Hi guys,

Can you make a comparison, please, between italeri m163A1 vulcan & Academy m163 vulcan ?
Which one u'd prefere ? Which one's more accurate ?
Thanks from now.

I almost completed building the Italeri M163 and I've got the Academy M163 in the box. The Italeri was frustrating with track fit, incorrect blackout drive light and some other details. Built like most of their other stuff. The Academy kit is the way to go. Nice extras in the box as well.

Do you know what the proper name is for the Turkish AA M113 with the quad 50 mount on top.

Paul

Thanx Paul for your opinions. I guess i'm agreed with you.

Well..i don't ! What is it's name !? (I'd really like to find out) please.

I've built and reviewed the Academy 163 and had it out of the box next to the ITaleri one.
All the problems of the Italeri 113's are there in their 163

The academy is waaayyyy ahead on hull roof details and in general fit.
On the p;us side Italeri does have the nices 2 sided m113 roadwheels out there

My reviews are on Tom's Armour page, under Mikes M113's
http://www.thot.net/~trea/mike.htm

there are loads of dead links and the images are old, but you'll see what I mean

For my money the Academy kit is the way to go.

Mike

I really can't speak for the Italeri offering as I have not built it/do not have it in the box, but I can comment about Academy kit. I built this a few months back. The basic buildup is the same as most M113 based kits. The gun turret itself goes together quite nicely and, from the limited shots I've seen of the real thing, appears relatively accurate. Overall, a nice little build to add into my collection of M113 based vehicles.

Oh, yeah.. one more thing I just remembered.
Academy has one problem, the ammo feed chutes are shown reveresed in the instructions. The little one is on top and should run underneath the larger? If you get the kit and need help, drop me a line. I have some TM scans that are a HUGE help.
Also Verlinden's Warmachines M113 vol2 has good coverage.

HTH,
Mike

I too have built the Italeri kit and have the Academy one slated to be built. The Italeri turret is underscale, noticebale if you put any figures with it.

You might want to check out the review of the Hobby Fan Vulcan at
http://www.argo.net.au/jbwhole/reviews/hobbyfan/hf036.htm

The author is quaoted as saying
"After seeing the conversion kit in the resin I can see why Hobby Fan bothered, put simply this conversion consigns all the others to the spares box, this is one superb effort."

I have the Italeri Kit and some Academy and Tamiya M113s and have built the Verlinden kit on a Tamiya base. I would strongly recommend you choose the Academy kit. It has a better ‘feel’ to it, the parts also tend to fit together better.

The Hobby Fan kit is fantastic and also very very pricey and is still just a conversion, so you would still need to get a M113 hull.

Thank you all guys, for your opinions.
Those are very helpful.
And also, i've noticed that Academy's doesnt have the interior.
I dont like to do an "M113 based vehicle" without interior. But..may be i can make some kinda kitbash.

Thanx again,all

well the 163 innards are pretty well different from the vanilla version. If you're headed toward an interior, the Hobby Fan set is the way to go!
I've got one, still unbuilt, and it is as good as everyone says it is.
From Hong Kong to Vermot and ZERO broken parts , even all the wiring.. wow!

Eduard used to do an interior set, but I can't imagine it is anywhere near as good.

The Verlinden book is the way to go if you're going to be doing the insides of one.

good luck,
have fun

Mike

MLD

I am TOTALLY green with envy. I have been drooling all over the pics of the HF 036 kit, and actively looking for it in the UK. If, no actually when I buy that kit, it will have to be without the wife's knowledge, or I will be single again.

PLEASE post (many) photos of your progress when you build it!

well, I did sneak that one past "she who feel she must be obeyed", I got it when a friend who is a SERIOUS kit-gatherer.. placed an order from HK. I paid about US$70 plus a share of shipping from HK.

As for progress, it's not even in the top ten in the pile right now, I'm sorry to say.
I've got quite the backlog, ok.. collection..., going right now.

But with the masters degree finished, it's full steam ahead building wise. I've finished 3 part builts in the past 3 weeks.
So there is hope.

I heartily encourage you to pick one up, it looks great! The VLS book is also a must have.
I've got to go back to the tach manual webiste and see if it's there too..

Mike