Brett Elphick has just been visiting the Military Modelling Fair in Seoul and was able to obtain images of a VERY desired 1/35th scale release.. Brett's photos of the USMC M50A1 Ontos from Academy, can be seen:

Link to Item

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

Thats made my christmas!

It looks fnatastic! I can't wait to get my hands on it!

Looks to be good.

Even those tracks look like link to link?

Think they are?

Nice deal and now what they could do is throw out an M-42 Duster to help it along.

Nice job academy.

They look like one piece flexible plastic to me, see the connection under the second roadwheel from the front in the first photograph.

Also the track tension and tightness suggest one piece flexible track.

I might be wrong however, just guessing...

Cheers,

Christophe

Previous experience would indicate that Academy are NOT the most enthusiastic manufacturer of individual track links, however, am I wrong in thinking that their Merkavas had them ?

I think that Ontos tracks were rubber bands with riveted steel shoes, so no link by link.
Very good news for me, a good vehicle for a small scene.
Javier

Aaaaahhh! Just in time too.

This is correct, the tracks were molded in sections like the US halftrack tracks. Basically a giant rubberband molded around some steel. The Ontos used several sections (unsure how many) as opposed to the halftrack that was one long continuous loop.

That is great news! From the pictures it looks really nice. Is there an interior?

What else was announced?
Darryl

Looks really nice. One that certainly is on my "wish list."

And, hehehe.....just what Jaymes needed!

Mike

Congradulations to Academy for breaking the mold on this one. An unusual kit that has been neglected for too too long.. I need one of those for sure. I think I see an ontos campaign on the horizon.

Great and bold work on this one Academy. This will probably be my first kit of 2010 (if they don't wait too long to release it). This could be a fun campaign too. Happy Holidays everyone !!! Tom

Thanks.
I don't know much about this vehicle except this: it looks cool! I will definitely get one

Well finally there is a release that appeals to the modeler in me! Good to see!

Ron V

Its finally here...wow. Does anyone know the US release date? I have had a diorama in mind for this one for the past three years. Wow. I hope that Academy doesn't drop the accuracy ball on this one like they did on the Sheridan. It sure doesn't look it; this looks like one of the nicest kits they've ever done. Hope they sell a zillion of 'em.

Well oops on me I think you dudes are right one piece tracks.

Oh well still looks pretty good.

So only Nam on this thing?

Nice! Been waiting on this one for a while... I'm also curious to see if it has an interior, too. Yep, thumbs up for Academy for kitting this subject! I think that it'll sell well, particularly if it is reasonably-priced, like some of the other kits --- I can see people buying a couple... One for a Hue dio the other for that rice paddy (possibly Operation Starlite) diorama.

And this could be a good one for the amazin' Vladi and Bravo Six to tackle --- nice to see Marine Ontos crews, both in transit and loading and firing the RRs.

Would be great to see this one sell very well and spur additional Vietnam War subjects releases --- AFV Club has been promising their LVTH-6 for what, two years now? And the once-promised Duster kit is another unfulfilled dream...

Gooooooo Academy! How 'bout a styrene PACV next?!!

Regards and Aloha,

Johnny B.

I can now retire my Hobby Fan resin Ontos. It has done it's job.

I've been waiting on this since the initial announcement at the beginning of the year. I'll be grabbing a couple of these for my stash soon as I can.

Looks really good!

Now if only Academy could release a Sheridan kit! Oh, wait....

More Ontos pictures here:
http://mmzone.co.kr/forum/topic_view.php?f_dbname=f_free&forum_title=ÀÚÀ¯Åä·Ð&no=214301&keyword=&where=&mode=&start_page=0

Cheers,
/E

This is really great news. 2010 is already a great new year in my book. I have the old 1/32 scale Revelle (?) and it needed quite a bit of detailing. I built a full interior too.

Is it just the camera angle or does the box look gigantic compared to the finished model?

Thanks for the heads up.

S~

I too look forward to this "Shoot and Scoot" piece of USMC equipment. Designed, but never saw combat as a light anti-tank weapon ONTOS made it's mark as a mobile or dug in perimeter defense weapon for the Marines in Vietnam. A 6 shot salvo of the 106's with flechette rounds was devastating. I will buy one or 2.

Mike

ONTOS firing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUpl4vf5juA&feature=PlayList&p=8722C59631EA6663&index=16

Incorrect, the Ontos saw use in its intended role during Operation Power Pack in the Dominican Republic in 1965, scoring hits against a Landsverk L-60 and a AMX-13 being operated by rebel forces. From: http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/central/brush/Ontos.htm. This, however, was the only instance of it being used in its intended role. The Ontos was also deployed to Lebanon in 1958, but saw no action against enemy armor there.