Hello guys!

Here is the model I'm working on nowadays. It's an M113A3 in US Army markings - Iraq 2003. It's an Academy model based, with some mods in the interior based in reference pics.

In this link you can see all the pics: http://www.mach2.hpg.ig.com.br/M113A3.htm

I still have to add the jerrycans, a soldier seated in the .50 cupola and the base.

Any coments are welcome!

Bye,

Marcelo

Marcelo:

Nice looking M113. I think the side racks are a little long, though. I don't know about the accuracy of the inside of the A3, but I like the LOOK of it. Nice and lived-in. I also like that the sand skirt is not on, as I do not recall any M113 with it attached. I also like the touch w/ the one CIP frame being in the green color. Many were like that for some reason. Is that a Dragon on the roof? I don't think the Army uses those anymore.

I would suggest a pin wash of a drak brown around details and then some light sand for drybrushing to bring out the details and give it a bit more of a three dimensional look.

Bob

Hello Marcelo

I see you've made good use of the pics I've sent you . The interior details look convincing and I like your Spall liners...
BTW I think that "Gavin" is not the official name of the M113 (even if it is used on some websites...)
Frenchy

Hello Bob and Frenchy, thanks a lot for your comments.

I used a lot of reference pictures for the interior and exterioir. Even this way, I don't discard some mistakes. But I think I got the overall look of an M113A3.

About the equipment over the roof, I realy don't know what it is :) I had it in resin for a long time and I decided to add it over the vehicle.

About the paint and wheathering, well, I decided to let this model without the darker wash, because I think the paint would be more dark than I'd like. The only weathering I did in this model was a soft airbrush aplication of Tamiya Deck Tan to give the dirty and sandy look over this model.

Frenchy, yes, your pictures were essential for the interior of the kit. Thanks a lot again!

About the Gavin name, I think it's not used commonly. But I heard it utill in the CNN some day

Bye,

Marcelo

The whole Gavin nonsense was started by a guy name Mike Sparks who thinks the M113 FOV is the best thing since sliced bread. I'm not knocking the M113 because they are a great vechicle and I've worked on pently of them, but they aren't "all that".

The reason the Gavin name comes up in the Major Media outlets is piss poor research done by them and they prob got the Gavin name off one of Mike Sparks many websites though Google. I really wonder at times about reporters theses days and if they ever teach them to double check their sourses :mad:

Nice M113A3 though...I love the extra boxes you have on the outside...where did you get them?

Marcelo,
Where did you get the US Postal Box from?

Hellu everybody!

Thanks guys for clearing me about my "Gavin" mistake. But now it's done Please do not consider the name after the M113A3 in my first post title. Unfortunately I was induced to it by some (and not only one!) websites and CNN

All the boxes, includding the postal one was made by me in Corel Draw using good reference pictures. After that, I let the file to a digital laser printer bureau and printed them in a harder paper sheet. The result was great.

Bye,

Marcelo

Looks very good. Like the others, I've never heard of the name "Gavin" used in reference to any M113 series vehicle. I've been around these things continuously since 1982.

Your bottom picture that shows the USPS priority mail box, the top of the hull should be more flush with the edges of the side of the hull. Although I do not know if this gap is there because you left the top unattached to display the interior.

Also the front hull around the headlight area looks like it is missing the 1" thick armor plate. It may be present, I can't quite tell from the angles of the photos.

Does the engine air intake grills have a mesh screen over them? I can't tell.

Most of the time, the interior of the hatches on the M113 series are forest green. When the vehicles are overpainted sand, all hatches are closed and only the exterior portion gets painted. When the ramp is dropped, you will even see a green "ring" where the ramp sealed and did not get painted.

The hand grips are always a OD green color. They are basically just a small strap of nylon webbing that is looped through a series of tie down foot holes located throughout the roof.

Overall I think you did a fine job. I am especially impressed with the interior. Please don't take any of my comments personally, just trying to point out some details.

Nice looking M113. I like what you've done with the interior. Did you print all those boxes yourself? If so, could you share the graphic file.

As for the 'Gavin' thing, I always get a laugh when reporters call a Bradley a tank but the best has to be the news story I read where it reported the suspect had two guns. A Heckler and a Koch.

Paul

Yes Marcelo! Would you mind sharing your files of the boxes?

Nice build Marcelo. Sabot already covered a lot of the details. Heres a couple more should you decide to build another one some day. The hatch release cable on the troop hatch shold be about halfway on the hatch. Tamiya and Academy both have it molded too far towards the one end. A little sanding and some minor scratch building to fix this. The ramp has a cable and pulley on the lower left hand portion of the ramp as you look at the back of the vehicle. Used for raising and lowering the ramp. I couldn't see if you had the drivers controls or not, but FYI, the A3 has a steering wheel-like appearance like the Bradley uses instead of the twin laterals. You may have this in there, I just couldn't see it. Once again, a very nice build. Thanks for sharing your work. "Q"

Hello!

Robin, thanks for your information. No problem with that, I'll not take it personaly. It's important to me to know the real thing and listen to the guys that realy knows the M113.

I used a lot of reference pictures, but as I wrote, some erros may apear. Some problems, like the grile and the armor plate you mentioned, I let it out by myself. I can say that I took some "model poetic license" in this model for my fun. I'll look carefully for your advices. Thanks

Paul, the H&K story is realy funny :):) About Gavin stuff, I know NOW that I was wrong. Well, living and learning

About the boxes file, sure, I can share with you guys, no problem. Who is interested, just drop me an e-mail and I'll send by mail. Tell me if you prefer a Corel or jpeg file.

[email protected]

Let me say that these boxes are not copy of any aftermarket material and was all done by myself only using good reference pictures.

The Banana boxes are not 100% accurate, but it's funny anyway to add to the model. Unfortunately the Coke and Pepsi boxes are not available anymore even for me. I acidentaley deleted the file

Bye,

Marcelo

All, check out my article here for the soda boxes.

Top deck is not flush withthe hull sides.

Yes, it was what I thoght. the Academy kit (I think Tamiya also as well) has the hull a little out and not flush with the edges.

This last picture is realy nice for detailing and solving this flush question, thanks.

Bye,

Marcelo