Hey guys,

Here are some pictures of my M113A2 and M998 that I built this year. Both the APC and Humvee represent vehicles that took part in the invasion of Iraq in early 2003 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The M113A2 was built from the Academy M981 FISTV kit, with interior parts from an Italeri M113 kit. The M998 is Italeri's 'Commando Hum-V' kit. The figures are a mix of Academy's M981 and Dragon's 82 Airborne (ODS) kits. The weapons and gear are a mix of Dragon and Tamiya.

Comments and constructive critisim are most welcome.

http://s1018.photobucket.com/user/Keigan26/media/M113A2%20and%20M998/SAM_5245_zps7d9f467f.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0#/user/Keigan26/media/M113A2%20and%20M998/SAM_5233_zpsc7167a7d.jpg.html?sort=3&o=5&_suid=138773087909704167482230222237]

http://s1018.photobucket.com/user/Keigan26/media/M113A2%20and%20M998/SAM_5245_zps7d9f467f.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0#/user/Keigan26/media/M113A2%20and%20M998/SAM_5235_zpscdcde36a.jpg.html?sort=3&o=4&_suid=138773145306507152183212685345

http://s1018.photobucket.com/user/Keigan26/media/M113A2%20and%20M998/SAM_5245_zps7d9f467f.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0#/user/Keigan26/media/M113A2%20and%20M998/SAM_5242_zps04a5b818.jpg.html?sort=3&o=1&_suid=138773144923902224609733975153

http://s1018.photobucket.com/user/Keigan26/media/M113A2%20and%20M998/SAM_5245_zps7d9f467f.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0#/user/Keigan26/media/M113A2%20and%20M998/SAM_5238_zps66fca816.jpg.html?sort=3&o=2&_suid=138773145046805994135866418455

http://s1018.photobucket.com/user/Keigan26/media/M113A2%20and%20M998/SAM_5245_zps7d9f467f.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0#/user/Keigan26/media/M113A2%20and%20M998/SAM_5245_zps7d9f467f.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0&_suid=138773089045806785639491425058

Hello Kegan,

just for the records. Latest HMMWV are designated M1097A2. A pair of antennas is needed on the back of the HMMWV and most if not HMMWV`s had the "agressive" pattern tires. Best to check your references on the desired vehicles. Otherwise, a good clean build.

Cheers
Hans-Hermann

Thanks for the feedback HermannB.

The reference picture that I used didnt have any antennas.

In 2003, there were still quite a mix of the older styres and aggressive pattern tyres. I actually tried looking for someone who makes aggressive tyres for the Academy M998 (as those are the tyres I used as the Italeri ones weren't satisfactory), but I couldn't find any.

Thank you for taking the time to look though.

Hi Keigan,

for antennas, I recommend Djitis Production Modern Amtenna set.
Usually, two antenna mounts are attached to the rear corners of the truck. After sifting thorough my references, I found that mainly the "heavy" type rear view mirrors were used. You can make these out of wire and Stryker rear mirrors.
This lead me again to the conclusion, that a good cargo HMMWVV (M998 and M1097) is urgently needed! Modelling companies, do you LISTEN???

Hans-Hermann

Thanks HerrB,

I agree though. Tamiya could really make a good M998 using there latest M1025 kit. With a nice roof-top basket and some aggressive pattern tyres.

Thanks for the good tips.

Anybody else............

That looks great for an M998 of that era. Many Reserve and National Guard unit pieces of equipment still had the bias ply tires, and many lacked radios. Much of the reference material available may show dual antennas and radial tires, but having been there at that time, I can tell you it was just as common to see the older styles as it was the new.

The Academy kit is not the best kit to use for any HMMWV, and I would have to agree the Italeri M1025 or M1046 is a better base kit. There used to be a nice PE/resin conversion kit out there to build an M998 using the M1025. I forget who made it. I've used pieces of it when building M998s before.

Thank you so much for the feedback James. Sorry for the late reply, I have been away on holiday.

Couldn't agree more. The Academy M998 is the worst kit of its kind. I actually just finsihed their M998 IED Guntruck the other day. The amount of work it takes just to get the hood sitting right is crazy. Italeri's is much better (although far from Tamiya's perfection re their M1025). Just a shame I couldn't get truck-style side mirrors.

Tamiya does give you the truck type merriors they also give you thr option older style mirrors

http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=DT35-026 Wonder if you have seen that DToys makes a M998 canvas top for the Tamiya M1025? Available at one time from Lucky Model. I think Legend did as well? Many nice Humvee references at HMMWV in Scale website http://www.hmmwvinscale.com/spark.htm Many folks with much more Humvee knowledge than me on this forum! Nice build that you've shown. Please keep posting

Wonder if the Eduard PE modern mirrors are applicable? http://www.luckymodel.com/scale.aspx?item_no=TP025

Nick, I have the Tamiya M1025. I just didn't want to take the mirrors off of that kit to build a basic M998. The Tamiya Humvee is expensive and hard to come by here. Had to order mine in from overseas.

AMOZ02T, I have seen the canvass top, but not those mirrors. I am really not sure if they would or would not work. Thanks for the tips.

The modern side mirrors are pretty easy to scratch. All you have to do is cut tthe poles off the old-style mirrors, turn them 90 degrees, and add pivot pin to the top and bottom. Then make the frame out of 0.020 styrene rod bent into a squarish-D shape. Attach the frame to the A pillar of teh HMMWV and then the mirroe to the frame. It comes out looking pretty convincing. You can further detail it with various nuts and bolts as you desire.

You can see the results here, on my OC HMMWV from NTC build.

Thanks for the good tips Gino. That is some clean work there sir. Which Humvee did you use for that build, out of interest?

The kit was the old Italeri Desert Version HMMWV with hard top. I use the top side pieces to make the half-door rear panels and added all the other items like B piller, soft top, box on back, etc. from scratch. I also replaced the prototype 4-hole bumper with a 3-hole production type as well. You can see build pics at the link. All cream colored items are resin casts that I custom made as well. Decals and markings are all done on my computer using inkjet decal paper. The paint is Testor's Model Master Sand, FS # 33531, Testor's # 1701. It is an almost exact, out of bottle match for modern CARC Sand. The model was also lightly weathered with some Testor's Armor Sand as well.

This was the final presentation piece.



You can see more here.

It looks great. Haven't seen a Humvee that comes in green plastic before. All the ones I have built were sand coloured.

Looks like a lot of work went into that build. The recipient must have been very happy with it.

I have also used the Wind Mark WF310 Wiper and Mirror set shown here on the HobbyEasy website... http://www.hobbyeasy.com/en/category/AF35U/index.html

Hi Keigan,

Very nice looking builds indeed thanks for sharing!!
I know nothing about either the 113 or the humvee so will leave that to the more knowledgeable people to offer any advice on that front!!

I have been told by a photographer in our club if you place a blue piece of cloth curved on a bench behind your models that it really helps "pop" out your model photos.

One thing I did notice but not sure never having built one, it looks like they maybe a couple of ejector pin marks in the inside top rear hatch?? Or else I could be seeing spots without my glasses on lol

Keep up the great work!!

Cheers Mike

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the tips re photography. Will definitely give that a shot when I take some pictures of my latest build.

Nothing wrong with your eyes, those are ejector pin holes. It's weird, because the holes are not present on the other Academy M113 kits. I have heard of using a putty to close them up. In hindsight, I should have done that. It is something small like this that can ruin a build.

Thanks for taking the time to look.

Hi Keigan,

Nothing wrong with your build & certainly not wrecked at all sir!!

I personally make a "liquid" putty using tamiya extra thin cement & tamiya tube putty, something like that is useful for certain jobs!!

Keep up the great work!!

Cheers Mike

Thanks for the great tips Mike. Will give it a shot if I need to on my next build.

Hi Keigan!

I like your builds overall. I think you made the Italeri M998 Commando Hum-V kit look pretty decent.

Your pictures are a bit distant from the model which makes it hard to look at your build in detail. But, from what I can see your fundamental assembly and finishing looks good. I think you did a good job with the 'soft top'.

In regards to radios/antennae's in the humvee's, don't get to spun up about that. Although the feedback is very good and there are some solid points made, there are many humvees in the US Army that do not have SINCGARs installed in them. Not all vehicles are authorized radios.

On your future projects work to vary the tone of your overall finish some by maybe trying a wash, shading, etc.
As you complete future projects you will see your skills improve. Overall, great work on both models. I look forward to seeing your next build.

Hi Brent,

Thank you so much for your detailed feedback. I have only been in this game since Jan 2010, so any advice and tips are always greatly appreciated.

As for the photos, admittedly they are quite bad. Still trying to figure out this new camera of mine. Having trouble taking close-ups with it.

Thanks again for all the help Brent.