You've think by now that they'd have the original version available because I thought that that was the most commonly used one.

Do you mean this one?



Been out for a while. Al

That's mid-production. There's an earlier version with squared fenders.

The rounded wheels space was actually introduced at vehicle serial 10075-the 75th production vehicle, so I think you are mistaken about it being most commonnly used

Some background reading here:
http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/US/Cadillac_Gage_Commando_M706.php

There was a version without the turret






M-706E conversion set by MK-Models, MKF3046

The M706E2 (pictured in Robin's post) is in Hobby Boss pipeline as well...

https://www.scalemates.com/kits/hobby-boss-84536-m706e2-apc--1188836

As Paul says, there was only 74 vehicles built with the angled wheel cutouts. Round wheel cutouts were used instead due to hull cracks forming at the corners.

Here's a M706 prototype picture showing the square cutouts (and the 3 hull side vision blocks instead of 2 on later vehicles) :



H.P.

Didn't the ARVN get the old ones?

I guess they got some :







H.P.

Looks like angled corners on the wheel housings ...


I tweaked the lighting on the image above, probably ruined the rest of it ....
The original is here:
http://www.warwheels.net/V100ARVNhaugh.html

/ Robin

...and 3 vision blocks per side

H.P.

and that too
I was only looking for corners
/ Robin

Converting the HobbyBoss M706 will take some work.
The review at PMMS has images showing the parts:
https://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/hobbyboss/hb82418.html
Rebuild the wheel housings, make new periscopes, the side door.
Maybe some other parts need fixing as well ...
/ Robin

More views :









Full size



Another ARVN one (fitted with "flush" vision blocks) :



H.P.

Now it starts to look like 3 different versions
1. Angled wheel arches, small single part door, periscopes, 3 periscopes on the sides,
2.Angled wheel arches, larger two part door, vision blocks instead of periscopes, 3 vision blocks on the sides
3. Rounded wheel arches, larger two part door, vision blocks instead of periscopes, only 2 vision blocks on the sides

I also get the impression that the early ones had a welded joint between the upper and lower sides and the later versions have a rounded edge as if the upper and lower side had been stamped from one sheet of steel

The fourth version would be
4. Rounded wheel arches, large two part door, vision blocks (only 2 on the sides), stamped hull sides

/ Robin

Hi Robin, there was IIRC, the no stamped-side version. Its was always welded. The welding process was changed between batches/production runs hence the different "look".

That rounded edge, from the very front to the rear, does not look welded to me,
there is a weld just below the angled corner of the upper hull, at the rear part of the wheel arch so I doubt that they have bothered grinding the weld smooth in one place but not the other ...

Compare with the visible welds in this photo:

Full size photo

Tankriders detail photo over on Warwheels



Another photo borrowed from Warwheels

/ Robin

Robin, you are correct. CG did move to a single piece shaped plate for the sides. I'd just assumed it was the way in which the weld was finished that gave it the look. Can't currently find info on when (what serial) this happened at.

The Osprey book gives a pretty good timeline of the changes and production mods. Wayne

Did anyone else notice the variations of the turret - they don't all look like the Cadillac Gage T50 turret I'm familiar with from the M113?

Mal