Howdy All, I am looking for some good photos of any of the M113 series, I would say between 1980 and 1990, of the interior radio set-ups. I know one or two were mounted on the shelf that is standard in most 113s, but there was a larger rack system for the TOW and 577 HQ vehicles that would hold several PRC-77s (AN/VRC-46) and other types of radios/position location electronics. I have a black and white diagram of the set-up, but no digital photos showing wiring routes, colors, and such that would help a great deal for modeling.

I have checked the massive photo logs over on the Prime Portal, but no luck. Thanks in advance guys, GROG

Whilst I cannot help you with images I wish to correct you re designations; the VRC 46 was primarily an RT 524 and not the PRC 77. The PRC 77 or more correctly the RT 841 was designated the AN GRC 160 in a vehicle setup (Adding the AM 2060, etc).
The cables should all be a grey black with faded yellow sleeves near the ends and the middle (these were about 50mm long and held the cable designation & NSN). The Muli pin connectors were in a grey cast aluminium shell. The RF Lead to the AMU was also a Black cable with shiny BNC connectors although these went into recessed housings on the 524and AMU.
CHeers
Al

Even though the radios are missing, you can still see some wiring, racks and intercoms left in these M577 pics :

http://www.primeportal.net/apc/m577a2_pt_walk2.htm

Here are some RT 524s used during REFORGER 86 (+ a AN/GRC 106 on the lower shelf) :



Full size downloadable here

There are a few M113 radio setups pics in the old Verlinden Warmachines books #2 and #9 (M113A2, M577 as used with artillery batteries, M163, M901)
HTH

Frenchy

Having served in Tow vehicle equipped units for about 10 years I can state for sure that all of them had only one radio mount. This mount was the one that included the PRC77. The previous posts mentioned what the nomenclature became when the 77 was mounted in the vehicle rack but the radio was dis-mount capable as we used it when dismounting the TOW. The mount was connected to usually 4 intercom boxes within the crew compartment to serve the helmet mounted intercom and radio mikes of the driver,gunner,loader and T/C.
The only vehicles in our TOW track company to have multiple radios were the CO and XO vehicles. This was in your stated timeframe of the 70s and 80s. This radio set up was for the hammerhead TOW and the previous version that was a regular M113 with a kevlar "tent" over the loaders hatch that we had to erect,also a gunners platform in the crerw compartment and a folding 50cal mount on the T/C hatch to get the MG out of the line of fire of the TOW. Altogether a cumbersome arrangment that we were glad to see replaced by the hammerhead..
HTH,
J

Thanks all, much appreciated. GROG

This gallery is fully dedicated to the M113 series. Maybe you could find some pictures that might help you.

Olivier

Thanks! (Does anyone know how to copy or print those photos? ) GROG

Here is the manual page of the type of radio outfit I want to duplicate for my model:

The TM is a 90s edition, so the radios should be correct for what I am trying to do. (Now I wish I had visited the FIST tracks while in Korea... and not just stuck to driving my own boring M113A1...)

I plan on scratch building the rack system, which I can do from the diagram. I checked a lot of Zippo's photos, as well as the portal, and I've never seen a photo of the type of system in the above diagram. Thanks again guys, GROG

I actually managed to find some photos of the exact shelf set up I was looking for. It is off a 901 trainer. Hope they help anyone needing them in the future.
I downloaded them to the member gallery for all to enjoy.
http://gallery.kitmaker.net/showgallery.php/ppuser/48034/cat/500

The trainer is set up like an early model M901 command track. As I understand them, they were the tracks the Plt leader used for FIST. Not all tracks had the racks, as some mentioned in the previous posts here. Thanks again to all for your help. I managed to get the racks scratch built, and will post photos of the 901 build I did shortly. GROG

It's kind of hard to see, but I scratched the rack using "L"-shaped Plastruct rod and sheet styrene for the shelves for my M981A2 FIST-V w/full interior. It was my FIST-V when I was a 2LT in the early '90s in the 1st CAV at Ft Hood, TX. I also scratched the SINCGARS radios we used at the time.




Man, I need to take some better pictures of it. Those are some realy old, crappy digicam pics from about 11 years ago.

George - The army radio racks are usually 2 x 2 angle steel for the legs and supports and aluminum plate for the shelves. Like Gino stated, pick up some styrene angle, .05 x .05 and some sheet material to make the shelves. If you are totally into rivets, used some hex heads where things bolt together.

Rounds Complete!!

Thanks Guys. I used the angle styrene and flat sheet to put mine together, as well as small U channel for the TOW tube racks in mine. Turned out pretty well. I will post photos shortly. Still haven't put the whole thing together yet. Have more stuff to install. I found using guitar string (the A string in electric for anyone that plays...) makes real sweet radio mic cord. (or would that be spelled "chord"? (hahah))) Much better than wrapping wire around a needle which I used to use. GROG