AUSTRALIAN 1/35 scale Australian M113A1 family of vehicles building guide

 

Tamiya and Academy M113 models are almost identical.  Some large parts like hull roofs may need a little bit of sanding to fit.

 

MA113

M113A1 T50 turret with full interior turret detail.  Included new fire walls with two piece engine access panels, cargo hatch with filter box.  The turret has full interior detail with turret basket, machine guns ammo bins and spent round bin.

This is a 50/30 calibre machine gun combination version.  It does provide options for the large ammo bins used in Vietnam as well as an alternative (used in Australia) rack with 30 and 50 calibre liners fitted post Vietnam.

MA134

Belly armour and sponson armour for Tamiya M113s.  These were introduced in South Vietnam about 1969?  The sponson armour was welded on and therefore remained in place until 2011+.  The belly armour was removed while at peace and operating within Australia.  Belly armour was added to vehicles that served in Somalia, Rwanda and Timor.

MA135

Belly armour and sponson armour for Academy M113s.  As above for MA134 but the belly armour is built to fit Academy M113 FOV.

MA136

Update for Tamiya Saladin turret Fire Support Vehicle.  This is a correction set to the Tamiya kit.  It provides a new hull roof with a correct plinth for the Saladin turret which is the main problem with the kit.  It adds and enhances other part of the Tamiya kit.

MA137

Sponson armour only (2 pcs).  Sponson armour was welded onto M113A1s in Vietnam commencing in 1969  Being welded, when the vehicles returned to Australia and the belly armour was unbolted and put into storage but the sponson armour remained.  So if you are building a post 1972-3 Australian M113A1 FOV you will need sponson armour.

MA141

1965-68 M113 update set.  The two things that make the Australian M113A1 different from all other M113s is that they were supplied to the Australian Army with 25mm of foam glued to the crew compartment roof and that we had a more comprehensive air filter system on the cargo hatch (replacing the simple mushroom ventilator behind the cargo hatch).

 

This detail set also includes an accurate battery box, a ramp pulley and a radio shelf.

This update set includes a complete hull top (with foam) and integral fuel tank inspection panel.  The first M113A1 APC whose ARN was 134140 to 134295 had this type of hull top.

 

Later when the integral fuel tank was replaced with a bolt in fuel tank the hull roof inspection plate did not change.

MA14z

Gun Shield for 50 cal machine gun

MA145  NEW

Rear cargo hatch with filter box sold separately.  Required for all Australian M113A1 family of vehicles (FOV).  The only external difference between an Australian M113A1 and other countries M113a1s was the cargo hatch filter box (before they started to add gunshields and turrets).  Internally the hull roof behind the driver was covered with foam padding that can be modelled by adding a layer of 20thou plastic sheet cut to size.

MA14x

Filter box for M113A1 fitters and ACV.  These vehicles did not have a cargo hatch as such and therefore the filter box was simply bolted over the mushroom ventilator.

MA14x

M113A1 Interior detail set. Battery box, ramp pulley, driver’s post and seat, laterals, collapsible footrest, rear mudguard inserts, two radio shelves

MA301

Bolt in fuel tank.  This can replace the Tamiya or Academy fuel cells.  The Academy fuel cell is way to long for Australian M113A1s (and most probably all US M113 FOV).  The welded in integral fuel tank was subject to cracking and was replaced by the bolt in variety commencing in 1968.

MA308

Indicator lights and tow shackles.  These represent the lights on both front and rear that were indicator lights mounted on a plate with reinforcing mesh guard to the front.  This commenced in Australia in 1975.  It was not used in Vietnam.  It is / was an Australian road authority requirement for the vehicles to have indicators / trafficators.

MA313

Integral fuel tank.  This is a more detailed integral fuel tank than that provided with the Tamiya models.  In Australian service in Vietnam (1965-1972) the integral fuel tank was prone to cracking and leaking diesel fuel so it was replaced with the bolt in fuel tank in Vietnam commencing in 1968.  See MA301 below

MA315

Modern M113A1 indicator lights 1998 onwards  The front indicator light mount was redesigned and the rear indicator light were replaced with standard truck indicator lights

DECALS

MAD608

Saladin fire support vehicles (FSV) – decals for all eight vehicles that served in Vietnam 1970-71??

MAD613

The Good, the Bad, the Ugly.  T50 turreted M113A1 APC  that served with B Sqn, 3 Cavalry Regt in Vietnam 1968-70

MAD616 Blood sweat and tears – T50 turreted M113A1 APCs that served with C Sqn, 3 Cavalry Regt 1971
Map01 Olive Drab lustreless 1966-2006
Map02 FS30219 Brown 1993-2006
Map03 FS37038 Black 1993-2006

Map05

OZCAM three pack (contains three colours above)

Accessories

AA354

Radio sets.  This contains an AN/VRC 46 (1 x RT524) and a AN/GRC125 (1 x PRC125).  All  M113A1s in Vietnam carried these as part of a troop and had two aerials. 

 

The Troop leader had AN/VRC 46 (2 x RT524) and an AN/GRC125 (1 x PRC125) with three aerials. 

 

Squadron HQ had 4 aerials and had an additional AN/GRC 106 radio set.

MA302

Australian pattern water jerrycans (pack of 10).  These have been in service with the Australian Army since early Vietnam 1966

MA303

metal vehicle holders.  Seen on the back of M113A1 FOV and on turrets.  These have been in use since at least 1967.  Not initially fitted to Australian / American M113FOV (jerrycans were held in by webbing straps initially) but were introduced during the Vietnam conflict.

MA304

Top opening plastic chests.  These replaced the metal “foot lockers” (MA311) and are seen inside carriers as storage.

MA305

Side opening plastic chests.  These appear to have been purpose built to replace wooden Jackie boxes.  They are bolted to the roof and held in by a structure of angle iron.  In use since 2000.

MA306

Modern Australian five man ration packs

MA307

Modern Australian one man ration packs

MA311

Military chests metal – foot lockers.  Seen inside and on top of M113A1 FOV as storage chests during Vietnam and including 1990s.

MA312

Jackie Boxes / Bin packs.  Used a storage of additional food and reading material seen from Vietnam until replaced by the plastic variety (MA305)

MA317

A complete equipment schedule for tanks and APC.  The stuff that you see on most vehicles within Australia.  Gas stove, gas bottle, ammo liners, half jerrycan, jaffle iron, 3 piece cook set, echelon bag etc.

Common Combinations

Vehicle to be modelled

Mouse Armour parts

Other kits required

Vietnam 1964-68

MA141

 

Vietnam T50

MA113

 

Vietnam Saladin FSV

MA136

 

Post Vietnam M113A1

MA137 + MA141 (depending on ARN)

 

See catalogue for items and costs.                       

 


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