Hi Rob

im using the pictures from prime portal of the M113A3 which shows the bench configuration as on the left/right



pictures by Don Busack .

thanks for the link to the tech manual

cheers

keith

Didnt doubt it Keith, I just get so muddled with all the different varients I never remember which is which. Theres some great ref pics from that link that show a complete breakdown of the spall lining-its just a bugger searching through and finding it all!

looking good hope to see more soon

Nope, no US M113 model in service uses the center bench design. Many foreign countries, like Canada and Israel, do use it though.

I uploaded some other interior photos to my gallery. Maybe there's a detail you need. Feel free to browse.


HTH

Patrick

awesome start! certainly looking forward to seeing this dio completed...

i know it's early stages, but if i may make a suggestion with regards to dio composition:

1.) rotate the bradley a little bit more clockwise (based on the pic 1) so that its less parallel to the base,
2.) fill the foreground with some burning (or burnt out) debris to heighten the drama and sense of urgency
3.) angle the ground to slope downwards with the bradley on the higher side - to make the scene more dynamic
4.) and maybe a little bit of gear at the back to suggest some items that the crew want to take with them when they bailed out of the bradley?

in anycase - the current position of the figs already guarantee that this is gonna be a nice looking dio!

Good pics, but that is an M113A2. The M113A3 has some different interior elements. The most noticeable are the steering yoke, sliding kevlar spall panels down each side wall behind the bench seats, added armor plate on the interior of the rear ramp and roof, and the absence of the internal fuel tank. The exterior is different too, with external fuel tanks and added armor panels on the front glacis.

Keith has the link to some great pics of an M113A3 at Prime Portal in his previous post.

Hi guys

thanks for all the replies.

The base you see in the picture is only there so that i can get the height right on all the figures as they are on a flat base, straight base. The actual base will be that little bit larger and a lot more dramatic.

Thanks for the pictures they are excellent but as Gino has pointed out it is off a M113A2 but the picture of the commander stand was just what i was looking for.

cheers

Keith Forsyth

more pictures of the M113 build

added the seats and seat padding to the interior





followed by some seat belt details





finally i have painted the interior





i could have added more but with the interior being virtually obsured once i have finished there didn't seem much point

thanks for looking

Keith Forsyth

What a super job Keith. This scene looks exactly like an actual event that I saw on TV when the US Army left the Saddam Airport for their first show of force in Baghdad. The only difference was it was an M1 and not a Bradley. What a great job you are doing.

What are you using for molding putty?

I notice the driver's hatch is still buttoned up, which begs the question of what is the fate of the driver?

Mike.

and the the skill,of the story telling!

the build continues with the main roof compartment



the front engine deck





the parts fitted to the hull





work on the .50 cal (you can just make out the hands being sculpted on to it





and fitted to the turret





cheers

Keith Forsyth

ok the on going quest to build this M113A3, here are some updated pictures with the additional armour i missed hopefully its all correct now

These are before painting with the Verlinden bustle racks added























thanks for looking

cheers
Keith Forsyth

Looking very good so far Keith. May I ask what the black spray on the sides are for?

Erik

Hi Keith
Looking great man, I cant wait to see more.
Erik, I think that the black spray is overspray from when keith painted the interior. HTH Nick

Keith,
I made some comments on your other post. Reading this post, a couple more things struck me. The biggest issue is that the track is armed with a .50 caliber MG and the interior still has its spall liners, so it is not configured as a medic track/ambulance (no .50 caliber or mount, spall liners removed, and poles & chains installed to support the litters.) Those items are not a big deal in the grand scheme of things as it could be the unit's Maintenance track or the 1st Sergeant's track. My personal opinion is that you mark it as the 1st Sergeant's track that could be picking up the wounded crew members and will run them to the medic's track or the aid station. Both scenarios are/were likely/did happen. If you decide the to do the maintenance track, make sure that you have mechanics tool boxes in plain view, as well as spare parts - road wheels, internal "black boxes, test kit boxes, crew bags, ammo boxes, etc. If you choose the 1st Sergeant's vehicle, mark it as "X"67 and put ammo boxes, AT-4s, MREs, water boxes, crew bags, coke & pepsi boxes, and anything else that would make soldier's lives easier...

I think that you have a winner here. People should be able to look at this dio and see what story that you are trying to tell without asking a word. I am looking forward to seeing this come fully together. Don't hesitate to PM me is you have any other questions or want some thoughts that I can share.

John

Damnit Keith-I just realised after seeing this that I totaly forgot to send you that email with those detail shots, real sorry about that!

Looking at your progress though, seems you wont need them! Its looking good, real good! I cant wait to see your next progress.

I'm not a modern expert, but I do know attention to detail and you've got the PE and detailing down well. Nice process shots.

Well Keith you have been busy. That M113 is turning out great. I have to ask you where you got your etched ammo box and turned ammunition from. I must have it for my Abrams!

Hi Guys

again thanks for all the comments, I'll try to answer some of the questions:-

The P/E ammo box and ammo is from Lion roar (ordered from hobby easy), the box is the wrong configuration for modern so needs to have the lid moved. The P/e between the shells will test the patience of a saint so be warned.

The black on the sides is as has been suggested overspray from the interior but will disappear once the outside is under coated.

This is the first of two M113's the second one will be the medic version as i now have the information i need to do it justice.
John thanks for the advice i will suitable kit this one out now as the 1st Sergeant's machine,

again all thanks for the continued comments

cheers

Keith Forsyth

Who makes that styrene treadplate? It's exactly what I need for a current project.

Daniel

Great work on the M113. The HMG is incredible and really nice detailed.

Looking forward to see more - thanks for sharing

Hej Keith,

got a question to the M113 interior: from which manufacturer are the structured base plates or where did u get them / what did u use??

Great build so far, I enjoy the pics!

Hi Marian / Daniel

The tread plate i picked up from a local Railroad store (sells model railroad bit) and it came in a A4 sheet, i picked it up as well as some plastic card and strip.

I think its made by Plastruct if you search there site for tread plate it lists a few, I'm not sure which size i have but it looked right for 1/35 scale.

cheers

Keith Forsyth