Going to build up a M113A2 to depict those currently serving in free Iraq.
Although Academy makes the M113A2, I was wondering if getting the Academy Zelda kit would be a better bet since it's based on the M113A2 anyway- and one review mentioned a large number of extra parts and accesories that comes with the Zelda.
Any major differences between the Academy Zelda kit and the M113A2 kit ?

Peter

Academy's kit comes so you can build it as an uparmored Zelda or as a Communications vehicle. It does also come with piles of accessories. In terms of how close it is to an M113A2, I couldn't really tell you, but there are others here who can.

Rob a.k.a Sabot would be your best consultant on that Sphyrna.He is probably the best modern-armor information dude on this site.

The Zelda is their base M113A2 kit with a bunch of extra IDF specific parts added. You should be able to build a plain jane M113A2 and have the extra parts for spares.

What is the extra stuff on the side? It looks like corragatted roofing on steroids. My first guess (and correct I think is armour) Is it ceramic or some other type of add on armour and how long have you guys been using them?

Yo Mike!

The IDF Tank (Zelda) kit includes sheets of flat plastic with depressions in them. They are supposed to depict the screens the IDF uses to thwart most anti-tank rockets. AFAIK, they are just thin sheets of metal much like the schurtzen the Germans used in WW2. Eduard makes PE replacements for them.

And yes I'll get that IDF Tank finished before the year ends. Still have to find a snowboard #:-)