M-113A1 Cupola Painted...Getting There!

[Apache26]

Here is the moment I've been waiting for!

Necessity is definitely the mother of invention. When I joined SSHQ last fall in the midst of my wild "I want to customize 1:18" hair, I saw Pickel's ACAV cupola's from back in 2005. Since he wasn't available, I decided to look into doing my own.

I wasn't thrilled to do this. I was concerned about getting the right conical shape and fitting the gun shield. Fortunately, history rescued me. The conical cupola made by FMC for the ACAV's was primarily put in use with 'CAV squadrons. The M-113's from mech infantry units that entered the war earlier than 11th ACR didn't have American manufactured cupolas. So they adopted the Vietnamese design. These cupolas lasted in American mech units through much of the war.

[Apache26]

The only molding compound I know well from my 1:35 experience is Miliput, so I set to work forming a cupola. It was a pain in the ass. I basically pushed a u-shaped blob into the commander's hatch and formed it around the vision blocks. Once dry, I formed it with a dremel. The first time, I cut too much and had to partially re-form it with more miliput before I had a decent mold.

I then decided to get an Alumilite casting kit. This is my first shot at casting molds. It didn't turn out as disastrous as I thought it might. The cupolas need to have some casting imperfections filled in and some more sanding. But I should have them done and painted by the end of the week.

[tmanthegreat]

Great idea with the cuppola! I still need to bug Pickelhaube about getting one of his kits, but he's been so busy with the Horten, Kingtiger, and now the A-10. I like the way you're going with this, apache.

[pickelhaube]

You did good that is a cool variant !!

[Apache26]

Thanks PH!

Now don't worry about scrounging cupolas on my account. Just get the stretch Huey project going!

[Apache26]