The on going build of my diorama , i have decided to add a M113A3 after seeing some excellent pictures that had been sent to me.

I started with a scratch built interior (i know most of it will not be seen, but you will be able to see in side, so i had to fill the empty space with some thing).

here are some pictures of the scratch inside (information taken from pictures on prime portal)













i know there are some simplifications on the interior, but i started with a old Tamiya one, but in the end decided to build a whole new one.

as always questions etc

cheers

Keith

Keith-- this is shaping up to be one fine vehicle. The diorama is superb. Keep up the good work.
DJ

That is a great scratch build. The drivers seat is a bit off though.

I probably could have spared a Zelda interior but you've done great without. What did you use for the floor plates?

Paul

Hi Guys

thanks for the comments, the floor is built up from plastic card with a final layer of plastic card tread plate for the pattern.

I wanted to create a basic interior, as it will be partially visible through the hatch. I wasn't to worried about the drivers side and the seat as it will be all but obscured by the driver figure anyway.

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

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

Looking good so far. A few things I see though. First, the ammo box you have on the .50 cal is a WWII style with the top opening on the long end. Modern .50 cal cans open on the short end. The one in the Tamiya kit is the correct version.



What color did you use for the interior? It looks too blue-grey to me, could just be my monitor or the lighting though. The actual color is called Sea Foam Green and looks like a pale green. Testors MM Pale Green with a few drops of white, Tamiya Sky-S, and Humbrol Sky are pretty good matches.

Also, the M113A3 has added armor plates to the front glacis. The rear crew access hatch hinges are different too. Check out Vodnik's M113A3 build to see them.

It is coming along well. Keep up the good work.

Looking good Keith!

As Gino has pointed out you need to add the extra armor plate to the front glacis, I actually happen to have a few pages on my PC from the M113A3 tech manual that show the fitting of this piece and will be ideal for scratching it, I will send you an email with some pics and soon as ive found them.

Thanks Gino and Rob

your comments have been a great help, ill revise the ammo box to the correct configuration, and if you can send me the correct location of the armour plate that would also be great.

cheers

Keith

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

Keith,
I saw a couple of omissions on your outstanding M113 build. You might want to add these items or not, pending on how you equip and crew your M113.

First, the inside of the ACAV shields had shutters that could be dropped over the TC 's vision blocks. you should be able to replicate the shutters and their channels with some .010 strip for the shutters and the channels on the ends of the shutters.

Second, there are a series of screw holes and tiedowns, similar to those found on the top of the carrier, found on the sides. The holes are usually plugged with a plastic plug and are used to bolt on additional armor plates. Send me an e-mail at [email protected] and I will send you a couple of pictures to illustrate what I am talking about with the tiedowns and bolt holes.


John

Very nice build so far--looks way better than mine. The PE set really adds a lot, as do the tie-downs.

The only thing I would correct is the CIP panels--they are the wrong dimensions, according to the pics I have in my collection. I think the Verliden folks got the size and shape wrong. The Tamiya ones are the right size, so you may want to use those instead.

Keep the pics coming!

Keith:

I think the Verlinden item is too short. Otherwise, this is quite inspiring. I can't wait to see your skills bring this one to life.

Bob

Hi Keith

Do you plan to leave the cargo hatch open ? If so don't forget to move the latches and the chain :


Keep on your inspiring work !

Frenchy

The M113 continues with the beginning of the painting, done with Tamiya Acrylics and the start of the weathering.















The figures are from a couple of the warrior sets, with new arms and heads, painted with acrylics (I'm still not quite sure of them). The antennas are a carbon fibre rod by accurate armour.

I still have all the storage to do, and a couple of figures to finish it of plus the weathering once it goes onto the base.

cheers

Keith Forsyth

Keith:

Overall this looks really nice. I can't wait to see it all finished. I'm not sure about your single digit on the fuel cells. I have never seen it as just one number. It normally is two, even for HQ vehicles. Also, the chevron's facing would not be based on the vehicle's facing, it would be either up, down, left facing, or right facing. Thus, they would not both be facing towards the front of the vehicle.

Bob

Thanks for that Bob, it's another mistake on my part, due in some way to a lot of the pictures i have show only one side of the vehicle. I didn't realise that the chevrons would only point one way.

It has been a major learning experience this build that should hold me in good stead as i go forward.

Again thanks for the continued advice, its all welcome

cheers

Keith

Really good locking M113 Keith!!

like the sand-tone on it...and the figures look very good to me, too!!

one question beside all that:what does the "X" in the bumper code stand for??

Will look impressive when finished

Greetings Alex

Hi Keith

i was at the Huddersfield model show last sunday and actually saw this model and yourself in person. we had a quick chat.

along with this model there were several others that i have seen on this sight and they all looked better in 'real life'.

i suppose it has inspired me to finish off the many models ive got that are 'just about there' and maybe get around to showing them here.

mark

Hi Mark

It was good to meet you as it is many off the site, Pm me your address as i have a CD of pictures that you would find interesting.

cheers

Keith

It might be a little late to correct, but the cargo hatch cover release chain and latches are molded in the improper location. Tamiya has always had this error, don't know about the Academy kits. I've found the easiest way to correct this is to remove the hinge points from the edge of the cover and glue them on the opposite side, so that the release chain is closest to the rear edge of the opened cover. The sag of the chain will also then be correct, given the little pull of gravity!

Academy M113 hatch is accurate. The chain is a separate part (and the latches look better...)

Frenchy

Thanks Frenchy. I've built a number of the Tamiya M113s, but only tried one other, the Italeri M163 Vulcan, which left a bad taste in my mouth. I'll have to consider the Academy for my early 60s theme, you know, semi-gloss OD with large tactical numbers on the sides, etc.