Hi.

Not a modern armour guy but saw a pic from Shizuoka showing a hull and box art of an M113 ACAV from AFV Club. Is this a new kit. Have they done an M113 before?

Cheers.

Got no clue about the lineage of this one, but AFV Club has already released M113 derivatives like the M730 or the M548 (and the
FSV based on the Academy M113)....

H.P.

AFV Club did do a couple of M113s around 2000, but they all were all Academy reboxes with some AFV Club designed parts.

AFV Club has reboxed Academy M113s before with some new sprues to make their Aussie M113A1 FSV and NATO AIFV kits.


A review talking about the mixed parts to get this version.



It is probably just an Academy M113A1 with a new sprue or two for AFV Club's specific kit. Or it could be just Academy's M113A1 ACAV kit reboxed by AFV Club for their market.

Any pics of it?

In the previous kits, didn't they write something like "Plastic parts by Academy" or something along those lines? In the pic Henri-Pierre posted it says "New"... can you tell from the hull?

Wouldn't it be nice if it were a newly tooled M113?

Hisham

I don't see anything about "Plastic Parts by Academy" on the FVS box. I can't see Frenchy's pic either...damn Gov't firewall.

The hull looks like the Academy Hull.

In Henri-Pierre's pics, the first one has the number as FV35113.. and the second one has it as AF35113.. any significance to that?

I know, I'm just grasping at straws

Hisham

Probably not... AFV CLUB's parent company is HOBBY FAN, so it may only be a "company-internal" thing. Accent is on the word "may". My above comment is purely conjectural...

Just a side comment, not relating to the M113 directly, but ACADEMY DID release their re-boxed kit of AFV CLUB's US M41; I believe they did the same thing with AFV's M35 6x6 Truck, and added some parts to make this kit ROK Armyspecific.

I can't see why AFV couldn't do the same with ACADEMY's M113 kit- The ACADEMY M113-series kits DO have a few advantages over the old TAMIYA M113-series kits in that they contain a nice set of "indy"-link Tracks and vinyl "rubber band" Tracks, subject to the modellers' choices...

Whether AFV decides to clone the ACADEMY M113, or upgrade their re-boxed ACADEMY/AFV M113 with some new or extra parts is open to question. Anybody know?

Best way to know I think is having a closer pic of the hull of the AFV offering to compare it with M113 from Academy. Whatever conclusion we get, it's always good to have a new alternative of the old bucket in the market, and if it's new molds , much better

Cheers

Just wishful thinking on my part I think a totally new M113 would have probably gotten a much bigger announcement than this.. After all, they just recently re-boxed Trumpeter's Patriot

Hisham

Just got a message from Hyun Jin Kim (The DEF Models guy) saying they announced an "all new" M113?! I guess we just have to wait

I also see an IDF M109



Hisham

The pictured hull not the strenghtening ribs known from Tamiya and Academy. It also looks like the kit has individual suspension arms. The cutout on the inner front for fitting the front plate is not present. Anyway, my poor wallet!!!!!!!!!

I looked at an old Academy hull I found I had here, and I think it does look different with the suspension arms.. and the inside.

Anyway, I hope you're right.. this could be the start of a whole new bunch of M113's

Hisham

It would be SO GOOD if AFV CLUB were ACTUALLY going to produce an all-new M113 of their own!

Now if they would only produce an all-new M3 Lee/Grant (US and British versions), an all-new M3/M3A1 Stuart/Honey-series Light Tanks, an all-new M8 HMC (75m howitzer), and an all-new Dodge WC54 Ambulance, and a Dodge M6 Tank Destroyer (based on the Dodge WC-chassis). While I'm at it, all-new kits of the M46 and M47 "Pattons"... Or from BRONCO, or TRUMPETER/HOBBY BOSS, or MERIT, or TAKOM, MENG, or even TAMIYA..? PLEEEASE..?

Here's the one I have... forget about the square tubing I have in there, but it's not the same as the one in the other pic.



Hisham

Just a comment- AFV CLUB produces their kits in a middle-to-light shade of OLIVE DRAB, whereas ACADEMY does so in DARK GREEN; is this significant as to AFV CLUB doing their own M113, as opposed to re-boxing an ACADEMY M113..?

What's this truck in this pic?



The M109



A new Shot Kal?



Hisham

Funny thing, but this is also M109! Another great piece of news!

Hyun Jin Kim. who is attending the show, confirmed that it is indeed a new M113 by AFV Club.. I always follow his news whenever he attends these shows.. and that's good enough for me Got to start saving some more for these

Hisham

P.S. If that M109 truck has interior detail in the back, it would be an awesome kit

M109 Van has been first announced by AFV Club in 1993 or 1994. After such a long planning time, it must be a hell of a kit.

I think that is for a new IDF kit, and not the Shot-Kal. I could be wrong though!!

Paul.

Can we please get the NATO or UK Centurion again???

sign me up for the IDF 109..............BITCHING!

I'll echo what others have said a new M113 is very welcomed.

They could do an SADF Olifant with a new sprue or two. Just sayin'...