on the GULF WARS 2012-13 GB thread.