I have almost finished my Tamiya M113 Desert version (OIF) and there´s only one thing left, the antennas. Tamiyas model seems to have three mountingplaces for them, but do they use all of them? I haven´t found any good pictures of the antenna configuration. Now for the questions.

1. How many antennas are they normally using on an M113 (troopcarrying version)?
2. Does anyone have some pictures of the antenna mount/base?
3. How long is the antenna?

Thanks.

Morning str72,
DAMN, and I had to leave my camera at home today!!!!! I work in the Signal/Electronic shop here where I am at and I have what you are needing right here in front of me.
Well, I can definately answer you first question: It depends on how many radios are in the track. It is one antenna per one radio. Right know the US Army uses SINCGAR radios and the mount that carries the radios can hold two of them. So it is safe to say you can put either 1 or 2 antennas.

On question 2 and 3, there was a thread a while back asking the same thing you are asking. Try doing a search for antennas and antennas bases. I've posted the measurements for the Antennas and so has Gino(HeavyArty) but for the life of me can't seem to remember what it is. If I can find another tape measure, I get that for you, but I'm pretty sure someone will give you the answer before I can get back to you.

Normally the number of antennas is based on the use of the track. For example, a platoon leader's track would have two antennas, one for the radio tuned to the platoon frequency and one on the company frequency. A track used as a "jump TOC" (tactical operations center used to "jump" to a new location before the main TOC relocates) may have all three antennas used.

When two antennas are used, normally the two mounts on the left hand side are used. If only one antenna is used, then the mount directly behind the driver's hatch is normally used.


(Photo hosted in our old gallery)

Feel free to check out my old motor pool gallery. There are plenty of detail shots of the M113A2 and M113A3 that will help you (no antenna shots). There are some close up antenna shots in the Abrams album though. M113A2/A3

And once again, the "MOTOR POOL GOD" comes to the rescue.

Length.... see HERE

In the length article linked by Matt, Gino mentioned the two main types of antennas in use: The fiber glass type and the steel "whip" type. I'm not sure if we use the same type of VHF antennas, but ours are originally an Israeli type (I think ) and measures exactly 180 cm. I am not sure if this type is used on US M-113s, but some of the Americans around here can probably confirm if this is the same type or not. However, It is easy to model it. Scale length (1:35) is approx 5,2 cm.

Erik

You could just as easily take the antenna mounts from any humvee kits and add some stretched sprues onto it to get the desired effect. Most kits often come with spares on these anyway.

Scale length that I have for American AFV antennas is different. It is 7.23 cm long from the base of antenna. The length was converted from Epi's info. The actual antenna is about 2.53 m long measured from the bottom of "spring" looking thing.

If you want the antenna bases i believe southeast hobbies sell them in a kit from a company called Aussie Armour along with the radios.

http://www.southeasthobbies.com.au

Thanks for the info about the antennas and the very gööd photo of the antanna base. But, the length of the antennas in 1/35-scale, is it 5.2 or 7.2 centimeters?

Length of the thicker, fiberglass antenni is 2 3/4".

Thinner, metal antenni is 2".

Whatever those come out to in millimeters is your metric length.

Ok. There are two kinds of antennas. Now I have got all the answers I needed.
I will post some pictures of my M113 when it is finished.
I wish everyone a Happy New Modelling Year.......