This V-100 is based on "The Unexpected" belonging to the 560th MP Company as shown in the color plate in Squadron's Armor in Vietnam. I've found a few pics of the real vehicle but at the time the photos were taken, the .50 and M-60s had yet to be added. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to paint it overall blue and add the Verlinden dry transfers for The Unexpected or just make up a vehicle name myself.

I swapped out the larger tail lights for those from an M-113 although the reference photos I had showed them both in use in Vietnam. Also saw all sorts of variations on the handrails, some with fewer, some with more. All in all, this is a hybrid of serveral different actual vehicles.

I'll try and get some better pics, just a little too exhausted to get out the tripod now.

Here is a rundown of the parts used.
Kit is from Verlinden
The M-60s are from Dragon's LSSC
.50 Cal, turret lift rings, and tail lights are from an Academy M-113.
.30 Cal and tow cable are from Karaya
Grenades, LAW, jerry can and ammo boxes are from Legends
Tool rack from Eduard
Driver is Verlinden with a scratch visor
Commander figure is Warriors, not sure if he is going to stay or not and since I hinged the hatch, I might just close it up.
Still working on detailing that stretcher







Some references

MP V-100s
The Unexpected and others
More V-100s

Hi Sherb,
I think you did a nice job on the V100. Still is a very neat little kit!
Keep us posted please!
(ps my favourite would be a blueish coloured one )

btw great references!! thanks very much!

kind regards
Mark

Hi Sherb

Nice kit. I made one like this one as well some years ago. I also used the Academy turret and a Verlinden V-150.
For figures I used helicopter pilots heads as some drivers apparently "acquired" these.

Thanks for sharing

Its coming along nicely Sherb, I've always wanted one of these but have never gotten around to it yet....

Jesper, the drivers aquired helicopter pilots heads? interesting.....lol

Nice work...gotta love all those machine guns.

The helicopter visors on the crew helmets were also used by Canadian Armoured crewman in the 1980s both on the Cougars and Leopards....mostly by drivers. The tinted and clear visors were great for hatches up road moves.

Very nice work on your V-100.

I say keep the commander figure. It adds a sense of scale to the vehicle and makes a link to the driver.

He, he, I see what you mean. Not the clearest way of formulating what I meant. Vietnam was a brutal place

Thanks for the comments guys. Decided to go with the dark blue paint and gave it a coat last night.

I've read that the reason for the helo helmets was that since they incoporated the visor, rather than requiring a set of goggles, they were somewhat less bulky. I don't ever recall seeing photos of drivers of M48s or M551s wearing them but I've come across several photos of Military Police V100 drivers wearing them. Go figure.

AFV crews that are hatches up would benefit from the visors....not tank drivers who spend most of the time with the hatches closed.

The visors aren't any good for a loader who should be down inside the tank doing his job or the commander or gunner who wouldn't be able to stick their faces in the sights to see the targets.

The visor kit actual adds noticeable weight when compared to a standard AFV crew helmet.

I look forward to seeing your completed V-100.

Sorry Jesper, I just couldnt resist....