Kent McKesson provides an in-box review of the US M113ACAV Armored Car by Trumpeter, in 1/72 scale.

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Thanks!

Only seeing this now. Good review- we don't see enough Braille scale reviews on Armorama.

nice review. not a big fan of this scale since my first attempt - though i think it was the model kit's fault (was revell nashorn) - was a disatsre. another 1:72 i've built was a1m1 (from dragon). i built to a friend and it was quite enjoyable.

I really hope to get started on a build of it shortly. I've always been a big fan of the Esci kits, even with the shortcomings, but this one may have just surpassed them. I am surprised that none of the model companies have attempted to use the M113 at a platform for some of the other common variants in 1/72. Like a M577. Twenty years ago, my first attempts at scratchbuilding were a M35 guntruck converted froma Hasegawa GMC, a M557 converted from an Esci M113, and a M728 CEV. Never quite finished any of them as I went through a series of moves and ran out of steam.

I was disappointed that it seemed like Trumpeter and Dragon had several busy and promising years of Braille scale releases, but 2009 is slow and 2010 is slower. I am glad for what has been released (and haven't kept up with the build to buy ratio), but would like to see some of the armored cars that have been issued in 1/35 see production in 1/72 as well.

I generally build modern (Vietnam and later) vehicles. but have started to dabble in earlier ones.

I must agree with Pat that there is a general lacking in reviews of Braille scale kits. As a Braille scale aficionado any review of kits in this size is appreciated. I've seen this kit at the my LHS but never been tempted to purchase it. With this review I now have a better understanding of what I'd be buying. Kent, I'd be interested to see a build article of this kit.

Cheers,
tread_geek

As and you shall receive....

I couldn't take it so I started a build of this kit. I'll post details of progress so far in a build log later tonight. I haven't quite decided how far to go with this as far as detail. I'd like to correct the attenna guards and add some detail to the interior. I toyed around with the idea of posing it with an opened engive cover, but I'm not sure if I want to spend THAT much time on it right now.