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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
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Academy M966 Essentially Completed
jazza
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Singapore / 新加坡
Joined: August 03, 2005
KitMaker: 2,709 posts
Armorama: 1,818 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 07:32 AM UTC
I'm pretty much done with this kit on the weekend. I was initially going to start on Tamiya's M1046 but came across this kit at my LHS as the price stood out (less than half the price of Tamiya's) so i thought i would do some experimentation work on this before starting on the M1046.

I altered the side mirrors and TOW launcher a little bit but its ultimately OOTB. I didnt have any spare modern figure torso nor helmets hence why there are alot of things inaccurate with this kit.

Also couldnt really afford to change the radio set so i stuck with the one provided in the kit.

There were quite a few manufacturer fault on this kit so i didnt really give it my best effort but would still like any comments / suggestions if you have any as i would need it for my coming M1046 build.

Here are the photos:





Its now displaying next to my M113A2


The interior. Made some changes to the colour based on Gino's recommendation. Cheers mate!
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 10:32 AM UTC
Looks good. Mirrors came out great. Now it needs some markings and maybe some CIPs and personal gear/bags, etc. Headlights look like they may be in backwards. They look like they protrude and are flat, they should look like headlights on a car, convex and level with the outside ring. Good job on an old kit. I still like the Academy kits. They can come out great, as you have shown.
jazza
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Singapore / 新加坡
Joined: August 03, 2005
KitMaker: 2,709 posts
Armorama: 1,818 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 02:54 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Looks good. Mirrors came out great. Now it needs some markings and maybe some CIPs and personal gear/bags, etc. Headlights look like they may be in backwards. They look like they protrude and are flat, they should look like headlights on a car, convex and level with the outside ring. Good job on an old kit. I still like the Academy kits. They can come out great, as you have shown.


Thanks for the suggestions Gino. I will actually note that for the M1046. Good that you reminded me about the CIP panels as i have one spare from my M113A2 kit but will have to try digging up another.

The headlights are convex at the moment however i just realised one of them wasnt mounted properly.

As for the markings / decals...that is about my only sore point of the kit. Unfortunately the markings were all smudged and couldnt salvage any of them. It looks like the ink was still wet and someone had wiped over it. No loss however as i do intend to use the leftovers from the M1046 and place it onto this one. Will post photos of them side by side when im done with the other one.
andy007
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Wellington, New Zealand
Joined: May 01, 2002
KitMaker: 2,088 posts
Armorama: 1,257 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 02:59 PM UTC
Nice looking Humvee Jeremy, I have built the kit myself and found it pretty good. What colour did you use?
jazza
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Singapore / 新加坡
Joined: August 03, 2005
KitMaker: 2,709 posts
Armorama: 1,818 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 03:12 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Nice looking Humvee Jeremy, I have built the kit myself and found it pretty good. What colour did you use?


Hey Andy, thanks for the kind words.

Seeing as my collection of paints are predominantly Tamiya, i mixed Flat White, Buff, a touch of yellow and a bit of desert yellow to get the desired effect of light sand. I find after applying the gloss coat that the colour looks a little darker.

Once weathering is done, i would spray a layer of Flat Clear. If you check out the LHS, look for the Aqueous Hobby Color range with colour code H20. One of the rare view finishes that actually dries matt like its suppose to.
andy007
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Wellington, New Zealand
Joined: May 01, 2002
KitMaker: 2,088 posts
Armorama: 1,257 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 03:28 PM UTC
Thanks for that Jeremy I will try that mix on my next Humvee.
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
Armorama: 5,204 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 05:41 PM UTC
Nice and clean build Jeremy. Congrats !

I hope seeing more pics when you're finished, decals on and weathering done. This Academy kit has not to be ashamed of the new Tamiya one.

olivier
seb43
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Paris, France
Joined: August 30, 2005
KitMaker: 2,315 posts
Armorama: 2,158 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 06:42 PM UTC
Dear Jeremy
Look good Humvee.
i also like your M113.
If you find he Tam Humvee to expensive, check ebay generally you will find from Hong Kong guys 50 % cheaper than the one from your LHS.
I bought mine on ebay for 25 USD instead of 50 USD.

Good luck
cheers
seb
jazza
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Singapore / 新加坡
Joined: August 03, 2005
KitMaker: 2,709 posts
Armorama: 1,818 posts
Posted: Monday, December 05, 2005 - 01:25 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Nice and clean build Jeremy. Congrats !

I hope seeing more pics when you're finished, decals on and weathering done. This Academy kit has not to be ashamed of the new Tamiya one.


Thanks for that Olivier. I definitely am enjoying this build overall. Sure there are inaccuracies but for the price i paid for it (NZ$18.95 = US$13.61), i tend to overlook them. Probably wouldnt be as forgiving had it cost me more or if it was a Tamiya kit.


Quoted Text

If you find he Tam Humvee to expensive, check ebay generally you will find from Hong Kong guys 50 % cheaper than the one from your LHS.


Thanks for that Seb. Will certainly keep it in mind. The issue i typically have is the long wait time. For a package to be delivered from HK to NZ, it will probably take about 3 - 4 weeks. The wait would kill me. I managed to score the Tam Humvee from a 50% sale so it is already sitting in my stash.

Its amazing how after the 50% sale, the Academy kit is still half the price of that.....go figure.
seb43
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Paris, France
Joined: August 30, 2005
KitMaker: 2,315 posts
Armorama: 2,158 posts
Posted: Monday, December 05, 2005 - 06:09 PM UTC
Jazza
Just buy one kit a cheap one from your LHS and in the same buy a lot of kits on ebay.
you will have one to finish before the other will arrived no?? :-)

cheers

seb
Epi
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Texas, United States
Joined: December 22, 2001
KitMaker: 3,586 posts
Armorama: 2,556 posts
Posted: Monday, December 05, 2005 - 07:20 PM UTC
Here you go Jeremy. These should help you out with your next build. You got most of it down, but your missing a few things. If you have any questions, just let me know. I get to play with this stuff everyday, so it's like second nature to me.


Ground TOW 2 Weapon System

TOW 2 Weapon System Part II
jazza
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Singapore / 新加坡
Joined: August 03, 2005
KitMaker: 2,709 posts
Armorama: 1,818 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - 01:39 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Here you go Jeremy. These should help you out with your next build. You got most of it down, but your missing a few things. If you have any questions, just let me know. I get to lay with this stuff everyday, so it's like second nature to me.


Ground TOW 2 Weapon System

TOW 2 Weapon System Part II


Thanks for that Pete. I actually saved the photos of your humvee as reference for my next build as its very seldom that i get to see humvee models that are as accurate as yours.

Cheers!
Epi
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Texas, United States
Joined: December 22, 2001
KitMaker: 3,586 posts
Armorama: 2,556 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - 01:47 AM UTC
No problem!
When Jim is finished moving the sight around, hopefully the pictures will be back in the 2 articles I listed.

Oh, just a little note: the face of the MGS (the box next to the TOW) is supposed to be black. It's never painted over in the main body color. Now the case itself, can be painted in the tan color or solid green color, like you have it.

Can't wait to see your Tamiya one when it is finished.
jazza
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Singapore / 新加坡
Joined: August 03, 2005
KitMaker: 2,709 posts
Armorama: 1,818 posts
Posted: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 - 02:02 AM UTC
Just sent you a PM. Was wondering if you could email me the softcopy of the documents you wrote up.

Call me eager but i was hoping to start the Tamiya one this weekend and would love the additional reading material while im at work. :-)

Its not too late to change the colour of the MGS so i will give it a go tonight when i get home.
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