Hi everybody Im pretty new to the group so I thought I should do a formal introduction. I am a 22 yr old college student majoring in History and education, my dad brought me up on models since I was 5 and well here I am. Ive dabbled in about almost everything but Ive been into armor for a while now. Any ways I did have a question, currently I am working on a M113A2 I am trying to convert it to an A3 by using the external fuel cells from the academy kit and CIP panels from the tamiya extras kit. I want to represent a M113 in Iraq but there is one problem I dont have any decals that would represent any of the units in Iraq does anyone make a decal sheet that would help.
There are a couple out for the Abrams but not much else so far. Maybe someone in the forum has the new Tamiya kit. Think it had a couple of options and they might be willing to part with an alternate.
Good luck and welcome to the forum.
Modern US decals are pretty easy to replicate. We tend to use a variety of stencils for the bumper markings. There are numerous dry transfers at a model railroad shop or arts store that are suitable for 1/35 scale. Take a look at the photo you want to replicate and dry rub your own markings right onto the vehicle or put them on clear decal film and apply them like regular decals.
Also if you have access to a regular black laser printer and have clear decal film, you can make the markings using something like PowerPoint or even MS Word and just print them onto the clear decal film.
Either method should not be a bridge too far for even a novice.
If the above options don’t work for you, another option is to call Tamiya and purchase the decal sheet from their new M113A3 kit. They sell decal sheets for about $5 each. Check here for contact info: http://www.tamiyausa.com/contact.html