Hello

I started with the build of the new kit, which I had in stock and after reading some information about this kit, I found out that this Tamiya version of the M113A2 is more an older M113 version then it is a M113A2 version.

But I found it not a problem, so a started to build the kit. The building proces went well, no problems at all.

I painted the M113A2 with Tamiya paint, a mix of XF59, XF57 and XF2 and put some clear in every layer so that I had a satin finish of the paint layers.
After two days of drying, I started with the decals and in the meantime I started with two figures who now halfway.

Some pictures:










I have to finish the guys, the almost ready but some minor things need to be done.

I will leave the M113A2 for a time to dry compleetly and will focus on the stowage and the painting process of the sH 18 15mm howitzer.

Grtz Joh

Joh,

So far the build looks really good. The camo of the uniforms look great. I like the base you have as well. Looking forward to seeing future pictures.

Tony

Hello John,

Pay attention that some areas were not covered with paint (front and around CIPs).
The figures look absolutely GREAT!!!

Looking forward to see more,
Gabe

Hello,

Thanks for the comments. What you see is the primercolor, which is almost the same as the color of kits plastic. I have made some little correction to the paint and sprayed another protection coat of satin varnish. I will give the model time to dry before I start with the weatheringproces.

The figures are almost ready, I have to do some corrections, hightlights and shadows. This is the first time that I paint this camouflage and I have also not a lot of experience with figures but I'm happy to read that you like it!

Joh

Very nice and clean build. Would like to see some weathering on it though. NIce work.

Hi,

Thanks for the comment. The work is not done, I have just done the paintingwork and have to start with the weatheringproces, so you will see more in the near future

Joh

Hello,

A few days ago I started the weathering process with washes from oilpaint. This is the first stap, more weahtering will follow in the near future.
Some pictures:








I will leave this to dry, I have no idea how long it takes before oilpaint from 502 Abteilung needs to dry before you can go further.

Joh

Hello,
What is the fromula for the color mixture you used( XF59, XF57 and XF2 )? or are the three colors equal mix?
Thanks, George

looking good! Great mix of figures!

Thanks for the comments!
An update will follow soon but first the answers:

The colormix I used is 40% XF59 Desert Yellow, 30% XF57 Buff and 30% XF2 White. I mix always some Clear with the mix for the satin end. For hightlights I put some Buff and White extra to the mix.

Grtz

And the new update: The M113 loaded with stuff and army guys.

I saw in my references from Osprey and Concord that the M113 often was loaded with a lot of stuff, so I made a mix of the pictures with the luggage, boxes and crew I had and that made this pictures:








I started with weathering of the stuff today and hope to finish soon this project.

Comments are always welcome
Grtz Joh

I just love it! Add some dust and chipping and you're good to go!

Hi Joh,
looks absolutely brill, I love the way you're bringing it all together, the wash finishes it real good. A little dust & scatches & she's done. One thing though, in the last few photo's where you have the luggage hanging, you have it going around the CIP panel but with the weight of the luggage it would pull the rope tight and wouldn't hang how you have it, the same with some of the others too. Fix that one small detail and you my friend have a winner.
Great work, can't wait to see it finished.
Kenny

Hello,

Thanks for the comments, I will bring some extra help for the luggage and finish off with some dust. I have already done something extra on this model, so hopefully I can finish this project this week. It's not hurry but I like to work a bit fast otherwise I lose interest

Cheers!

Looking good. The M113 is looking pretty nice. There are a few nit-picky accuracy issues though.

First is with the soldiers up top. They are not in the right uniforms for OIF. They should have on either older PAGST or the newer IAB body armor like the figure that came with the kit. All soldiers that went into Iraq wore either one or the other. Also, the guy wearing the boonie cap should have a Kevlar helmet on. We don't wear softcaps in combat. Lastly, the radio on his back is the old AN/PRC-77 which was phased out in the mid-'90s. The main issue with them is that they are ODS ('90-'91) era figures with old gear and such. To update them, you could get a set of Dragon's newer US Marines or one of Trumpeter's newer sets with IBAs and change out the torsos.

Next is the color of your gear. All US issued ruck sacks come in green (with the exception of a few small rucks that are radio carriers and are in woodland camo). All the ones you have on it should be green. The same is true for the duffle bags on the side in desert and woodland camo. They too should be green. The sleeping mats (tootsie roll looking tubes) should also be green, Tamiya got that wrong too.

A couple corrections on the M113 as well. First, the tail lights are incorrect. Only the upper left oval should be red. The lower left slit and two slits on the right (upper and lower) should be black. They are part of the blackout drive system. It should look like below.


Lastly is the square opening on top of the driver's hatch. It should not have netting in it. It is for the driver's night sight and is empty when the site is not installed. There is a hinged door on the inside that closes it off.

Here are some examples of US Rucksacks, duffles, and a sleeping mat.

Large rucksack:


Medium rucksack:


Small rucksack:


Woodland Camo small ruck radio carrier:


Duffle bag:


Sleeping Mat:


M113A3 of 1 ID, 2004, loaded with gear in Iraq:



Hope that helps. Its coming along well. Keep up the good work.

My question is in regard to the markings. And I understand that this is how Tamiya put the kit out. I have one at home that I have yet to finish, maybe after this deployment I'll be able to get it done. But when you look at the markings 30> to me this tells me that the vehicle is in HHC 3-69 AR. Which the bumper numbers support. But the Chevron > tells me that it is a Mortar track. The chevrons are generally used as a means to identify maneuver elements. Yet the HQ-35 to me and my experiences tells me that this M113 belongs to the S-3 section. And 35 was generally the ALO track. It just keeps looking weird to me every time I see it. But as far as this model shown here goes, I think you have done a great job. With the few exceptions that Gino Identified.
Ric

Hi Gino,

Thanks for the information, it's the information I had not before I had already finished this subject. It means that I will not change the M113A2 because it's finished and I would be destroying the subject. But for further project, your information really helps, so thanks.

As I said, I finished this project and althought it's not historical correct I happy with the result and I will soon show the pictures.

Joh

Don't mean to hijack your post but with regard to the chevrons.

I've seen photos of tanks with the same numbers on the skirts but the chevrons are in different places. 1 had the chevron to the rear of the number, the other under it. What would this signify?

These M113's seem to go on forever. Whats the operating life span of one of these?

Des

Hi Joh,

Great looking kit you have built there.

Gino and the other guys on here are a great source of info and will always try to help us along with our builds, present and future.

Des

The chevron is used to denote which Platoon the vehicle belongs to. Up (^) is 1st PLT, right (>) is 2nd PLT, down (V) is 3rd PLT, and left (

Thanks Gino.

Joh, see what I mean. Info info info

Des

Hmmm. I'm not sure why my reply above keeps getting cut off. There were a few more lines there and I tried fixing it in an edit, but they keep disappearing. Thats wierd.

Hello,

First thanks for all the information. I followed to much what Tamiya had printed in de plan, so in the future I will asked a bit more if I'm looking for the right information.

In the meatime I saved your info, Gino, because I can use it for another project in the future. This one is finished and it's not historical correct, althought I tried to figure out the camouflage you see on the luggage and soldiers.

But I hope you like this subject!

















Thanks for the comments!
Cheers
Joh

Personally, I would go back and fix it. A model is never truely done in my book if it can be improved upon. I just went back and replaced the incorrect track and put new, better detailed radio antenna mounts on a Tamiya M48A3 I did over 15 years ago. But to each their own.

I have one other nit pick. The bags on the sides, etc. are not called luggage. It is either gear, kit, or rucks and duffles... but never luggage, we're not packing for a vacation in the tropics.

Sorry Gino, I have respected for the guys fighting in other countries. I'm Dutch and my English is not that good that I know all the words. But publishing on the English speaking site will improve mine knowledge of the right words.

Well, I have another M113A2 kit and with the knowledge I will make a more correct version. I was happy to finish this, I normally have problems with finishing projects and I have not really a problem if it's not totally correct. If I would make changes know I destroy this project and that's a pitty.