M-113 group build:dec 15,07 to dec 15,08

stikpusher wrote:

Academy's KIFV is a 113 based variant that would do nicely. It comes with UN markings as well. Or most any basic 113 kit will do, Tamiya, Academy, or Italeri.

Thanks,I will check that out.

Academy's KIFV is a 113 based variant that would do nicely. It comes with UN markings as well. Or most any basic 113 kit will do, Tamiya, Academy, or Italeri.

Not for this build,I don't think I have the time,but do you guys have any suggestions for which kit in 1/35 that I can use to make a M-113 or varient in UN colors and markings ? Does such a kit exist or would I have to kitbash or buy seperate markings and after market products ?

Thanks for any info

 Well let me see this is pretty boring but very time consuming. I finished step 1 now step 2 is mostly putting on more cables. This is maddening as there are lots and lots!

Now The resin parts are not numbered so you have to do your best to match them to the parts diagram. When I do I have been writing the number on my table paper an placing the part above it. ( dont sneeze) Cant tell you how hard that was. Like a blooming puzzle!

 Still have 2 extra not listed on the diagram. Hmmmmm guess I will have to search and see where they go? One thing they got right is in real life when a cable went bad it had to be routed an exact way otherwise it either would not reach or would catch or drag. Spent many many hours figuring those routes out.

Now the cables are resin and simply don't  lay atop each other but are intertwined as on the real thing. Should be fun. Need about 12 tiny hands looks like. I'll sleep now and hit it again tommorrow!

The cable manuel was Bible thick and had equipment called a Stay-ICE to test it that would fill a pick-up truck bed. It was like trying to decifer codes one test reading at a time. WOW don't miss that. To cheat the 24M mechanics could sometimes use a simple multimeter with extended wires and just do a continuity check.

 Really taking shape Stick Pusher!  I like the way your bringing her together!

I agree those AFV tracks give you the best bang for your buck! The track shoes are better too not perfect but at least aren't squares.

My Aussie M113FSV is taking final shape. The replacement AFV Club tracks arrived at my LHS. here are a few pics. Painting will begin real soon!

Turret

Top deck- I modified the drivers hatch for a half figure

Hull side view

Hull rear 3/4 view

Most components

Kit tracks on right, AFV/Club replacements on left

diggeraone wrote:

sfcmac,from what i see it is looking good,Digger.

 Well Digger that is still all pretty preliminary stuff measuring and positioning a lot of the scratch built stuff for the interior. I was serious when I said I want the ultimate vulcan. If I posted every little thing I've done you would be bored to death knowing more about this vehicle than you'd ever care too.  I cannot describe the great detail in the Hobby Fan turret enough. Down to some of the tiny quick release pins and battery hold downs. Everything there is also on the money and I can find no errors and very few small ommissions. The cables not only have the proper elbow connectors but have the lable sleeves molded in on the detail. Incredible obsessive stuff.

 These are the parts for step one. Have to paint everything first as it is so small you could never hit the details right when together. So many colors and tiny little details are flooding my memories. I can't believe the mental images flashing back as I build this thing knowing what every part is and what it does. The ammo drum even has tiny site glasses to see how many rounds are in the drum. I carefully filled them with future to replicate the glass as it is too small for clear parts cement.

 The only thing I have found missing thus far is the azimuth brakes located where the gunners knees would be in the turrent but that is easily replicated. I really need a better camera to focus on the tiny tiny details such as the gears and knobs on the drum loader.

Sorry to be so long winded but I am really into this kit.

sfcmac,from what i see it is looking good,Digger.

 Been digging pretty deep into mine. Jumping into everything from paint colors to B.I.I. and stowage items. So far my most interesting accomplishment is my mess I've made. Stopping to regroup and reorganize lest I be overwhelmed. I am loving every sec of this build though!

 I may have gone a wee bit overboard but I am trying totake the best from each kit and set and create from my memories. I got plenty of stuff and the will. Hopefully will find the talent. This PE stuff can be challenging.

diggeraone wrote:

Well ya'll I have and ideal to pass by ya'll about a group badge on this.It hit me last night after I posted my reply.I was thinking like a horse in the backround and the M-113 in the fore front with the words,Work Horse of the Army.So let me know what ya'll think,Digger.

Yes i like that also you can go to the top of the GB section and one of the Forum guys can make the badge up for you. As for the image yes yes the horse should be in a faded look and the M113 should be that of the basic type as all othere versions are based off it. Any way back to the images color I thing a cammo color of a light tan back ground with the faded horse in a mid brown and then the M113 in a mild Olive Drab. and the words in old Military block letters in Black(Work Horse of the Military). Well that's My Idea. I'll draw up an image for you to look at later tonight I would love to try to make that type of badge but it would be more that I can do on  or in my photoshop program.

Oh I needed to add it's called a faded silhouette image of the horse or an out line of it as the secend layer over the tan background and the 3rd layer would be that of the stock M113 APC. Oh and the letters would also be on the background before the 2nd layer go's on.

If all that is to much you can always take the Image from the post above my post and put the words Work Horse of the Military or the way youfirst put it Work Horse of the Army just to the top and side and then put in the letters M113 in the middle on close the the bottom.

 Hmmm been called that before. Sounds like a good idea to me .

White have yet to design a group badge for this.I am wondering what ya'll ideal for it.As for me I was thinking of a badge that would change to all the variants of the m-113 or a choice of 4 different badges that might cover all.I would also need to learn on how to make one so everybody could have it.I have yet to do something like this,also we have till dec for the badge to be passed out to.So if you have and ideal for one or one that you made post it and we will all vote on it.Also can't wait to see your bad boy to take shape.Digger

Good news guys I just got in my order from Evergreen so I can do my top unit with styrene tubbing and not K&S tubbing. I still don't know if I want to try the interior.

Images of the 1:1 scale ADATS.

Hay any one here know what this GB badge is or what it looks like??

Well this is the best on photos I can do for right now.This is what I have done on this so far.I am making it with a faded paint job,Digger.

Well this is what it looks like right now.I am still figuring this camera out and the misses has yet to get the other out of the truck of hers.Digger

So far on this build I had to,one fix the drivers hatch it was off center,two sribe a panel line for upper engine hatch;there was none,three make an ammo box holder,four redo the front water/armor plate to make it come down some insted of sticking out,five I will have to make new hinge plates for the front,six redo the head light,the light dampingner was upside down and finially sand down some of the gaurds as well as the front exhuast on the side so the gaurd would fit properly.Oh i forgot the sink hole in the veiw window on scopes around the drivers hatch had to be filled along with a gap between the driver assm.and the roof.So to me this a one crappy build but i have worked it perty good so far.I would not recommened this kit unless if you like to do a whole lot of work with it,Digger.

Hello all I have started on my M113, I started on those big front units. Now all the brass you see is not PE parts. I cut out the shapes that I needed to bind in to the items that I needed. I used brass mesh for the screens on the two side units. The big trouble came when I was making the vints for the box on the right side the (left side from the drivers view). I should have had 6 vint not 4. On top of the 3 units, you'll see 5 small parts., I cut out small strips and used a scraper tool to poke at the sheet to make it look like nut ends. speaker wire was used on the one side as some type of handlebar. I have some PE parts left over from my first build of my bradley that I can use to mount the shovel.

Box Art:

Next I will start on the roof, this will not be an easy build.