1/35 Academy M50A1 Ontos

[MikeyKb]

Hey everyone.

This is my second entry into the GB. Picked up this lovely kit a little while back, and watching Hokum's build has inspired me to get started on mine.

Here we go, a little background.
The Ontos, officially the Rifle, Multiple 106 mm, Self-propelled, M50, was an American light armored tracked anti-tank vehicle developed in the 1950s a fast tank killer for airborne forces. It mounted six M40 106 mm recoilless rifles as its main armament, which could be fired in rapid succession against single targets to guarantee a kill. It was produced in limited numbers for the US Marines after the US Army lost interest in the project. The Marines consistently reported excellent results when they used the Ontos for direct fire support against infantry in numerous battles and operations during the Vietnam War. The American stock of Ontos was largely expended towards the end of the conflict and the Ontos was removed from service in 1969.

The Ontos (Greek for "thing" project was created to be an air transportable tank-destroyer capable of being lifted by the cargo aircraft of the 1950s. This limited it to a weight between 10 and 20 metric tons. The Ontos also had to use the six-cylinder engine then widely used in the Army's GMC trucks. Allis-Chalmers was awarded a contract on August 12, 1955, for 297 vehicles.

Allis-Chalmers' first vehicle, completed in 1952, was based on the running gear of the M56 Scorpion light anti-tank vehicle. The vehicle mounted a cast steel turret with two arms holding three rifles each. This early model could traverse the turret only about 15 degrees. A second prototype used a new suspension system, new tracks, and a newer turret with about 40 degrees traverse. The vechicle could only carry eighteen rounds for the main guns inside the vehicle due to limited space. Four of the rifles also had .50-caliber spotting rifles attached, each of which fired a round with the same trajectory as the 106 mm round, and that gave off a puff of smoke on impact. The spotting rifles were used to line up the 106 mm recoilless rifles with the target. The Ontos also carried a single .30 caliber M1919A4 machine gun for anti-infantry use.

The vehicle was taken to the Aberdeen Proving Ground where single rifles had been tested earlier. When all six weapons were fired at once, the back blast from the firing knocked bricks out of a nearby building and knocked the rear windows out of several cars. The prototype and testing stage was completed by 1955, at which point the Army canceled its order. As an anti-tank vehicle the Ontos had several problems, including a small ammunition load, a very high profile for such a small vehicle, and the need for the crew to exit the vehicle in order to reload the guns, exposing them to enemy fire. Although the Army canceled their order, the Marine Corps were desperate for any anti-tank vehicles they could get, and ordered 297. Production ran from 1955 through 1957. The Marine Corps accepted its first vehicle on 31 October 1956.

Here's the Box Art.


Now the sprues



x2


Some nice PE


Very lovely detail - and welding marks


'structions









Started with the wheels - as usual. soooo many!


Ok, maybe not THAT many...


All done... there are many small parts and smaller builds (sub assemblies) required for the suspension and side-skirt 'holder/fender' (?)




Put the side-skirts together on their own in order to facilitate painting


2-part rear-plate assembly


Lower hull pretty much finished and ready for some priming and painting - now on to the upper hull



The extra tracks come individually - they look pretty even... I guess they wouldn't have to be though... would they? Do track-links actually come in individuals?



Well, that's all I got up to last night - will continue with the build and the P.E either tonight or tomorrow.

Thanks for looking in!

[Yevgeny]

This is like Mini of armour
Nice progress. Looking forward for more.