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Armor/AFV: Vietnam
All things Vietnam
Hosted by Darren Baker
M151A1 in Vietnam.
joegrafton
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United Kingdom
Joined: October 04, 2009
KitMaker: 1,209 posts
Armorama: 1,143 posts
Posted: Friday, January 07, 2011 - 03:34 AM UTC
Hi fellas,
I have the Academy M151A1 jeep for the Vietnam era. Is there anything I need to do to the kit to make it realistic? Are there any faults in the kit that are glaringly obvious?
I dont want to build it & then get told that something isn't right!
Thanks for your help, guys.
Joe.
Frenchy
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Rhone, France
Joined: December 02, 2002
KitMaker: 12,719 posts
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Posted: Friday, January 07, 2011 - 04:54 AM UTC
Hi Joe

Academy guys haven't really done their homework with their A1 kit, as they haven't changed the suspension parts included in their previously released A2 kit :
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/2918

...But I'm not sure it is that obvious with the finished kit (unless you want to present it overturned into a ditch )

Frenchy
zapper
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Skåne, Sweden
Joined: October 18, 2005
KitMaker: 745 posts
Armorama: 734 posts
Posted: Friday, January 07, 2011 - 05:53 AM UTC
Howdy Joe,

Take a look at here:
http://vodnik.republika.pl/pages/m151a1/m151a1-review.htm
http://vodnik.republika.pl/pages/m151a1/m151a1.htm

Cheers,
/E
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Friday, January 07, 2011 - 08:00 AM UTC
Out of the box, it is pretty accurate. You may want to add a 0.020" shim under the rear springs though, it rides kind of low. If you want to superdetail and correct it, then follow Pawel's build and have fun.
GeraldOwens
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Florida, United States
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 3,736 posts
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Posted: Friday, January 07, 2011 - 09:59 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi fellas,
I have the Academy M151A1 jeep for the Vietnam era. Is there anything I need to do to the kit to make it realistic? Are there any faults in the kit that are glaringly obvious?
I dont want to build it & then get told that something isn't right!
Thanks for your help, guys.
Joe.

The M151 had a severe rollover problem that led to the rear suspension being completely redesigned in the M151A2. As mentioned, Academy gives you an M151A1 body on a weakly detailed M151A2 chassis (in addition to the late suspension, it also lacks a skid plate and some universal joints on the drive shaft).
You can either do a lot of research and start rebuilding, or just live with it. I suppose you could always surround it with weeds to hide the suspension.
zapper
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Skåne, Sweden
Joined: October 18, 2005
KitMaker: 745 posts
Armorama: 734 posts
Posted: Friday, January 07, 2011 - 12:31 PM UTC

Still the rear fender fix is a must for an A1 (good thing that it's a simple one).

/E
trickymissfit
Joined: October 03, 2007
KitMaker: 1,388 posts
Armorama: 1,357 posts
Posted: Friday, January 07, 2011 - 01:03 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Joe

Academy guys haven't really done their homework with their A1 kit, as they haven't changed the suspension parts included in their previously released A2 kit :
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/review/2918

...But I'm not sure it is that obvious with the finished kit (unless you want to present it overturned into a ditch )

Frenchy


from the rear, the buggy type suspension is noticeable. Might add that it was not looked upon very favorably as it would often collapse when going thru a series of deep ruts; thus causing a roll over. We had two of them end up upside down in my company!
gary
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