Now I really like that. So is all of the recovery equipment scratch built.

Thanks, Bish.

The crane, minus any hydraulic hoses, comes in the kit, with all the extra cabinets and racks. I scratched the can rack on the back and the folding work table on the front that replaces the trim vane. The vise came from a Tamiya accessories set I have had knocking around for years. Academy supplies all the water and fuel cans with the brackets molded to the cans, and I wanted a little more definition. Hold-downs for the cans are masking tape, un-painted as of right now.

The two pics I have of this thing have the work table on the front, and it looks like it's torch-cut from about 2"-thick steel plate, so I tried to duplicate the rough edges. I also added the reinforcement plates for the crane anchors and mounting brackets for the outside storage cabinets. I went through a lot of Evergreen hex rod, strip and angle on this one.

Right, I didn't realise they had done a kit of this version. You have the edges of that table spot on. In fact, stunning work all round, looking forward to seeing the finished display.

Thank you.

I've got plans to attend a show the end of this month, and am going to try and have it ready for that, so I'm motivated.

Really cool subject and very nice work, RBaer! I've also got this one in the stash, so your additions and improvements will give me some direction.

Dave

Very good work on a very complicated looking piece of work......

   do carry on!

Thank you both!

I've really enjoyed making this one nasty, something I don't normally do.

I need to credit a guy over on Armorama for a couple of pics and hints, especially on the hydraulic hoses. None of the pics I had showed the top of the vehicle at all, and there's still some guess-work up there, especially since Academy seems to have located the crane the crane too far forward, since the driver's hatch won't fully open without hitting the crane, something I don't think is supposed to happen. To get around that, I fabbed up a little "hatch rest" so the hatch appears as if it can still be used as is.

Very nice work on all the scratch details. Very realistic effect on the front work table. 

I think you're right about the position of the mounting point of the hydro arm pivot being too far forward and the hatch function:

http://data3.primeportal.net/recovery/scott_tremblay/m113_fitter/images/m113_fitter_18_of_38.jpg 

I just checked out the IDF M 113 Fitter thread on Armorama you referenced RBaer. Wow, that's really good work by gigi63!

Thanks for the additional reference SprueOne!

Dave

S1, that's where I should have looked to see my hose installation. I'm afraid my rendition is largely fictional.

Dave, he did a really nice job, didn't he?  Once again, I didn't see his work until I was well along with mine or I would have considered changing a couple of things. My consolation here is that the IDF changed things up fairly frequently, so it's sometimes hard to pin some details down as to exact time and place.

Put me down as one who really likes this! You obviously spent a lot of time on this, and you say that you are not done. With the identification markings and the  color scheme I am assuming it is an Israeli

unit.?

Great job,

Earl

Thank you sir. I've got a couple of figs to add, some soft stowage and a couple of small bits, but it's very close.

Yes, it is Israeli, time period is early '80's.

Moving along with tarps, rags, and an air ID panel, which will all be removed for painting:

And the base:

The base is set up for the Fitters' rig on one side and a Magach on the other, plan is to have the fitters getting ready to do some very quick maintenance/repair on the Magach, nothing major since the crane on the M113 has a major hydraulic leak and needs some repair itself. I built the Magach last year, and have some AFV Club tracks to add to it before I take all this to Scalefest the end of this month. Man, I HATE deadlines!

I'd like to change the TC fig, but that probably won't happen soon. He's not really well situated for the scene I have in mind, but the only other TC fig I could have ready in time (and that I actually have in hand) is going in the Magach 6MEM that's also being prepared to go to Scalefest. Geez....

Got a little detail painting done, tarps and rags mostly, and put another layer of junk on the base. Base pic still shows wet PVA glue, it'll all be dry by tonight, and then I should be able to start placing my vehicles, figs and junk. Yee haw!

More great work, liking the base as well.

Thanks, Bish.

I hope to get something more done on this in the next few days, getting close to the deadline.

Sheesh, man---you ought to post more work if its up to this standard1 It looks great!

that is really well done as is the tank. my experience is weathering light colors is less forgiving than darker colors. as i mentioned to jibber on his UN AUF-1 spa,  the most important part is knowing when to stop, especially with modern vehicles.

and i agree with doog you need to post more of your work.

Doog, Wayne: Thanks. I've been spreading my internet time around, haven't really settled anyplace lately, but I'll try and settle down shortly. It's been quite a while since I did any kind of build log here, in fact the Magach that will be on the base with the M113 may be the last one before this M113, not sure.

So.....  I sat down in front of the TV with my wife last night and assembled the AFV Club T-142 tracks for the above-mentioned Magach, what a grind. Base color went on them this morning, so hopefully the next time I post pics, they will be of things going on the base.

Very nice!

Liked the overall abused and used vehicle.

A lot of details and a lot of add ons.

I did not even knew this one existed.

The diorama will look awesome with the two vehicles.

Keep us posted!.

Thanks, garzohn.

Here's a couple of "proof of concept" shots, to check the relative positioning of the two vehicles.

Both vehicles have now been dusted with the same pigment mix that  I will finish the base with, and the Magach has it's new tracks mounted, big improvement. Yes, the Magach is "greenish", by intent. My reasoning is that the M113 would have been in service longer than the Magach, and would have been painted in the earlier sand color, while the M60, having gone through a fairly recent Magach conversion, would have received the later IDF green-grey color.

I almost saw the sun rise while I was finishing, trying to get ready for a show....    and I may still flesh this one out a bit, as my story line is a bit weak and not readily apparent, but what I have is my stab at depicting the haste with which much of Operation Galilee was conducted. I wanted to show a tight spot in the road, with an infantryman trying to get around a Magach which is itself inching past the parked M113.  My desire was to get more action into this space, and I think more figs will accomplish that, but for the near future, I'm done.

Pics:

And now, I believe I have a couple of GB's to get into.

Pretty nice, pretty nice. I would just say to try to put something of visual interest in those bare corners. They are kinda,...bare. You said you wanted to show a "tight spot"--WHY is it "tight" if there's nothing hemming ni the M60 on the other side of the road? It needs something to act as a boundary on the right front of the M60!

Good idea! I've got some Hebrew signs, old Verlinden stuff, I'll see if there's anything in there that might help, and I also have plenty of old kit parts, roadwheels and the like, maybe give the impression of a junk pile or something the M60 crew doesn't want to risk throwing a track on.

Oh, very cool! How on earth did I miss this the first time around!?!

Dunno about the story but fantastic work on the AFVs, figures, base, everything!

RBaer, Really great stuff! Congratulations. Where did you get the figures from? They look like they came from pretty good molds, and you finished them superbly.

Gamera, thanks, I didn't put much up until I was pretty close to finishing.

BD, thanks also. The crew figs are from Academy and Meng, with the infantry guy from CMK. I like the Meng guys with the exception of the faces, not much detail there, but their uniforms are very well sculpted. The CMK figure came from a set of two IDF soldiers and one "Palestinian people", lots of broken parts so I was only able to cobble up this one guy.

OK, I just gotta say.....  great imagination. This is interesting.

It's a treasure and a wonderful piece of work.

Good for you!

The effort and thoughts which you gave these models is excellent. I thoroughly enjoy looking at your photos. Could it be that the tank driver did not see the soldier until the very last second, thereby making a very tight situation in the middle of a pass by in the middle of the desert? Anyway, great job on the vehicles and the "embarrassed" soldier.

Earl