The curved tube on the roof is the davit for lifting the generator out of the cradle and lowering to the ground.

Paul

Thanks Paul. You seem to know quite abit about the M113 series.

Yup, Paul is dead on.

Spent a year and half on a M106A2 and another year and half on the M577 while in the Army back in the late 1980's so some of it's personal experience. But beyond that, along with some other Armorama inhabitants, I share a passion for the M113 series.



Without having the kit in front of me, I'm fairly certain that it doesn't include the ballast plate rack which is mostly used to store water cans and MOGAS cans for the generator. The old Eduard set has a close representation but I think they fixed it in their new set (http://www.eduard.cz/products/card_main.php?id_product=3114&position=2&image_index=1).

There are some other M577 and M1068 pictures on the Prime Portal website(www.primeportal.net).

Paul

Oliver: That is a fantastic photo. I assume you got it off the net somewhere. Are there anymore? Now of course, I really want to do this conversion.

In the meantime I emailed MR and asked them if they are getting anymore kits to VLS. I was told no orders for the moment. So, I may order direct, but I am not happy about giving my credit card info in an unsecure way. Any suggestions out there?

About that photo: Can anyone say what the square is on the side of the vehicle? Is that Velcro? Is it supposed to hold the CIP? If not, how is the CIP attached to M113s anyway?

Bob

Other dod pictures:
http://www.dod.gov/photos/Nov2004/041112-A-1067B-006.html

http://www.dod.gov/photos/Oct2004/041001-F-2034C-017.html

Paul

Yes, the velcro is to attach the CIP to the hull.

Well, no need to have money in my pocket. Christmas comes early in my house. I got a nice reply from MR and they now are getting a re-order to VLS. Even though I can't find the Tamiya kit I already backordered the conversion kit from VLS. Of course, I still did not forget about the M577 project, so I ordered two Eduard sets, even though I can't find the darned Tamiya kit to start with, much less two of them. I'm still a little wary about figuring out that antenna set-up on the roof.

Hopefully I can get home before the wife and beat her to the package and stash it among my kits.

Bob,
There are currently 3 of the M577s on Ebay for $10 to $11 each.

M577s on Ebay

Good luck.

Thanks Gino. I will see if I can get one, and the M109 too.