Tamiya 1/35 M113

[Dunhill2005]

Here we go !!!
[youtube]wuk8AOjGURE[/youtube]

M113 armored personnel carrier

Type Armored personnel carrier
Place of origin United States

Service history
In service 1960–present
Wars Vietnam War
Yom Kippur War
Lebanese Civil War
Invasion of Panama
Iran-Iraq War
Persian Gulf War
Kosovo War
War in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Waziristan War

Production history
Number built ~80,000 (all variants)

Specifications
Weight 12.3 tonnes (13.6 short tons; 12.1 long tons)
Length 4.863 metres (15 ft 11.5 in)
Width 2.686 metres (8 ft 9.7 in)
Height 2.5 metres (8 ft 2 in)
Crew 2
Passengers 11 passengers
Armor aluminum 12–38 millimetres (0.47–1.50 in)
Main armament M2 Browning machine gun
Secondary armament varies (see text)
Engine Detroit Diesel 6V53T, 6-cylinder diesel engine
275 hp (205 kW)
Power/weight 22.36 hp/tonne
Suspension torsion bar, 5 road wheels
Operational range 480 km (300 mi)
Speed 67.6 km/h (42.0 mph), 5.8 km/h (3.6 mph) swimming

The M113 is a fully tracked armored personnel carrier manufactured by BAE Systems. The vehicle was first fielded by the United States Army's mechanized infantry units in Vietnam in April 1962. The M113 was the most widely used armored vehicle of the U.S. Army in the Vietnam War, earning the nickname 'Green Dragon' by the Viet Cong as it was used to break through heavy thickets in the midst of the jungle to attack and overrun enemy positions, but largely known as an APC and ACAV (armored cavalry assault vehicle) by the allied forces.

The M113 introduced new aluminum armor that made the vehicle much lighter than earlier vehicles; it was thick enough to protect the crew and passengers against small arms fire but light enough that the vehicle was air transportable and moderately amphibious. In the U.S. Army, the M113 series have long been replaced as front-line combat vehicles by the M2 and M3 Bradley, but large numbers are still used in support roles such as armored ambulance, mortar carrier, engineer vehicle, command vehicle, etc. The Army's Heavy Brigade Combat Teams are equipped with around 6,000 M113s and 4,000 Bradleys.

The M113's versatility spawned a wide variety of adaptations that live on worldwide, and in U.S. service. These variants together represent about half of U.S. Army armored vehicles today. To date, it is estimated that over 80,000 M113s of all types have been produced and used by over 50 countries worldwide, making it one of the most widely used armored fighting vehicles of all time. The Military Channel's "Top Ten" series named the M113 the most significant infantry vehicle in history. The U.S. Army planned to retire the M113 family of vehicles by 2018, seeking replacement with the GCV Infantry Fighting Vehicle program, but now replacement of the M113 has fallen to the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) program.

Development
The M113 was developed by Food Machinery Corp. (FMC), which had produced the earlier M59 and M75 Armored personnel carriers. The M113 bore a very strong resemblance to both of these earlier vehicles. The M75 was too heavy and expensive to be useful; its weight prevented amphibious capability, and being transported by air. The lightened M59 addressed both of these problems, but ended up with too little armor, and was unreliable as a result of efforts to reduce its cost.

The Army was looking for a vehicle that combined the best features of both designs, the "Airborne Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle Family" (AAM-PVF) of all-purpose, all-terrain armored fighting vehicles FMC had been working with Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Co. in the late 1950s to develop suitable aluminum armor. Use of this armor could produce a vehicle that provided the protection of the M75, and the light weight and mobility of the M59.

FMC responded with two proposals; two versions of the aluminum T113 - a thicker and a thinner armored one - along with the similar but mostly steel T117. The thicker-armored version of the T113, effectively the prototype of the M113, was chosen because it weighed less than the steel competitor, while offering the same level of protection. An improved T113 design, the T113E1, was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1960 as the M113. A diesel prototype T113E2 was put into production in 1964 as the M113A1, and quickly supplanted the gasoline-engined M113. In 1994, FMC transferred the M113's production over to its newly formed defense subsidiary, United Defense. Then in 2005, United Defense was acquired by BAE Systems.
U.S. Army soldiers dismount from an M113 armored personnel carrier during a training exercise in September 1985.

The M113 was developed to provide a survivable and reliable light tracked vehicle able to be air-lifted and air-dropped, by C-130 and C-141 transport planes. The original concept was that the vehicle would be used solely for transportation, bringing the troops forward under armor and then having them dismount for combat; the M113 would then retreat to the rear. Entering service with the U.S. Army in 1960, the M113 required only two crewmen, a driver and a commander, and carried 11 passengers inside the vehicle. Its main armament was a single .50-caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun operated by the commander.

On 30 March 1962, the first batch of 32 M113s arrived in Vietnam, and were sent to two Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) mechanized rifle companies, each equipped with 15 of the APCs (M113s). On 11 June 1962, the two mechanized units were fielded for the first time. During the Battle of Ap Bac in January 1963, at least fourteen of the exposed .50 caliber gunners aboard the M113s were killed in action, necessitating modifications to improve crew survivability. Soon, makeshift shields formed from metal salvaged from the hull(s) of sunken ships were fitted to the carriers, which afforded better protection. But, finding that this material could be penetrated by small arms fire, subsequent shields were constructed from scrapped armored vehicles.

The ARVN 80th Ordnance Unit in South Vietnam developed the shield idea further and commenced engineering general issue gun shields for the M113. These shields became the predecessor to the standardized Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle (or ACAV) variant and were issued to all ARVN mechanized units during the early 1960s. The ARVNs had modified the M113s to function as "amphibious light tanks" and not as battle taxis as US designers had intended. Instead of an armored personnel carrier, the ARVN used the carried infantry as extra "dismountable soldiers" in "an over-sized tank crew." These "ACAV" sets were eventually adapted to U.S. Army M113s with the arrival of the Army's conventional forces in 1965. The vehicles continued to operate in the role of a light tank and reconnaissance vehicle, and did not operate as designed in theater. Still, the M113 could carry 11 infantrymen inside, with two crewmen operating the M113.

The U.S. Army, after berating the Vietnamese for flouting battle doctrine, came out with their own ACAV version. This more or less standardized ACAV kit included shields and a circular turret for the .50-caliber M2 machine gun in the Track Commander (TC) position, two M60 machine guns with shields for the left and right rear positions, and "belly armor" - steel armor bolted from the front bottom extending 1/2 to 2/3 of the way towards the bottom rear of the M113. The two rear machine gunners could fire their weapons while standing inside the rectangular open cargo hatch. This transformed the M113 into a fighting vehicle, but the vehicle still suffered from its lightly armored configuration, having never been designed for such a role. Canada also adopted the ACAV kits when employing the M113A2 during peacekeeping operations in the Balkans in the 1990s.

In order to improve the fighting ability of the mounted troops, a number of experiments were carried out in the 1960s under MICV-65 project, which aimed to develop a true "infantry fighting vehicle" rather than an "armored personnel carrier". Pacific Car and Foundry entered the steel-armored XM701, but this proved to be too slow and too heavy to be airmobile, even in the C-141. FMC entered the XM734, which was largely the ACAV M113, but whereas the M113 seated the troops facing inward on benches along the walls, the XM734 sat them facing outwards on a central bench. Four gun ports and vision blocks were added on each side to allow the seated troops to fire even while under cover. Although neither the XM701 or XM734 were deemed worthwhile to produce, FMC continued development of their version as the XM765 Advanced Infantry Fighting Vehicle (AIFV). The AIFV was sold to a number of third party-users in the 1970s, including the Netherlands, the Philippines and Belgium.

Modifications
Modified versions of the Vietnam War ACAV sets have been deployed to Iraq (formerly referred to as Southwest Asia within the US military) to equip the standard M113s still in service. The circular .50 caliber gun shields have been modified, while the rear port and starboard gun stations have been deleted for service in that region. Some of these modified vehicles have been utilized for convoy escort duties.

The M113 has relatively light armor, but it can be augmented with add-on steel plates for improved ballistic protection. Also, reactive armor and slat armor can be added for protection against RPGs. Windowed gunshields developed by an armorer in Iraq are reminiscent of ACAV vehicle modifications so effective in Southeast Asia (Vietnam War). Band tracks are in use by Canadian and other forces to enable stealthy operation, less damage to paved roads, higher speed, less maintenance, access to terrain where operation of wheeled vehicles was impractical and/or impossible and less vibration and rolling resistance.

Most of the 13,000 M113s that are still in U.S. Army service have been upgraded to the A3 variant.

The M113 has also been adopted to replace the aging fleet of visually modified (vismod) M551s being used to simulate Russian-made combat vehicles at the U.S. Army's National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California. These M113s, like the M551s they replaced, have also been modified to resemble enemy tanks and APCs, such as the T-80 and BMP-2. One of the advantages of the M113 being used to simulate the latter is that the infantry squad can now ride inside the simulated BMP instead of in a truck accompanying a tank masquerading as one, as was often the case with the M551s.
Nicknames

The M113 has received a variety of nicknames over the years. The South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) called it the "Green Dragon". U.S. troops tended to refer to the M113 simply as a "113" (spoken as "one-one-three" or "one-thirteen"), a "track"[17] or an ACAV. The IDF employs the M113 in many different variants, all designed in Israel, and has given each of them official names, from the baseline "Bardelas" over the "Nagmash", "Nagman", and "Kasman" variants for urban combat up to the "Zelda" and "Zelda 2", which were fitted with ERA armor-suites. The Australian Army refers to its M113A1s as "Buckets", "Bush taxis" and the modified M113A1 fitted with 76 mm turrets as "Beasts". The German Army has various nicknames, depending on location and branch of service, including "Elephantshoe", "Tank Wedge" and "Bathtub".

In service with the Hellenic Army, M113s have traditionally been referred to as "ducklings" (παπάκια), most probably due to their amphibious capabilities.

While some claim that the M113 has been nicknamed the "Gavin" (after General James M. Gavin), this is not an official designation. One observer said

In more than 30 years working in the defense industry, I have never, never heard anybody use the name "Gavin" for the M-113. Not in the US nor in any of the many countries that use the vehicle. Not in the military forces, not in the companies that build and equip it, not in the groups that retrofit and repair it. This usage appears not only to be "unofficial", it is entirely fictional and I believe that you may have been the victim of a hoax or deliberate disinformation.

Armament
The basic M113 armored personnel carrier can be fitted with a number of weapon systems. The most common weapon fit is a single .50 caliber M2 machine gun. However, the mount can also be fitted with a 40 mm Mk 19 automatic grenade launcher. A number of anti-tank weapons could be fitted to the standard variant: the U.S. Army developed kits that allowed the M47 Dragon and BGM-71 TOW anti-tank missile systems to be mounted. In the case of the M47, the system mated to the existing machine gun mount, without having to remove the machine gun. This allowed the commander to use both weapons. A large array of turrets and fixed mounts are available to mount high explosive cannon ranging from 20 mm to 105 mm on to the M113 series, making them function as assault guns and fire support; while in many cases still having room inside to carry dismounted infantry or cavalry scouts.

Armor
The M113 is built of 5083 aircraft-quality aluminum alloy, which gives it some of the same strength as steel at a slightly reduced weight, as the greater thickness allows structural stiffness.

Mobility
Its weight allows the use of a relatively small engine to power the vehicle, a 6V53 Detroit 2-stroke six cylinder diesel, with an Allison TX-100-1 3-speed automatic transmission, and allows the vehicle to carry a large payload cross-country and to be transported by fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Original-production M113s can swim without deploying flotation curtains, using only a front-mounted trim vane; they are propelled in the water by their tracks.

Service history

Vietnam
The Vietnam War was the first combat opportunity for "mechanized" infantry, a technically new type of infantry with its roots in the armored infantry of World War II, now using the M113 Armored Personnel Carrier. In addition, Armored Cavalry squadrons in Vietnam consisted largely of M113s, after replacing the intended M114 in a variety of roles, and Armor battalions contained M113s within their headquarters companies, such as the maintenance section, medical section, vehicle recovery section, mortar section, and the scout (reconnaissance) section. U.S. Army mechanized infantry units in Vietnam were fully equipped with the M113 APC/ACAV, which consisted of one headquarters company and three line companies, normally with an authorized strength of approximately 900 men. Ten U.S. mechanized infantry battalions and one mechanized brigade were deployed to Vietnam from 1965 until their departure in 1972.

Company D, 16th Armor, 173rd Airborne brigade was the first US Army armor unit deployed to Vietnam. It originally consisted of three platoons of M113s and a platoon of Self Propelled Anti-Tank Systems (SPATS). It was the only independent Armor company in the history of the US Army. Upon the company’s arrival in Vietnam, a fourth line platoon was added; this was equipped with M106 4.2” mortar carriers (modified M113s). The mortar platoon often operated with Brigade infantry units to provide indirect fire support. It also deployed at times as a dismounted infantry unit. The remaining SPAT platoon was reequipped with M113s in late 1966 and the mortar platoon was deactivated in early 1967. From early 1967, D/16th had three line platoons equipped with M113s and eventually, its diesel version, the M113A1. It also standardized in late 1968 with three machine guns per track, one M2 .50 caliber and two M60 machine guns mounted on each side. After several years, the machine gun array varied considerably from APC to APC. The company conducted search and destroy missions, road and firebase security. Twenty-five D/16th paratroopers were killed in action and many more were wounded during the course of the war. D/16th ’s largest battle took place on 4 March 1968 at North Tuy Hoa. "During the day, the company lost 5 men killed, 16 wounded, and 3 missing (who are believed dead as two unrecogizable (sic) bodies were found). The enemy took a much greater loss. An estimated 2 enemy battalions, 85th Main Force (VC) and the 95th NVA Regiment, were rendered ineffective as they had 297 KIA's, with d-16 Armor receiving credit for killing 218."[24] The revised official count for D/16 was 8 KIA and 21 WIA. The company commander, Captain Robert Helmick, was awarded the DSC, and many D/16th soldiers earned awards for valor. D/16 was awarded a Valorous Unit Award and a Meritorious Unit Award for its actions in Vietnam. It was deactivated in 1969 and the company’s M113s were distributed to E Company, 17th Cavalry, 173rd Airborne Brigade.
ACAVs of the 3rd Squadron 11th Armored Cavalry assume a herringbone formation during Operation Cedar Falls. This formation gave vehicles optimal all-round firepower in the event of an ambush in a restricted area.

M113s were instrumental in conducting Reconnaissance In Force (RIFs), Search and Destroy missions, and large invasions (incursions) such as during the U.S. invasion of Cambodia on 1 May 1970 and later Laos (Operation Lam Son 719) in 1971; all of which used the M113 as the primary work horse for moving the ground armies. While operating with Cavalry and Armor units, the M113s often worked in conjunction with U.S. M48 Patton and M551 Sheridan tanks. During the Vietnam War, U.S. Army gun trucks (modified 2½-ton and 5-ton cargo trucks), along with V-100 armored cars, conducted convoy escorts for military traffic.

The USAF used M113 and M113A1 ACAV vehicles in USAF Security Police Squadrons, which provided air base ground defense support in Vietnam. M113s were also supplied to the South Vietnamese Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN). One notable ARVN unit equipped with the M113 APC, the 3d Armored Cavalry Squadron, earned the Presidential Unit Citation.[26][27] M113s were also supplied to the Cambodian Khmer National Armed Forces, equipped with a turret for the machine gun and a recoilless rifle mounted on the roof.

The Australian Army also used the M113 in Vietnam. After initial experience showed that the crew commander was too vulnerable to fire, the Australians tried a number of different gun shields and turrets, eventually standardizing with the Cadillac-Cage T-50 turret fitted with two .30 cal Browning machine guns, or a single .30/single .50 combination. Other turrets were tried as were various gun shields, the main design of which was similar to the gun shield used on the U.S. M113 ACAV version.

In addition, the Australians operated an M113 variant fitted with a Saladin armored car turret, with a 76 mm gun as a fire support vehicle, or FSV, for infantry fire support. This has now also been removed from service.

Subsequent to Vietnam all Australian M113 troop carriers were fitted with the T50 turret. The FSV was eventually phased out and replaced with a modernized version known as the MRV (medium reconnaissance vehicle). The MRV featured a Scorpion turret with 76 mm gun, improved fire control, and passive night vision equipment.

Recent history
Today’s M113 fleet includes a mix of M113A2 and A3 variants and other derivatives equipped with the most recent RISE (Reliability Improvements for Selected Equipment) package. The standard RISE package includes an upgraded propulsion system (turbocharged engine and new transmission), greatly improved driver controls (new power brakes and conventional steering controls), external fuel tanks, and 200-amp alternator with four batteries. Additional A3 improvements include the incorporation of spall liners and provision for mounting external armor.

The future M113A3 fleet will include a number of vehicles that will have high speed digital networks and data transfer systems. The M113A3 digitization program includes applying appliqué hardware, software, and installation kits and hosting them in the M113 FOV.

The US Army stopped buying M113s in 2007, with 6,000 vehicles remaining in the inventory.
Law enforcement

M113s have been adopted by some law enforcement agencies. Photos show an M113 marked "Midland County Sheriff" was used in the 2008 raid of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints compound. The Osceola County Sheriff also uses one for its S.W.A.T Team.

Brazilian Marine Corps's M113s were used in joint operations with Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais during the 2010 raid on Complexo do Alemão.

Replacement

It was the U.S Army's intention that the BCT Ground Combat Vehicle Program replace the M113 by 2018 with the GCV Infantry Fighting Vehicle meanwhile displacing the other vehicles into task specific roles of the M113. Vehicles displaced into specific roles of the M113 would then to be replaced entirely by future variants of the GCV.

The M113 will now be replaced by the Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) program. Vehicles competing in the program include the Turretless Bradley and the Tracked Stryker. Other possible entries include an upgraded M113 and MRAP-type vehicle. Navistar Defense is also planning to participate in the program.

Basic variants

M113

Original version, powered by 209 hp (156 kW) Chrysler 75M V8 petrol engine.[34]

M113A1

Starting in 1964, the gasoline engine was replaced with a 215 hp (160 kW) 6V-53 Detroit Diesel engine, to take advantage of the better fuel economy and reduced fire hazard of the diesel engine. The suffix A1 was used on all variants to denote a diesel engine, i.e. an M106A1 was an M106 mortar carrier equipped with a diesel engine.

M113A2

In 1979, further upgrades were introduced. Engine cooling was improved by switching the locations of the fan and radiator. Higher-strength torsion bars increased ground clearance, and shock absorbers reduced the effects of ground strikes. Armored fuel tanks were added externally on both sides of the rear ramp, freeing up 16 cubic feet of internal space. The weight of the M113A2 was increased to 25,880 lbs. Because the added weight affected its freeboard when afloat, it was no longer required to be amphibious. Four-tube smoke grenade launchers were also added. The suffix A2 is used on all variants to denote upgrade to A2 standard.[36]

M113A3

In 1987, further improvements for "enhanced (battlefield) survival" were introduced. This included a yoke for steering instead of laterals, a more powerful engine (a 6V-53T Detroit Diesel), external fuel tanks and internal spall liners for improved protection. The suffix A3 is used on all variants to denote upgrade to A3 standard.

M113 Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle (ACAV) variant

M113 ACAV in Vietnam, 1966

The "Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle" or "ACAV", was a concept and field modification pioneered by the South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) in 1963 during the Vietnam war.[37] ARVN troops utilized the M113 armored personnel carrier as an infantry fighting vehicle, and more often than not, as a light tank[38] by fighting mounted rather than as a "battle taxi" as dictated by U.S. Army doctrine.

After it was found that the commander and cargo hatch positions were extremely exposed, and hence the commander and troops were vulnerable to enemy fire, South Vietnamese engineers thought out a simple and cheap remedy to this problem: Initially, field expedient shields and mounts were made from sunken ships,[39] but this was soft metal and could be penetrated by small arms fire. Then armor plate from scrapped armored vehicles was used; this worked well, and by the end of 1964 all ARVN ACAVs were equipped with gun shields.[40] For the US Army, ACAV sets were produced industrially in Okinawa for the .50 cal. machine gun, and rear aft and starboard M60 machine gun positions. Finally, the ARVN's ACAV modifications were adopted by the US Army in Vietnam,[41] and by 1965 the full ACAV set was mass-produced in the U.S. The kit included shields and circular turret armor for the commander's M2 .50 caliber machine gun, and two additional 7.62 mm M60 machine guns, again with shields, fitted on either side of the top cargo hatch. This kit could be retrofitted to any M113. ACAV sets were sometimes fitted to the M106 mortar carrier, but the different rear hatch found on this vehicle required the left M60 machine gun to be fitted to the extreme rear instead of the side. Many kits were added in the field, but at least in the case of the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, the vehicles had their ACAV sets installed in the U.S. prior to their deployment to Vietnam in 1966 from Ft. Meade, Maryland Additional armor in the form of a mine protective kit under the hull was also frequently fitted.

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[Dunhill2005]

There are many kits of M113 from the Vietnam era but this is in my opinion a very good kit.

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There are some figures in the box and it is possible to take of the upper part of the tank to take a look inside.
Flash is not visible on the components but some traces of the ejector.

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[Dunhill2005]

Twice the same picture even though I have inserted it only once?

[Dunhill2005]

The sprue for the internal parts is in light gray, the rest is in green.

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[Dunhill2005]

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[Dunhill2005]

The decals which are in the box also give you the opportunity to build a M113 from the Bundeswehr. However, only a variant of the first purchased ones. Later examples have external tanks, a diesel engine and a steering wheel instead of the steering lever.

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The tracks are not the most beautiful but some areas are covered by skirts later.

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The manual is typical Tamiya.Now and then some tips are given for the painting also some historical notes. Especially for beginners a nice feature.

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[snappercity]

Good to see this in the build. My favourite armoured vehicle. It's a nice little kit.

[Lee]

Nice

[AlkaSeltzer]

Great post I like all the history and the model is going to be just as we'll done!

[Dunhill2005]

Running gear

The running gear is a torsion bar 7-reel drive. It consists five rollers, one guiding wheel at the rear and the front drive wheel. Support rollers are not necessary because of the tightly stretched and relatively light track. In off-road driving, the driver must pay attention to keep the track tension constant. When crossing sharp peaks gas must remove of the driver , otherwise the driver can overload and break individual torsion bars. Even with a failed torsion of the M113 is still roadworthy.

BUT:The M113 can not drive with a damaged wheel, even if the track is still intact. If a wheel break or tear or come off a chain, the M113 shows a very problematic driving behavior. The driver must immediately switch to idle and allow the vehicle to roll out in a long curve. Each steering or braking leads almost inevitably to a rollover of the vehicle. In the event of a rollover of the M113 tends to catch fire, so it is very important that the driver will stop the engine immediately and flipping the power switch.

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I'll start with the rollers. There is not much is to say ...

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[Dunhill2005]

Engine compartment

The motor is sufficiently detailed.You do not need filling, because the jointless running along the assemblies.

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Thereafter, the motor and gearbox is adhered to the ground group.

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On the back walls I have to remove the stupid ejector marks.

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[EasyEight96]

Nice choice and good progress plus history lessons gotta love this cute APC

[felisbarcinonensis]

Neat looking kit from Tamiya. A very interesting threat. Good luck mate

[Dunhill2005]

HI!!!
This morning I inserted the floor plate in the hull but not yet glued.Just to see if everything fits. Everything is fine

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Thereafter I have attached the benches in the rear area and added the first attachments to the hull.

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[snappercity]

Great progress so far...

Check out https://www.flickr.com/photos/zippo132/ for reference pics....

[Dunhill2005]

'm back from my in-laws. Father in law's birthday today ...

Before I set off, I've puttied some ugly points...

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I've seen some pictures of the interior of a M113 and noted that some white and others are mint green inside.I think mint green looks more interesting.
Unfortunately,this color is not in my repertoire. I think 80% of Vallejo olive green and 20% Vallejo white is close to.

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[Dunhill2005]

A few new pictures...

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I mounted the fan, the air filter, the radiator and the hood at the engine cove. All parts fits very well

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Next to the drivers seat I have attached a bunch warning notes.

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[Dunhill2005]

After painting, I noticed this gap that makes no sense to me.

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With a small piece of plastic from a scraper I have closed the gap. Coat everything with putty and then sand it carefully.

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After all paint it again.

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[Gb64c]

Great posts, I have a similar Tamiya M113, so it is great to see someone build it first.

Did you say the top will come off to see the interior?

It would be cool to have a few Troopers siting in it.

The version I have, has the three infantry running next to the APC, if I can open the top, I may think about a couple more dudes on the inside.

The mint green is nice.

[Dunhill2005]

Great posts, I have a similar Tamiya M113, so it is great to see someone build it first.

Did you say the top will come off to see the interior?

It would be cool to have a few Troopers siting in it.

The version I have, has the three infantry running next to the APC, if I can open the top, I may think about a couple more dudes on the inside.

The mint green is nice.

THX!!!!
In my version are a couple GI's sit above the top.
The top can be build that it is held only by a hook.
So I'm going to build it, so I can remove the top part when needed.

A dryfit just for you to see!!!

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[Gb64c]

Cool to know, looks great can't wait to build mine

[Dunhill2005]

Moin!!!

In the fighting compartment I started with some details. But are still more to come...
The seats still shine, but are still treated satin.The heater is normally dark green and there are still some equipment to put in.

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Even with the covering it goes forward. The flap in the center can be open.

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On the underside there was again a lot of filling.With some wire I added two handles. The holes were there for it, but there were no parts to glue. So homemade ...

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[martin57]

nice work going to look great best of luck with the rest of the build .

[AlkaSeltzer]

Looks great so far I like your use of sanding along with filler putty.

[felisbarcinonensis]

Looking great mate!

[Dunhill2005]

Thanks for the kind words !!!


I finished the inside of the engine cover.
I painted the radiator fins in iron-color and the air filter is now white. After that, everything got a dark washing, so it looks a bit oily and dirty.

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The fighting compartment cover inside is also done. I'm not satisfied with the sanded points. I need to rework them again.

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[Dunhill2005]

Great Kevin!!!!! Wrong pic...
SORRY

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[Dunhill2005]

Often you can see barbed wire on military vehicles. So on my too. The barbed wire was carried to establish temporary checkpoints, secure the camp or to prevent access of the enemy...

A small tutorial to built your own barbed wire...

Procure seal wire.

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Cut a piece of wire off and wraps it around a tube in the desired size.In the first loop you twist the end of the wire so it does not unwind.

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Do the same at the last loop. Then at the end a small drop of super glue on the end of the wire for further secure.

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[Dunhill2005]

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[AlkaSeltzer]

You are making a great model and all I can do is watch and try to get some pointer

[Dunhill2005]

You are making a great model and all I can do is watch and try to get some pointer

THX!!!
If you continue to say those things, then I believe that someday

[Dunhill2005]

The M60 machine gun began development in the late 1940s as a program for a new, lighter 7.62 mm machine gun. It was partly derived from German guns of World War II (most notably the FG 42 and the MG 42), but it contained American innovations as well. Early prototypes, notably the T52 and T161 bore a close resemblance to both the M1941 Johnson machine gun and the FG 42. The final evaluation version was designated the T161E3. It was intended to replace the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle and M1919A6 Browning machine gun in the squad automatic weapon role, and in the medium machine gun role. One of the weapons tested against it during its procurement process was the FN MAG.
The U.S. Army officially adopted the T161E3 as the M60 in 1957. The decision to adopt the M60 instead of foreign designs, like modified versions of the proven German MG42 or the still-unproven FN MAG, was largely due to strict Congressional restrictions requiring preference be given to the designs of US arms manufacturers (even if a superior design was available from foreign sources) primarily out of desire to avoid paying licensing fees, but also out of a strong bias in favor of domestic products.
M60 in 1966, during the Vietnam War.

The M60 later served in the Vietnam War as a squad automatic weapon with many U.S. units. Every soldier in the rifle squad would carry an additional 200 linked rounds of ammunition for the M60, a spare barrel, or both. The up-gunned M113 armored personnel carrier ACAV added two M60 gunners beside the main .50 caliber machine gun, and the Patrol Boat, River had one in addition to two .50 cal mounts.

During the Vietnam War, the M60 received the nickname "The Pig" due to its bulky size. Vietnam's tropical climate harshly affected weapons, and the M60 was no exception. Its light weight made the gun damage easily and critical parts like the bolt and op rod wore out quickly. Even so, soldiers appreciated the gun's handling, mechanical simplicity, and effective operation from a variety of firing positions. Navy SEALs used M60s with shorter barrels and no front sights to reduce weight further. Some SEALs had feed chutes from backpacks to have a belt of thousands of rounds ready to fire without needing to reload.

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[Dunhill2005]

Machine guns were heavily used in World War I, and weapons of larger than rifle caliber were appearing. Both the British and French had large caliber machine guns. The larger rounds were needed to defeat the armor that was being introduced to the battlefield. Armor was also appearing in the skies. During World War I, the Germans introduced a heavily armored airplane, the Junkers J.I. The armor made aircraft machine guns using conventional rifle ammunition (such as the .30-06) ineffective.

Consequently, the American Expeditionary Force's commander General John J. Pershing asked for a larger caliber machine gun. Pershing asked the Army Ordnance Department to develop a machine gun with a caliber of at least 0.50 inches (12.7 mm) and a muzzle velocity of at least 2,700 feet per second (820 m/s). U.S. Col. John Henry Parker, commanding a machine gun school in France, observed the effectiveness of a French 11 mm (0.43 in) incendiary armor-piercing round. The Army Ordnance Department ordered eight experimental Colt machine guns rechambered for the French 11-mm cartridge. The French had developed a prototype machine gun for an even larger caliber.

The French 11-mm round was found to be unsuitable because its velocity was too low. Pershing wanted a bullet of at least 670 gr (43 g) and a muzzle velocity of 2,700 ft/s (820 m/s). Development with the French round was dropped.

Around July 1917, John M. Browning started redesigning his .30 caliber machine for a larger caliber. Winchester worked on the cartridge, which was a scaled up version of the .30-06. Winchester initially added a rim to the cartridge because the company wanted to use the cartridge in an anti-tank rifle, but Pershing insisted the cartridge be rimless. The first .50 machine gun underwent trials on 15 October 1918. It fired at less than 500 rounds per minute, and the muzzle velocity was only 2,300 ft/s (700 m/s). Cartridge improvements were promised. The gun was heavy, difficult to control, fired too slowly for anti-personnel, and was not powerful enough against armor.

While the .50 was being developed, some German anti-tank rifles and ammunition were seized. The German rounds had a muzzle velocity of 2,700 ft/s (820 m/s), an 800 gr (52 g) bullet, and could pierce 1 in (25 mm) at 250 yd (230 m). Winchester made the .50 caliber round have similar performance. Ultimately, the muzzle velocity was 2,750 ft/s (840 m/s).[15]

Efforts by John M. Browning and Fred T. Moore resulted in the water-cooled Browning machine gun, caliber .50, M1921. An aircraft version was termed the Browning aircraft machine gun, caliber .50, M1921. These guns were used experimentally from 1921 until 1937. They had light-weight barrels and the ammunition only fed from the left side. Service trials raised doubts whether the guns would be suitable for aircraft or for anti-aircraft use. A heavy barrel M1921 was considered for ground vehicles.

John M. Browning died in 1926. Between 1927 and 1932, Dr. S.H. Green studied the design problems of the M1921 and the needs of the armed services. The result was a single receiver design that could be turned into seven types of .50 caliber machine guns by using different jackets, barrels, and other components. The new receiver allowed right or left hand feed. In 1933, Colt manufactured several prototype Browning machine guns (including what would be known as the M1921A1 and M1921E2). With support from the Navy, Colt started manufacturing the M2 in 1933.

A variant without a water jacket, but with a thicker-walled, air-cooled barrel was designated the M2 HB (HB for Heavy Barrel). The added mass and surface area of the heavy barrel compensated somewhat for the loss of water-cooling, while reducing bulk and weight: the M2 weighs 121 lb (55 kg) with a water jacket, but the M2 HB weighs 84 lb (38 kg). Due to the long procedure for changing the barrel, an improved system was developed called QCB (quick change barrel). The lightweight "Army/Navy" prefixed AN/M2 "light-barrel" version of the Browning M2 weighing 60 pounds (27 kg) was also developed, and became the standard aviation machine gun of the World War II-era for American military aircraft of nearly every type.

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[Dunhill2005]

I want to take you to the latest stand from the interior.
Everything has got a dark wash. Some parts are from my rummage box.
Where the arrow is, I have created a graffiti. On many vehicles and helmets American soldiers have expressed their opinions and feelings. I did not copy this Graffiti exactly. I would not feel comfortable if I had copied the idea of an other completely because this graffitti reflected the feelings of the soldier back.

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[Dunhill2005]

Here are pictures of three soldiers, I am building paralel.
I put the helmet on them until I painted the faces.
I've also gripped in my rummage box and give them some more equipment.

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[AlkaSeltzer]

I like how the floor of the vehicle looks because it looks well worn like I would guess a real one would be. The entire model is really looking good.

[Dunhill2005]

Puhh!! Much to do besides my Kit. I'm on business trips at the moment. This goes until christmas. Only home on weekends.
My family tries to demanding me too!!!

I started to fix some decals to the outside. The accompanying decals are great.
They are not shining and you can not see the edges.

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I had made ​​this Roadrunner myself and wanted to add it. But that went wrong.
The bright colors were barely visible on the dark surface. Got myself a black white version picked out of the Internet and will attach it.

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[Dunhill2005]

The other decal I made myself broke!!!!
Must stop with the kit for today otherwise it ends up at the wall...

[Dunhill2005]

Small update...
My soldiers are ready so far.
Take a look...

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[Dunhill2005]

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[Dunhill2005]

Today I've done a few little things on my project.
I painted the helmets a 4-color camo sheme...

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Some say now: Dunhill you idiot!!! Wrong camo pattern.
But sorry, the most known camo pattern for the helmets in the "Vietnam-war-era" is the wine-loaf pattern. This was introduced in 1953 and produced till 1958. The USMC has used this very long, and was most seen in Vietnam.

Beginning in 1967, ERDL (Engineer Research and Development Laboratory) camouflage tropical uniforms began seeing service with reconnaissance and Special Forces personnel deployed to Vietnam. The uniforms were also highly favored by the US Marines.

[Dunhill2005]

Now I managed my homemade decal on the outside.
The dull color around the decals is caused by sealing with matt paint. The next step is to coat the whole kit with matt clear lacquer.
For this I use a paint from the spray can. The last time I had not sealed the decals and they started to get blisters.
Even with this decal I don't wanted to make an exact copy of a graffittie...

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[Dunhill2005]

Vietnam War soldiers
No war is easy for those fighting it – and Vietnam War soldiers faced many challenges, some insurmountable and some impossible. In Vietnam, soldiers on both sides faced physical challenges posed by the climate, terrain and wildlife of the country, along with the tactical and political problems thrown up by what was an inherently complex situation. On top of that, Vietnam was a war with few conventional objectives like territory held, no frontline, not even a well-defined theatre of war. The Vietnam conflict was a shiftless, dynamic and fluid struggle, where people moved freely and their political loyalties could not be easily identified. It was also a 360-degree war – attacks, ambushes and booby-traps might be encountered at any place, at any time, launched or set by an unseen enemy.

The troops of North Vietnam and the Viet Cong were under-resourced and poorly equipped, at least in comparison to those of the US. They did have some considerable advantages, not least of which was a close knowledge of the local people, language and terrain. The NVA and Viet Cong also benefited from the eight year-long war with France (1946-54) which gave them valuable experience in fighting a major Western power. Their leadership adopted guerrilla methods to inflict American casualties, while avoiding major battles. It was a reiteration of the ‘elephant and tiger’ strategy used against the French, only the ‘American elephant’ was larger and potentially more dangerous. Hanoi’s goal was to prolong the war, while inflicting casualties on US personnel. It knew that America’s involvement was costly; that its political and military leaders were impatient; and that the American public would soon withdraw their support if the war was going poorly.

The success of this guerrilla strategy hinged on training and discipline. Though essentially a civilian militia, the Viet Cong also had a significant number of men who were highly trained, uniformed and well drilled; consequently they saw themselves as professional soldiers. There were in excess of 50 Viet Cong training bases or centers across South Vietnam, where personnel were given instruction in weapons handling, explosives, radio operation, subterfuge and guerrilla warfare tactics. To ensure loyalty and discipline, they were also tutored in the historical and political background of the conflict. Not all Viet Cong were so well trained. A sizeable number were civilian farmers, teenagers and boys, who took up arms when necessary; they were trained occasionally, if at all. Some were volunteers, while others participated in the Viet Cong under pressure from family members or local cadres.

The ‘ghostly army’
Viet Cong troops used whatever weapons were available. The most common was probably the Chinese-made AK47 submachine gun, though some Viet Cong also used confiscated French or Japanese rifles. Soviet-made artillery, grenades and mortars were also used, though were in much shorter supply. The Viet Cong instead relied on improvised or ‘home-made’ munitions, constructed by soldiers and sympathetic villagers from whatever material could be scrounged. Weapons were fashioned from anything dangerous, from scavenged tin cans to discarded wire. The most important ingredients – gunpowder and explosive materials – were often provided by the enemy. In a single year, dud American bombs could leave more than 20,000 tons of unexploded ordnance scattered around the Vietnamese countryside. After air-raids, volunteers retrieved the duds and the dangerous business of creating new weapons began. Many Viet Cong units also relied on primitive weapons and booby traps, such as ‘Punji stakes’ (sharpened spikes hidden in ditches or pits). Evasion and concealment were also Viet Cong priorities. In the mountains and jungles, where the landscape and foliage served as cover, this was comparatively easy. In the plains and closer to the cities, the Viet Cong instead relied on enormous and quite complex underground tunnel systems. Tunnel-building pre-dated the arrival of the Americans but the Viet Cong hierarchy quickly made it a priority. Every civilian in a Viet Cong area was expected to dig three feet of tunnel per day. The tunnels were not just hiding places or for shelter; they also served as headquarters, barracks, warehouses, munitions dumps, hospitals and kitchens. The largest tunnel systems were in the Cu Chi district and the ‘Iron Triangle’, just a handful of miles from Saigon.

GIs under strain
There is no doubt that US soldiers were better armed, better equipped and more extensively trained than the Viet Cong. The vast majority of American troops there had completed eight weeks of basic training, followed by 8-26 week specialist courses in infantry, artillery, engineering and other specialisations. Soldiers deployed to Vietnam were given a fortnight’s specialist training before departure. On arrival in Vietnam, these newcomers – colloquially known as ‘cherries’ – were also given another fortnight’s training and orientation. Whether this preparation was adequate or specialised enough for the situation in Vietnam is another issue. There is no doubt that in the 1960s, America’s combat troops formed the most powerful offensive battlefield force on the planet. But the Vietnam War was far too complex to be won simply on the battlefield.

The effectiveness of American soldiers in Vietnam was undermined not by a lack of skill or courage, but by local conditions, uncertain military objectives, the highly politicised nature of the war and the inventiveness of their enemy. The sub-tropical climate, terrain and fauna all exacted a toll on American troops. The heat, humidity and monsoonal rain meant heavily-clad GIs were almost constantly drenched with water or sweat. Patrols into the ‘boonies’ (rural or remote areas) often had to traipse through thick jungle, sharp vines and foliage, up and down steep rises and ditches, through swamps and flooded rice paddies. Vietnam’s wildlife posed its own dangers, including malarial mosquitoes, leeches, ticks, fire ants and 30 different kinds of venomous snake.

The war takes its toll
The very nature of the war also brewed confusion and self-doubt in the minds of US soldiers. Though trained to follow orders and disregard external factors, most American GIs were acutely aware of the tremendous difficulties of their job. Their mission to secure South Vietnam, gain the trust and loyalty of the people and eradicate the Viet Cong often seemed impossible. Many combat operations had no discernible outcomes other than ‘body counts’, which were often no more than estimates. An area could be cleared of Viet Cong today but be back in their hands immediately after US troops left. The villagers were sometimes welcoming, sometimes treacherous, but largely indifferent to the Americans, very few of whom could speak their language. As one US soldier in Vietnam asked: “What am I doing here? We don’t take any land. We don’t give it back. We just mutilate bodies. What the boing boing are we doing here?” Disillusionment with the war was coupled with psychological trauma. Most US soldiers ‘in country’ had seen fellow servicemen, sometimes their friends, killed or disfigured by sniper fire, mines or booby-traps. But the Viet Cong who laid these traps were reluctant to engage in conventional warfare, so American soldiers felt deprived of the opportunity for retaliation or ‘payback’. Some units experienced a breakdown in discipline. The practice of ‘fragging’ – killing or injuring superior officers by intentionally activating a fragmentation grenade close by – was relatively common (one source cites 730 cases between 1969 and 1971). Illicit drugs were commonly available in Vietnam, including marijuana, opium, morphine and heroin. In some combat units, up to 80 per cent of men were casual or regular drug users. The US military did little to combat drug abuse until 1971.

[HamilkarBarkas]

Looking very good Kev! The M113 is a good piece to show the interior, you did a superb job on it. The camo pattern on the GI helmet is perfectly done, it is really hard to get it right but you managed it

[Dunhill2005]

Looking very good Kev! The M113 is a good piece to show the interior, you did a superb job on it. The camo pattern on the GI helmet is perfectly done, it is really hard to get it right but you managed it

Thank you for the compliment
But I'm still unsure if I should put more in the inner space. It would look more interesting if the tank were full of equipment.
But in my opimion it would not very realistic. The soldiers sat on the armor for better protection against mines. Would they now pack everything full, in case of an explosion everything would fly around...

[AlkaSeltzer]

The Decals look great I am impressed with how they add to the vehicle. I like the way your figures came out they look real and add to the build. Great job!

[Pierce]

Looks great. I need to get into tanks and wheeled vehicles. But I love planes and copters

[Dunhill2005]

Thanks fellas!!!

[Deacon]

Looking forward to watching this come together.

[Dunhill2005]

Last night I prepared my M113 for the weathering. This means I have everything covered with a layer of clear lacquer.

This morning I have done a washing with "MIG dark wash". Finally pin wash with diluted yellow sand color...

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