I’m going to post progress on my first build here. Any comments, ideas, tips, tricks, jokes, suggestions, wisdom, prayers, thoughts, or what have you, are absolutely and totally welcome and appreciated
I chose Tamiya’s M113 - the basic one - for my first build. I figure it’s challenging enough to build some basic skills without being too daunting, or expensive for that matter
I received the model this week, and I have done a basic look-over of the kit, and read the instructions - my favorite part is the history. I have decided on a paint/decal scheme. I am going with a basic OD with white stars - somewhat early US version. I might attempt some VERY basic detailing/weathering, like a slight pre-shading and dry-brushing
My next move is to formulate a build plan, practice with my new airbrush, and give the parts an initial cleaning
It’s a pretty decent kit, one of the first Tamiya kits I built in high school. The nice thing about the kit is the full interior. Remember to paint the floor bare aluminum. The interior is normally sea foam green, a very light green similar to Sky Type “S”, but very early vehicles had a gloss white interior.
MM Pale Green is too dark. It has to be lightened with some white to looks right. I would go with the other suggestions as they are good colors for Sea Foam Green.
The engine color could vary depending on the version of the papa chuck. I don’t recall if the Tamiya M113 is a straight M113, which used the Chyrlser 75M V8 gasoline engine, or an M113A1 with the 6V-53 Detroit Diesel engine. Different engines could be different colors.
Here is an M113A2 transmission painted in a gloss sea foam green.
And here is an M113A2 engine (same basic engine as the A1) in a faded, flat light OD green color.
Wow! To say you guys are awesome would be highly understating it. The pics are a HUGE help - all of them! As soon as I get some paint to plastic and sticking things together, I’m gonna post pics for y’all to scrutinize. I got a big holiday break from work, so I plan on getting a lot done
I was in a mech inf unit for a few years, but we had Bradleys. I’ve only ridden in a 113 once, and I think I remember the interior being that same light green. We took two or three to Iraq with us, but I think they just sat in the motor pool the whole time.
Speaking of the interior paint, I got a couple q’s:
I know the interiors of these track vehicles are a gloss finish, but I don’t remember them being very shiny, even after we PMCS’d the heck out of them. So, I don’t want to do a flat finish in the interior, but I was thinking of going with a semi-gloss finish to give the appearance of a bit of age, and maybe would be more appropriate to scale - if that makes sense? Would I be correct in thinking this?
Would it be better to paint the hull interior before the exterior, or vice versa?
well you have 4 different veterans spread out from 1974 (me) through you and 3 different colors based on a number of factors. so how many folks at a local contest will even know which color is correct. hell i painted the engine block in my DANA red and it’s a czexh 8x8 SPA from late 80s early 90s. doubt i’ll have many czech artillerymen judging.
i saw the sky green and it is lighter and closer to the color. are you going to have some wear areas on the edge of the seats. even well maintained vehicles can get chupped up on the inside, especially edges. i don’t know how this builds. is the interior on the hull bottom with the entire upper hull sliding over it? if so i would paint and weather the interior (don’t forget inside top of hull) first. i have not build one of these so don’t know how it goes together.
I’ve built this kit a number of times and and you have your hull pan then the floor goes in then the engine bay which you glue to the floor and has a cutout so it can go over the sponson in the hull pan. Thats how I build up the interior on the M113’s I built and basically building it that way will allow the engine compartment to stay level and not lean so that once the glue cures and everything is dry I can pull it out to do the interior color and get the stenciling on. Now the central pillar that inserts from underneath the hull pan from the outside and on the kit it acts as a locking mechanism to lock in the roof in the event you want to remove the roof to show off the interior.
Exactly. My service covered three decades- 1983 to 2007, and Wayne and Rob, bookend me in years before and after. And the years I spent the most time with 113 series was 84-90. Although my last rides in 113s were in 99. I do recall on ones that I was responsable for that light blue engine, bare metal trannies, and the transfer case was the interior color. And we had spare parts that were all over the board in colors, some in the old Vietnam white and OD, and some in the newest CARC Green paint.
Yes I would recommend a semi gloss for the interior. And definitely paint the hull interior before you add in the roof. Much easier to do a thorough job that way. It is easy to build sub assemblies, paint them, then do final assembly.
Yes, I am sure of the engine color. I took the photos, but that engine was an old Detroit Diesel (not sure if the Tamiya kit is the same engine or a gasser).
One of the benefits of being a modeler and commanding a maintenance school; I got to take photos of a lot of equipment like M109s, engineer junk, etc. that armor officers have little contact with.
Great! I can finish the interior, then use the pillar to hold the roof in place and tape off any hatch openings to do the outside
Rob, I just did a little research and found out that the model I have is the A1 variety with the Chrysler 75M. The pics I pull up on the interwebs, including yours, do appear to be OD, while the tranny and the xfer case mostly come up that light interior green
You guys are seriously the bomb! I have a much better idea of a build plan now - which I hope to finish tonight. Now I’m kicking around whether I want to attach the side skirts or not. I’m thinking yes, because it’s more painting and assembly practice
Your statement is in error. You can’t have an A1 with the Chrysler 75M gasoline engine since the diesel engine is what makes the vehicle an M113A1. I did some checking on my own and the original Tamiya kit is a gasoline powered M113. The Academy kit is the one with the diesel engine and builds into an M113A1 or M113A2.
I believe the gasoline engine is probably why the most recent boxing of the Tamiya kit comes without the interior.
Wayne, this link is to the photos of my old M1064, an M113A2-based version of the 120mm mortar carrier. There might be some shots of the hatch and interior that you can use. http://gallery3.kitmaker.net/showgallery.php/cat/16919
