No offense taken, just my poor attempt at humor.

Hi Gino, I did understand the joke, but still I find it important that althought I didn't build a historical correct version of the M113A2, that I have respected for people who going abroard the fight for something that not everybody will understand.

But the next time when I build something modern US I hope that you will be as helpfull as this time, so thanks!

Another thing I cannot figure out, is why this 113 is called an A2, when it is actually an A3. I have been around the Armor community as a US Army Tanker, now as a Scout. I have seen the diffrence between the M113A2, and the M113A3. I am sure that some units drew the A2's for OIF, but this is not one of them. The big noticeable diffrence is the Trim Vane on the Front, and the external fuel tanks on the rear. I know this is cosmetic stuff, and the M113A3's we are issued now through the Reset Program do not have a Trim Vane. But the External Fuel Tanks are not a cosmetic item. You simply cannot just remove them and put them inside to feed the engine. I found a link through wikipedia and have posted it here. Too bad so many people have built this model thinking it was a version which it is not.
Ric

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M113_armored_personnel_carrier

Ric,

I think Tamiya confused it because non-US M113A2s have the external fuel tanks as well. They were offered w/the A2 upgrades, but the US decided not to buy them until the A3 upgrades (with the exception of some A2 ambulances and the M981A2 FIST-V).

To confuse it even more, the trim vane and extra flotation piece on it are not specific to A2 or A3 variants. The package was around in Vietnam and used on M113A1 ACAV versions.

So, the Tamiya kit can either be built as a mostly correct A2 by using the rear fenders (listed as unused parts) and leaving the external fuel cells off. Or it can be built as an inaccurate A3 by adding the external fuel cells. Out of the box, it is closer to an A2 than it is an A3, so it is up to the builder.

For most who are not detail freaks as some of us are , its not a big issue or they don't even know nor care about it.

For a great look at what needs to be done to make it an accurate A3, check out Vodnik's M113A3 build. Also, the Academy M113A3 Iraq kit is a better starting point. It still needs some of the tweaks that Pavel made, but not as many.

Lastly, while Wikipedia is O.K. for general knowledge and trivia, I wouldn't use it as a referance. There is a lot of incorrect info there.



Joh,

Another small bit of info to store up for your next build. The buttstocks on all M16 series rifles (M16A1, A2; M4, M4A2, etc.) are all black, along with the handguards and pistol grip. They are made out of a plastic-resin that is black color throughout.

ALL, I just find it unfortunate that some modelers have built this model under the impression that it is, what it is not. Like the model on this post, he's done a great job, and it looks like it is going to be displayed somewhere with the engraved plate he has attached, unfortunately he identifies it as an A2. Quite a few modelers are going to look at it and think that he does not know what he is talking about, when he was just going off the information on the box. Some one at Tamiya screwed that up.

Ric

I think this is a pretty respectable model and is visually appealing , thanks for sharing.

Hello,

I'm happy with all the information you sharing and it's good to know not always to believe the manufactors of the kits

Yesterday evening I showed the M113 to my fellow modellers and they liked different parts, because they different persons with different interest in modelling. Some want to build everything historical correct, but he most I the group where I build with are interested in the way you make the kit into something showable.

I have studied contemporary history and I like to read a lot of information before I started to build something, but in the end it's the model I show and not the history because a lot of us don't now much about every subject.
I don't take part in competions, mayby a small one not far from my home at the end of this year.

Thanks for the comments
Johanna

That is why reserching the subject before you build it will always set you straight. Either look it up at reputable sources or come on sites like this and ask questions. 99.9% of the time, if you go by what the manufacturer says, it will be off. No model or instrucrion booklet is perfect.

That absolutly true, you can't lean on the information of the kitmaker. Of course there are lot of resources on internet but some question can only be answered by experts. This was my first post on the English part of Armorama and in the future I will ask more because this projects showed that good information is pleseant to work with.

Johanna