Hello all

For the 2009 SFTPMS modelling event, i shall be submitting Tamiya's M113 (ACAV). The M113 is described to be the no.1 APC in Discovery Channel.



The Tamiya kit has been around for quite a long time now. Sprue has got a 1974 stamp on it. I had the pleasure of building the original (the one with the figures all sitting on top of the APC). The M113 also served as the basis for the Command Post ,mortar carrier and Fire support version.

Tamiya then re-issue the ACAV version (new sprue has got 1987 stamped on it) and i also built it before this. Tamiya then later re-issued it again as the Desert Storm version as well.

This version of the M113 can be built in 2 guises, Vietnam and modern version. Personally , i think you cannot build the modern version from this kit because the modern version has got a different steering wheel . The Vietnam version uses a yoke like steering system.

I am starting off with assembling the figures. I feel that the figures are abit big and it lacked details ,unlike the modern Dragon figures. The boots are devoid of detail under the sole. While waiting for the glue to dry, i also scrapped off the Tamiya logo and large wordings underneath the chassis. This is so blasphemous!..Sorry Mr. Tamiya but apparently i will lose marks if i dont do it!!

sllim

Don't the real ones have that on ? ;) :D
Sounds like a good build, wonder how the Tamiya kit compares to the Academy version.
Steve

Ahhh ACAV : I LOVE THE SMELL OF NAPALM IN THEMORNING...

I've built the M106 Mortar carrier version and M577 command post version of this.
Had the base M 113, sold off recently.

An old kit, with some inaccuracies, but with a bit of work can be made nice. I think they designed it to be motorised too, so got some lobang for the motor and gearbox etc....

Tamiya just used the basic set of sprues and added extras for the different version, and as you pointed out, the age of the mould does show now.

The Academy one is apparently much much better as it is a modern mould and they give you a lot of accessories (even a boom box radio and drink bottles I heard).

Have fun with the build, Ive always thot the M113 was a cute little box on tracks.

yup agree the Academy one is abit better ..due to the loads of stores and the marine figure in T-shirt certainly is better then the tamiya figure but bascially the kit is not much different.

building the vietnam version is always more fun then the clean modern version.
i did an ARVN version a couple years back...fun to see bright aluminium chipping and red earth...well its not vietnam without red earth rite?...the things is i have been to vietnam several times ...never did see any red earth...only cool chicks on motorbike :D

Not much progress of late. But i am going to improve on some aspects of the kit, namely:

1) Cover up the holes that facilitate the motorization
2) Some cabling to make the driver compartment abit more busy looking.
3) Handle on the MG. Tamiya had molded 1 solid piece.
4) Straps along the roof of the APC to steady the crew inside.
5) Improve on the Jerry cans and the their positions. The Jerry cans are actually tied on a hook,but the one on the kit seems to hang in mid air.
6) Improve on the engine abit. Coincidentily, someone at armourama is building the same kit too

m113

sllim

Time for some updates.

Adoi...i dont remember that this kit has got so many ejection marks. It has got ejection marks all over and on those visible and exposed areas. I am ignoring most of them but will try to fill some of them.

The fit is so-so for this kit. I sprayed aluminium for the interior and then added masking fluid at random before spraying flat white. Then i removed the masking fluid. The chips created with this colour combination doesnt give much contrast though.

The colours were then Future'd before applying a dirty wash of water colour Raw Umber.

Another round of updates. I have decided not to include the engine. No real reason.

I used the hair spray technique on the interior benches. It was painted flat black before a coat of hairspray was ..well...sprayed on. Then a coat of olive drab was painted on. The final results shows a peeling effect.



The build then proceeded quite quickly. The top small turret was originally oversprayed with gunmetal, then hairspray, then dark green,then hair spray,and finally olive drab (all Tamiya paints). A bit of chipping was created before finally an over spray of faded olive drab. The barrel was also drilled out with a knife.



The same was done for the rear ramp. As you can , i have replaced the jerry cans and put on the straps according to a pic i saw from the internet. Still needed some touch up painting on the buckles.



The front glasis plate. Some of the mud stains are created with pastel and overspray of khaki. The Aluminium skin of the M113 doest rust.



Oops ..in my haste, i forgot to add the decals before the weathering. I will need to weather the decals later on.



Top of the turret view

Reminds me of the MIFV GB some time back... :lol:

Coming along nicely. Keep it up.

cheers

my friend...you are correct, the main body is made from aluminium and doesnt rust, but the nuts and bolts are steel, so are the light bars, and handles. the Mg armour plate if you are doing a Vietnam version...then they are field added. The ARVN were the 1st to do this, the americans caught up later. this armour is for sure steel plates...as they are readily avaiable and much cheaper than aluminium.


the rear ramp ..is infact the part that will get the most peeled paint...heavy boots are been stumped here..and most often
Slow down boss...try not to rush in building this.

Fantastic build!

I built this same kit about 17 years ago and I was really impressed by the quality, accuracy and fit. Seems like Academy's is better though huh?

Nice to see someone doing a better job than I did!

One of the easiest improvement all modellers can make is the hatch grab handle. On the commander's hatch, the grab handle is molded as a small solid piece. Shave it off and make a new one with brass wire.



I have completed most of it already,just need to glue the small pieces down. The pics below dont show the hatches or the accesories.

One of the easiest improvement all modellers can make is the hatch grab handle. On the commander's hatch, the grab handle is molded as a small solid piece. Shave it off and make a new one with brass wire.



I have completed most of it already,just need to glue the small pieces down. The pics below dont show the hatches or the accesories.







Interior. The fire extinguiser not in yet.






As i had put on the decals AFTER i did the initial weathering, you can see that the decals look stucked on and shiny. I will need to put on MORE weathering afterwards.


The 3 included figures have very dynamic poses. The commander figure dont realy fit well into the top turret though. It also doenst look proportional. The boots are not painted yet.

Looking good :)

Nice that you decide to rework the grab handle. Perhaps a slightly thicker one can be considered.

If you haven't tried this, a quick and easy way to get nice grab handles is to hold the longest part (the length of the handle) in a plier or tweezer and bend the ends down. Cut the ends to desired length and voila instant (and more importantly, consistant) grab handles.

cheers

For those making the modern M113 version, dont forget to shave off the locating points on the hull top. The locating points are for the grab handles(looks triangular thingy).

I see that i still need to shave off the backs of the M-60 machine guns too. Aiyah, pictures show up all the flaws leh!!! How to win a medal ??

sllim