I'm trying to find some good pictures or even a diagram of the hinges on the M113's rear hatch. I'm currently bulding the Tamiya M113A2 "Desert Version" and the kit hinges don't appear to be very accurate. I've found a couple of decent pics using Google image search and I'm thinking I can build the hinges up using pieces of sprue, but I'm having a hard time finding that perfect picture. Anyone?

Oh, and hello everyone! Long time lurker, first time poster.

Try my motor pool album. The first album is the M113A2/A3 walkaround. Should be just what you need: Major Rob's Motor Pool.

Perfect, thanks!

Depends on which version you are building. Tamiya's accurately depics an M113A1/A2's crew door hinges. On the M113A3, they were replaced with beefier hinges.

M113A1/A2 hinges.


M113A3 hinges.


If you mean the hinges for the ramp, they are pretty accurate and the same on all M113 versions.


All of the above pics are compliments of MAJ Rob's Motorpool.

Im building the exact same model as well...as Gino mentioned, which i failed to see before, the hinges are accurate unless you compare it with the M113A3. Ive place a comparison photo for your reference.

Reference Photo


The Tamiya Kit


It was one of the many inaccuracies of the model which i have now grown to live with.

The other parts i found to be inaccurate are as follows:
1) right rear lights should be in a "slit" format
2) The smoke grenade launchers are usually concave shaped rather than convex.
3) Jerry cans at the back had no fastener straps so it looks like the jerry cans are levitating when glued on the rear. I scratched up something simple for this.

How you finding the kit so far though?

I personally still think its a good kit and about 90% accurate to the real thing so im satisfied with it. As was mentioned in its review that was done on this site, i really wish they had an elaborate interior. Its just a great injustice tohave such a nice exterior and not have an interior to go with it. Thats just me whinging.

The new Tamiya M113 is pretty close for an A2 version, using the rear fenders, as opposed to external fuel tanks. The rear hatch hinges are correct for an A2 version as well. Straps on the water jugs and right rear light are both easy to fix as well.

The model does need lots of work to be an accurate A3 though. Namely, the add-on armor attachment holes are missing from all over the hull sides, the added armor plate on the front glacis plate is missing, the rear hinges, door locking mechanism, door hold-back, and tow pintle are all changed on an A3 as well. Also missing are multiple tie downs along the hull sides and top.

The smoke launchers in the kit are correct for both versions. They are just not loaded with smoke grenades. The rubber dust cover that is on them can be either convex or concave. It is simply rubber and can be pushed in or allowed to point out. Not really an issue.

For an interoir, the old Tamiya interior or newer Academy interiors will fit right into the hull. The Academy one is best since it depics an M113A2 pretty well. The old Tamiya one was for an M113A1. For an A3, you would need to replace the steering laterals with a steering yoke and brake pedal. You would also need to add the sliding Kevlar spall panels along the inner hull sides as well.

All of these deatils can be seen in MAJ Rob's motorpool to see what I am talking about.

It isn't really that hard of a mod to make it into an M113A3. Check out Vodnik's M113A3 to see what can be done with it.

Oops, I should have been more clear, I was mainly concerned with the rear ramp hinges. I agree that the access hatch hinges appear pretty close to the A2 version, but the actual ramp hinges are way off.

Today I built up my own hinges using some sprue from the kit. I'm still sanding down the pieces I "made" to make them look right, but so far they're a big improvement over the kit's depiction of the rear ramp hinges.

hmm i couldnt really find photos that showed the actual hinges of the ramp. Have you got a photo that we can compare with?

Nice kit Jazza,
it shows another inaccuracy , the tow cable round brackets are ill located looking at the pics you posted.

This let some work to do for those modelers who like extra detailing. Thank you Mister T !

olivier

There's a good shot of the different small access hatch lock-back in those photos as well.
Tom

This pic shows the lower ramp hinges.


More in MAJ Rob's Motorpool.

Isnt that the one from the M113A3 though?

The closest one i could see was when they were placed side by side.

Based on the little that i could see from this photo though, i guess i could live with that little discrepancy as well. The hinges on the Tamiya set were made such that the ramp was meant to be in its stowed position. Trying to leave it open would really expose the flaws of the ramp hinges though.

Yes, Pic I posted is of the A3, but they are the same on all M113 modesl. They did not change. You can see in the pic you posted that they are the same.