Well, my Academy M113A1 APC Vietnam kit arrived today. I'm planning on using this to enter the upcoming MP Campaign. As many of you may know, the 113's were used by the 720th MP Btn as patrol vehicles.

I have the 720th website that has many great reference pics but any other "accuracy" comments concerning this kit will be welcome.

I have built other kits before, but this will be my most ambitious attempt yet...still pretty new to this. I have read the reviews and comments on this kit but just wanted to get your opinions and tips one more time before I make a go at it.

Thanks!

Chris W.

Gday Chris,

Just let me confirm that you are building a M113A1 in US service in Vietnam? If so I’m currently building a M113A1 variant which will be quite similar to what you’re building and am happy to help:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/134676&page=1

Many of the details in this build will help you to upgrade the Academy Vietnam M113A1 kit. The kit has its faults but it is still the best on the market and even out of the box builds into an acceptable representation of the vehicle. My build is based on the Academy M113A3 Iraq OIF kit but I have built the Academy M113A1 Vietnam kit in the past and I am aware of what comes in the box - all Academy M113s have the same basic components and I’m using the components of the Iraq kit which come in your Vietnam kit.

So take a look and if you’ve got any questions I’m sure the folks on this forum would be pleased to help.

Hey one thing that would help get specific answers for you is how far do you want to go? Interior, exterior, engine, minor tweaks or obsessively detailed overhaul?

Best of luck

W

Thanks for the response...

...Just let me confirm that you are building a M113A1 in US service in Vietnam?

Yes, that's the one...I'm shooting for a 1968-69 feel. Not alot of glitz but they got the job done.

...Hey one thing that would help get specific answers for you is how far do you want to go? Interior, exterior, engine, minor tweaks or obsessively detailed overhaul?

As I said, this isn't my first build but it is the first one that I want to do well enough to enter the Campaign. I believe that all of the engine and most of the interior are never seen again after attaching the upper hull, so I'm using this time to increase my attention to detail, fixing any bad fits instead of assuming no-one would notice , those kinds of things. I do want the exterior to be as correct as possible without becoming too obsesive. I know the 720th never used the 106mm recoiless, so I would not include that and have noticed other differences that I would want to be accurate.

I guess to answer your question I would prefer historical accuracy over obsessive detailing. Of course I have been in these forums long enough to see that one can lead to the other very quickly and with little warning !

Thanks again for your input...I'll let you know how things go.

Chris W