This is my new project, an Academy 1/35 scale USMC M50A1 ONTOS #13218. My close friend was a Marine Captain in charge of six ONTOS during the Vietnam War. He is now 81-years old and I plan to surprise him with this model. I have the model on my work bench waiting for a Voyager #PE35370 detail set and Verlinden #2623 interior set. Please see the ONTOS video below.
I read several reviews that indicate the Academy model is not the best engineered, but the Voyager upgrade can really make it look good. I’m excited to get started on this project as soon as I finish the Asuka M4A3 Sherman I’m working on now.
Nice. I did one a while ago for a customer w/the Voyager PE/barrel set. It came out really nicely. The Verlinden interior is nice as well. Looking forward to seeing this one.
Lookin’ forward to see this one built! Our friend redleg12 (Mike Del Vecchio) built one many years ago and at that time he wrote that there might be some problems with the geometry of the suspension in the academy model - you might want to check it out, I think it’s fixable at an early stage.
Anyhow - I’ll be watching, so good luck with your build and have a nice day!
With help from Snapdragonxxx (James) I have determined what color to paint this model. The correct USMC green for tactical vehicles is FS34052. Some modelers have indicated that FS24052 is the correct color, but I believe that is an error. I read the instructions for FED-STD-595C and they indicate the first number in the FS numbering system is the sheen. 2 = semi-gloss and 3 = matte finish, so one would presume the 24052 and 34052 are the same color with different sheens.
However, the two colors look completely different online and the FS instructions warn against using a computer to determine the actual color, just like we talked about in this forum. For my M50A1 ONTOS I intend to use Vallejo Model Air paint and Vallejo indicates that 71.013 Yellow Olive shown below is FS34052 and Marine Corps specifications indicate that FS34052 is USMC green used on tactical vehicles.
The spoon sample picture below was taken this morning outside in the sun and best represents what I see with my eyes. The sample was painted with Vallejo 74.601 Grey Surface Primer, allowed to dry 24 hours. Then painted with one coat of Vallejo 71.013 Yellow Olive mixed in my air brush, 10 drops of paint to 1 drop of Vallejo 71.161 Airbrush Thinner.
I invested in a photo-etch bending tool from The Small Shop for this project, please see links below. The only thing missing is the Voyager upgrade kit of photo-etched parts. They were ordered through eBay back on February 5th and have not arrived yet. However, the Voyager kit is coming from Australia, so I will wait until the end of the month.
You’re welcome. I’m glad that you find them useful.
I want to say it was satin or semi gloss. I know it’s completely different, but the M113 family vehicles that I crewed or rode in had the interior in that satin/semi gloss finish.
Each gun has the mount to add the .50 cal ranging gun above it. Usually the top 4 had the guns mounted.
The suspension is squashed together and down at the front. It is not an easy fix. I left it alone on mine. You can read what Steven Zaloga had to say about it, along with a pic. He left it alone as well.
Gino, when Pawel mention the suspension issue I studied several ONTOS photographs and also found pictures of the Renwal 1/32 Ontos model. It became clear the front of the Academy model is lower then actual photographs and for that matter different than the 1950’s Renwal model.
I’m not sure the Academy tracks will allow much expansion, but now that I know what to look for I will try and find a modification method before I start assembly.
