I have a idea of building a number of M113 tracks. I have the TAM 113 gasser for NAM (Because they look cool). Now the other tracks are ones I drove:
M125A1
M113A1 w/TOW
M113A1 CMD (Have ACAD kit)
M106A1 (Have TAM kit)
M577 Gasoline (Have TAM kit)
M113A2
M113A3
The A2 and A3 I am somewhat mixed up as to who is who.
I can recall some major changes but not the minor ones.
Now we got tracks that had the Dragon launch setup. But I can't recall if we got the internal up armor, sliding doors before or with the exterior fuel tanks. Now when we got the vehicles with the exterior full tanks they had interior up armor and the steering wheel and brake and parking brake. They also had the new engine w turbo. The rumor was these were made to keep up with the Abrams.
So I will stick my neck out and say.....
M113A2, Dragon mount, Smoke dischargers, blue internal lights.
M113A3 External fuel tanks, steering wheel.Trim vane float, Up armored liner, but I can't recall if the A2s had those. I recall the doors were a pain since it always hit the radio cables and it pushed you off the bench when you wore MILES gear. Problem is the Army does the up grades like nickel and dime-a little at a time. All the A3s I saw were the new forest green, and they had the external tanks and steering wheel vs laterals.
Sorry forgot the shroud getting cut down and the foot hole cut made to the forward shroud plates.

Some answers.

A1
The thicker trim vane with flotation gear was added as part of the ACAV kit on the A1, and carried forward with the A2.

A2
The A2, and subsequently the A3, had the idler wheel in the rear raised 3 inches (which is noticeable). No kit accurately represents this. The A2 also added a second shock absorber on the second road wheel arm. Only Academy's A2 has this added. The cut down track shrouds and foot hole were also introduced on the A2.

A3
The internal, sliding kevlar panels are a feature of the A3, along with the external fuel tanks. The A3 also has added armor plates on the front glacis plate and on top of the hull, along with kevlar panels on the inside of the rear ramp and upper hatch. Academy's A3 has some of these features, but not the added glacis and roof armor plates.

I guess the problem comes from the way the Army contracted upgrades/changes. I recall seeing Vulcan tracks with the swim vane (Foam filled vane) and didn't see it again till the A3s came around. Now the internal armor (Kevlar?) was the sliding doors in the troop area, the ceiling, to include the troop hatch. As for the ramp, if it was up armored, it was internal. I just can't recall if our A2s had the internal (Sliding doors)kevlar plates. I do recall in general the A3 parts were crappy compared to the earlier models. Troop door handle you could bend with your hand, and the steering wheel system just seemed slapped together. What I do know is the A3 had all the crap to include the drying man stickers all over. What I can't recall was the A2's bit by bit change to A3. So I could see the kevlar upgrade being seen as not a major change (Didn't effect vehicle operation) where as the fuel tank and steering and braking would require more hands on supervision, plus the fuel tanks had the new base colour-so paint the muther green.
But hey, my T35 came today, it's bigger then the dog, probably put three tracks inside. Today is a good day. Came with two Alpine figures (6 foot tankers?).

If I recall correctly the Vulcan tracks had the foam filled vane added due to their weight. I think I read that in a book I had on the M113 family years and years ago.

Regards,

Eric

I saw the Vulcans in RoK along with Chaparrals. That gun took up the troop area, but I didn't see the foam trim vane until the A3Green tracks were issued. I read a review on the TAM A2, which stated you can't open the hood because of the foam vane. Doesn't make sense to me as far as model design, but then I don't plan to make the A3 with a open hood, since I want to make the one we used when we did OPFOR with a DDR flag on the foam vane.

M113A1 ACAV w/flotation blocks added to front glacis and trim vane.


The flotation pieces were needed with the heavier ACAV kit pieces. This is the same reason it was used on the M163 Vulcan, added weight.

It was also used on M113A3s due to the heavier engine, transmission and armor that was added.



The A3 rear ramp has an added layer of armor on the interior of the ramp.





No, they did not. As I said above, the added armor plates and internal sliding kevlar panels are features of the M113A3, not the A2. Your A2s did not have them.




The A3 changes (internal and external kevlar and armor plates, new engine and trans, steering yoke and foot brake, and external tanks) were all done at depot level and are part of a longevity upgrade for the M113.

The most likely reason they were delivered in overall green was it was the late '80s when the camo scheme was still in transition from MERDC to 3-tone NATO. MERDC and the initial NATO camo was applied at unit level. Rebuild (and new) vehicles we delivered in overall green since the transition to NATO wasn't fully implemented.

Gino,

Do you happen to have any pics of the glacis & roof up-armour?

Greg

The front glacis armor is just at the top. It can be seen as an additional plate under the headlight mounts in the below pics.




You can also see it on Vodnik's M113A3 build.



The roof armor is internal.

Nice link to view a M113A3. Shows a lot of the kevlar liner and the steering yoke.
http://www.primeportal.net/apc/don_busack/m113a3/index.php?Page=1

Thanks, Gino.