M113A1 NASA Rescue "Complete & Mounted"

Karl - For your first request...the side by side

The real deal

My deal

Next no nit too small no pick too big....that's what we are here for!

On the track issue, see the blow up below where even the running section which is under the road wheels is fairly rusted

On the other hand, you can see the rear road wheel which has a greenish hue. I will go back in and use some faded OD as a wash on the inside of the roadwheels to get a tint.

Lastly as far as the figure....in a space suit...forgetaboutit. In the blue jump suits....have not found anything good ans even then I won't find any female in the suits (Manny...help). I don't think this one is going to have figs

Thanks for looking, and thanks for the comments. I always love the good ones but the nits & picks are always helpful. Never be afraid, I love the comments, good or nits.

Bill - Thanks for looking. I really like the MV lenses. They are like the icing on the cake

RBaer, Mobious & Agent G - Guys, thanks for looking and thanks for your comments

Rounds Complete!!

 Very nice work redleg12, The MV lenses really shine! The weathering looks subtle and IMO accurate. Love the antenna. Overall very nice work on an obscure subject. Thanks for posting the WIP and the mini tute on the decals. Be looking forward to seeing this beastie on a base!

 Mobious

  BEAUTIFUL JOB, MIKE!!!

That's really a build to be envious of! A really unique twist on a relatively pedestrian vehicle. You've done an outstanding job on bringing this to reality. You should post a pic in there of the original photo of the actual vehicle for comparison!

The finish and what you've done with the wash looks great!

OK; if I had to nitpick....I think that the tracks are way too rusty for a vehicle that would be seeing a lot of movement. The road wheels would have rubbed most of that rust away right quick. Maybe you could do the same with a stiff brush? I'd also recommend either a light drybrushing of dirt or a pastel-dusting of dirt on those black wheels. They look just a bit too monochromatic right now for my taste.

Of course, you said you are preparing a base, so I'm sure you would be taking all that lower hull weathering into account for that? Can't wait to see it done! 

Are ou going to include a figure or two? What kind of figures would go with this? Are any available?

Tread - Always like the details and always like to experment. It's the little things that can bring out the whole model. Thanks for looking, you comments and support.

Gino - Off the wall is my speciality. I always look for the different!. Thanks for looking and your help....especially the smoke launchers.

Marc - Dust....Once I get it mounted, final pics and then it is off to the glass model case. I'll dust her off for Misquitocon!! Thanks for looking and your comments.

Phil - Unique is important. As most of you guys know, I'll bring you the stange and obtuse whenever I can. Thanks for looking and for your commentsl

Rounds Complete!!

Great job Mike.

She's a truly unique twist on an otherwise familiar subjext.

Hey Mike

outstanding and unique build!!--of the fine details I would like to say that the headlights and rear lenses are spectacular--I love that alcad chrome that you used.-- beautiful---sometimes it is the smaller things comming together as a whole that really makes a build stand out!!--it is a beauty,Mike--tread

Ok, here are some model finished pics. First the details

I added a commercial radio antenna which is a 1 inch long .020 brass rod and the spring on the bottom is 32 gauge wire wound tight in the rod. Antenna was painted with Alclad Aluminum

Front lights I drilled out and added MV lenses. Prior to the lenses I chromed the housings with Alclad Chrome. The headlights pointing to the side are mounted on some scrap PE bent to make a channel and the light cable is .032 black wire.

Some of the other details, the armor lenses were done with decal paper painted with Alclad Jet Exhaust and then painted with Tamiya Smoke. The same was used for the rear black taillights. The red taillight is decal paper painted with Alclad Aluminum and then Tamiya Clear Red

The engine grills on the roof were pin washed with Black along with the outline of some of the details.  Some of the roof dirt was a touch of the black pin wash and some MIG Smoke powder. The exhaust also used the MIG Smoke powder for the black

Rust on the exhaust, bolts and scratches were a dry brush and or wash of Raw Sienna.

Next was the overall model with a dot filtering with a mix of White, Burnt Umber and (a touch) of Sap Green.

After that, a weathering wash with a mix of Vandyke Brown and Burnt Sienna

Lastly, the tracks were done with the Alclad Steel for the metal and a 50/50 mix of Tamiya NATO Black and Flat Black for the pads. Then to finish, I first washed and dry brushed with Burnt Sienna and then applied MIG Light Rust powder.

After all that....here it is

I am working on the base now. I should have some final pics in a separate post this weekend.....I hope

Next up on the bench, the SP AT weapon that's not a tank but is close in power. The M1128 MGS Stryker. (I know, it is not totally strange....but it is different)

All comments are welcome. Thanks for looking

Rounds Complete!!

Karl - Thanks...should be done later this week.....just a little bit more....Also making the base which will be simple scale concrete.

Thanks again

Rounds Complete!!

Mike, this really is just such a cool, unique build. Definitely looking fabulous!

Can't wait to see how you weather it!

Marc - I look at Armor modeling like a banquet and some people are starving at the table. I consider myself the alter ego of the rest of my friends here....Like you said, always something different.

Thanks for looking.

Rounds Complete!!

Russianfist - Thanks for looking and your comments.

I have not been able to find any "useful" photos of the meatball version. I have seen a rear shot of the all white with 3 astronauts and a front shot from a distance. Nothing with details which would allow the design and sizing of markings.

Also have seen the original, which was OD Green with just white NASA bumper numbers.

Hopefully this week we complete this WIP.

Rounds Complete!!

Outstanding!

I am still looking for pics of the one I had seen in the 1980's in California.

It was solid white, only marked with the NASA worm logo on the side.

Maybe they will have some info on it on the Vandenberg AFB site.

Well done.

Bill - It's not the destination its the journey. Researching & making those decals was time consuming but worth it. I'm happy with the way they turned out. I'm glad you agree.

If I take it to a show it will at least get people going "what the he(( is that" But then again...thats me....different, strange and obtuse.

Thanks for looking and for your comments. 

Rounds Complete!!

Mobious - Thanks for the comments. The decals were a lot of work but worth the time.

Armored glass....I have clear decal paper and will paint with Alclad Aluminum. After it dries I will put on a coat of Tamiya Smoke. Once that dries, cut and apply. Hopefully you will see the results on next weeks update.

Thanks again.

Rounds Complete!!

Hello,

 Great to see some progress pics of the M113(NASA). Looking very good. Glad to hear that the track adjustment was in a "Hidden" spot. It doesn't show.

 I can't get over how well the decals turned out. Congrats on a well executed plan.

 Noticed the armored glass hasn't been painted yet and was curious about the color(s) that were going to be used. Perhaps washes?

 Looking forward to more excellent work and pics.

 Mobious

Tread - As always many thanks my friend......nice of you to peek out of the background

Jester - Thanks for looking and your comments

Rounds Complete!!

Beautiful job so far, Mike

Yes, I am still here--running in the background  following all the great builds--decal work is outstanding-----tread

This week's major progress was the tracks and skirts. The tracks were for some reason, more of a challenge than usual. I used the kit tracks which are styrene, part indy and part multi-link. After painting and dry brush for rusting, they seemed to fit well but were slightly off in their length. On side I had to make an adjustment to the links to get a fit. Fortunately the 113 has the skirts so I hid the adjustment in the skirt area (shhhhh)

Anyway tracks and skirts mounted, some more small details like the bullhorn mounted on the rear driver side and the balance of the decals in the rear and the "3" on the roof.

Need to get a balanced finish and seal up the decals so next will be a flat coat. Then I can mount the shiny stuff, the headlights and the commercial radio antenna. Then we are into washes and weathering to finish. Getting there......slowly but surely.

All comments are welcome. Thanks for looking

Rounds Complete!!

Mobious - Thanks....I'll keep the flash burns from being too close to liftoff to a minimum

Rounds Complete!!

 Hello,

 Really looking good. The decals are right on. Looking forward to seeing this one weathered up. Go easy on the battle damage! Keep up the great work.

 Mobious

Karl - Thanks. I tend to doubt if Tamiya would be interested, but putting something different into the old 113 was exactly why I did this build. I might have a better shot with one of the aftermarket decal or transfer guys. But then again....like the thread in the other fourm says...Why is Space so Unpopular???

I like it. It perks up and gives the old 113 a different look. It has the "what the hell is that" look!

Gino - Thanks. I like the way they turned out but as I said...for an armor guy...what a pain. All these decals and their size is a challange to apply. I made a double set. Used some of the second set along with some choice colorful metaphores!!

Once you get the hang of it, they move along but getting there is a B#%$h.

Thanks again guys

Rounds Complete!!

Outstanding, Mike! It really is looking tremendous!

Geez, you know; I wouldn't be surprised if Tamiya contacts you and offers to buy your decal template--it would breathe some new life iinto their venerable old M113 kit to have this unique and different option to model!

It's really looking great, man!