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Re: 1/18 custom Vietnam era M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle
Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2015 10:40 pm
by rschaap
Thanks for the comment and the info. I also noticed a Velspar spray paint at Lowes that looked like the proper Seafoam green. I have a NAPA near me so I will look and compare the colors for future conversions.
I will be adding another update tomorrow.
Re: 1/18 custom Vietnam era M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 11:03 am
by rschaap
I changed the color since it appeared to light. I was given some helpful information on the correct color and resprayed the APC. I will post some photos soon.
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 9:32 am
by grockwood
Very nice work. Did you mention where the 105mm came from? Who is the manufacturer?
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 9:52 am
by rschaap
The 106mm recoilless rifle was an optional weapon from the 1/18 scale BBI USMC Super Humvee.
I removed the 106mm from it's base (pulls apart from the base very easily). Using reference photos I figured out where the gun needed to be mounted and drilled a hole in the hull of my M113. I used a threaded nut to hold it in place with a plastic washer at the base of the gun so it would swivel smoothly. I drilled out the business end of the barrel then primed and painted it to match the color of my M113.
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2015 11:41 am
by skorzeny
WOW . looks great !!!!
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2015 1:04 pm
by rschaap
Thanks for the compliments. My conversion would not have been possible if it had not been for the heads up from you. So thank you sir.
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2015 3:09 pm
by granch
Wonderfull piece! But would like to see it combat dirty, with some crew...
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2015 3:55 pm
by rschaap
Understood. I am still deciding on how I want to decal it. Once that is done I have decided to give it an actual Vietnam "wear and tear" look since I believe the addition of the 106mm was a field application. It just so happens that I have a number of volunteers waiting to be assigned to this M113.
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 5:43 pm
by pickelhaube
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Tue Apr 21, 2015 7:30 am
by rschaap
I decided to go with these markings for my M113. The picture is of a 1/35 scale model. I actually located some decals and dry transfers I can use for the majority of the M113. I am going to hand paint the words on the gun shields and bell turret. I already started decaling my M113 and will post progress photos soon.
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 5:01 am
by pickelhaube
You could try stick on lettering from Michaels or Hobby Lobby.
They may have them the correct size could be worth trying.
If they do have the correct size you could use the back ground of the lettering as stencils.
Or the stickers themselves.
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2015 11:12 am
by rschaap
Thanks Matt, I will give it a shot.
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:10 am
by rschaap
**UPDATE #17** I will be posting new photos of my Vietnam M113A1. I worked on making decals for some of the letters and numbers that I could not duplicate. I also made new red and white Calvary flag decals, since I was not happy with the way the painted on ones turned out. This meant I had to sand off some of the ones I sprayed or hand painted on and repaint and coat the tank (for the 5th time ). I also made the blisters for the front of the tank above the tracks. I have no idea what blisters are for and can't find them in any reference photos of any M113A1 from Vietnam. If someone out there knows what they are for I would be interested for just personal knowledge. Here is a photo of what I am talking about.
I will start weathering the tank some time this week.
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 9:31 am
by supersonicfifi
NOT an armor guy but i begin seriuously thinking to turn my interest in this kind of vehicule !
AMAZING WORK !
Post as much pictures as possible all along ....
thank you for sharing your beautifull custom
again WELL DONE !
philippe
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2015 10:51 am
by Threetoughtrucks
Sorry for being no help to you this AM, but I got curious and checked and the "blisters" are extra flotation cells found on M113A1's.
Pics of the flotation cells are found in David Doyle's "M113 APC in Action, In Action" - Squadron Signal, on pages 25 and 43.
The pics are from two different divisions in VN so they are not field mods.
TTT
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2015 1:21 pm
by rschaap
Threetoughtrucks wrote:Sorry for being no help to you this AM, but I got curious and checked and the "blisters" are extra flotation cells found on M113A1's. Pics of the flotation cells are found in David Doyle's "M113 APC in Action, In Action" - Squadron Signal, on pages 25 and 43.The pics are from two different divisions in VN so they are not field mods.TTT
Thanks for the info. It was bothering me, since I had no idea what I was making and could not locate any reference photos or information.
Re: 1/18 Vietnam M113 with 106mm recoilless rifle **BUILT**
Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2015 10:01 am
by rschaap
I was asked what I did to backdate my M113A3 to a M113A1 Vietnam era APC with recoilless rifle. Here is a list.
Removed from exterior
External fuel tanks
All storage gear and added cargo
Rear cleats
Exhaust
Smoke launchers
CIP panels
Spare track
Removed metal hull and plugged and filled holes (around 35-40)
Scratchbuilt for exterior
Rear fenders
Exhaust tube
Flotation devices (front above tracks) not pictured yet
Rear accessories as seen in update #12, prior to paint.
relocated gas cap to top of hull
Removed from interior
Fire extinguisher (for detailing)
Instrument panel (for detailing)
Heater (for detailing)
Cut out molded stand at rear of bay
Exhaust canister (to reposition and detail)
Scratchbuilt for interior
New instrument panel cover with instrument decals
Engine access hatches
Extended bulkhead
Added steering handles and gas pedal
Added shelves
Added radio equipment
Plumbed and added detail to heater
Made drivers seat and rear facing jump seat
Passengers seat cushions
Decaled interior after painting
Added drive shafts
Detailed engine (wired and plumbed)
Main exterior Conversion Parts
Rear fenders (Scratchbuilt)
Two gas cans used as water containers (Parts box)
Shovel for front of APC (Parts box)
Straps for water containers and shovel (folded tin foil, painted)
.50 caliber gun shield (Pickelhaube)
.60 caliber gun shield ( Pickelhaube)
Bell turret for .50 caliber (Pickelhaube)
106mm recoilless rifle (from BBI Super Humvee)
Decals
Interior
1/35 scale M113 decals, enlarged and printed onto decal paper
Exterior
Some decals provided by Apache26 and the rest from miscellaneous decal sheets.
Finally
A lot of planning, reference material, advice and help from forum members, patience and an understanding wife.