M114D (for Diesel)

[Frank3k]

The M114 was a good idea... but in action it was not good. El Salvador bought several in the 80s and did some 1:1 whifs to the point of making the vehicle unrecognizable.

I bought two m114 kits fr the price of 1 at a Sprue Bros sale. I'm not insane enough (yet) to do a Marenco conversion of the M114, but a more modest conversion would be to up-engine it, replacing the good but overworked Chevy V8 with a Diesel engine, from an M113. I think there's just enough room in the engine compartment to do the swap. If not, there's one engine size down that would fit and would give the M114 more power.

So far, I've started with the interior. I could have bought the M114 kit with the full interior instead of two kits, but I wanted to upgrade the crew section anyway. I used some Evergreen diamond tread for the floor. I probably should have used a modern tread pattern for the floor, but the Eduard modern US tread plate is a bitch to cut. The Evergreen isn't glued in, so i may try it:



I'm going to use some of the interior bits from the Tamiya M113 kit, plus some modern 3D printed bits (I have many, many 24" monitors and joysticks printed). I don't know how to make the exterior look like a Diesel, except maybe add a large muffler/scrubber.  Any suggestions?

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Off to a great start with the conversion to Diesel.  The next improvement might be to the drive sprockets to extend the things just a bit more forward of the hull to achieve better mobility when attempting to cross obstacles since that was one of the main complaints (faults) with the original M114 when operating cross country. 

[Old Wombat]

Nice start, Frank! An external "vismod" for a diesel conversion may be on the cards for the two M114's I have in the stash.

I have these:

The next improvement might be to the drive sprockets to extend the things just a bit more forward of the hull to achieve better mobility when attempting to cross obstacles since that was one of the main complaints (faults) with the original M114 when operating cross country. 

Thanks for that, Jeff! I'll try to remember that for my builds!

The M1919 & the M60 machine guns are both, definitely being replaced by L7 GPMG's.

[Kerick]

How hard would it be to put rubber band tracks on it?

[Frank3k]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll have to see how hard it'll be to move the drive sprocket forward. I was thinking of adding a pair of skids/raised pads in the front to keep it from turning into a ditch digger. The more powerful engine should help it extricate itself.

Kerrick, are you asking about replacing the link and length kit tracks with rubber tracks? The kit tracks look easy to assemble. They are surprisingly wide. I'll see if the old Tamiya rubber band tracks will fit. If you meant rubber shoes for the real tank's tracks, that should be easy (but tedious)

[Story]

So is this going to be a VFW Memorial pulled off it's pad and reinvigorated for the impending Zombie Apocalypse?

[Jeffry Fontaine]

How hard would it be to put rubber band tracks on it?

The tracks used on the M114 have more in common with the Weasel tracked utility vehicle from WW2/Korea or the M76 Otter that was used in Vietnam by the Marines.  There are only four lug nuts for each road wheel. 

I like the idea of replacing the entire track system with that from the M113 just to beef it up and have commonality with that family of vehicles.  Especially with swapping from a 283 cu. in. Chevrolet V-8 to Diesel power. 

The really scary thing about the M114 is that the fuel tank is located right in front of the driver.  A better location for the fuel tanks might be in external tanks on either side of the rear door (similar to what is used on later models of the M113 but cut down to fit the M114 hull height).  Placing the fuel at the rear might also improve operating in water with an air-filled void at the front instead of the fuel tank. 

[Frank3k]

So is this going to be a VFW Memorial pulled off it's pad and reinvigorated for the impending Zombie Apocalypse?

Or "You know, General Abrams told us to get rid of the M114... just not how" Upgrading it (foor possible export) would be one way of getting rid of it.

Jeff - just today I was testing drive options! I tried some Bradley wheels but they were too cramped. I'll look for the rest of my M113 wheels and sprocket to see if it'll work. I was going to put the fuel either next to the commander (like the early M113s0 or in external tanks at the rear like the latter versions. I don't think there's enough room for external tanks, though.

[Kerick]

Yeah, gotta get that fuel outside the vehicle or everyone will be riding on top like the M113s in Vietnam.
When I suggested rubber tracks I was thinking of the rubber tracks some countries have put on their M113s. Easier maintenance on the vehicle and easier on the roads.

[Story]

Or "You know, General Abrams told us to get rid of the M114... just not how" Upgrading it (foor possible export) would be one way of getting rid of it.
 

By 1979, it had been branded a failure and retired from the US Army, but some were released as surplus and continue to be used by police departments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M114_armored_fighting_vehicle

"Sometime during late 1969 or 1970, one of the mechanics sent in a suggestion for an improvement to the sprocket system. He received a very nice 'thank you' but no thanks. Good idea but the Army was planning on replacing the M-114 as soon as possible and would not be funding any further upgrades to the vehicle. In time, those vehicles started breaking down and it would take forever to get something fixed. I had the feeling that the Army had stopped buying spare parts for the M-114."

More end-of-lifespan maintenance nightmares here.
https://www.eaglehorse.org/home_station/hidden_stories/60s/m114/m114.htm

Rubber Band backgrounder
https://warfaretech.blogspot.com/2014/06/band-tracks.html
 
A company's worth reborn would require masochist mechanics.

One- or two-off, labor of love. 

Maybe a Police rebuild in urban digital, w/ M134 and a three man crew?

 

Additional giggles
https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/gwinnett-sheriff-keep-military-vehicle-despite-federal-recall/YHQQfXDSRdNUGPu2ozffyK/

https://www.imcdb.org/vehicles_make-Cadillac_model-M114.html

[Frank3k]

The M114 was a dog, but the general idea was good. The Salvadorean army seems to have gotten good use out of it, despite (or thanks to) the extreme modifications they made to the vehicle. Dropping in a new engine and track system seems like a minor change in comparison.

I tried the M113 road wheels and drive wheel on the M114 and surprisingly, they fit. The drive wheel is 2-3 scale inches away from the first road wheel, but it looks like the M114 kit's suspension is compressed, so it may be OK. Maybe this is the GMC answer to the FMC's Lynx.

[Old Wombat]

Hmmm!?

I have two M163 Vulcan Air Defence Systems that have no use beyond supplying their weapons to other projects!

Takes note!

[Story]

The 20mm M61 has a 6,000 rpm rate of fire.

Practically no powered rotary cannon is supplied with sufficient ammunition for a full minute of firing, due to its weight (at 6,000 rpm, the projectiles alone would represent a mass of about 600 kg (1,300 lb) for one minute of firing; and by including the brass shell, filling and primer the weight is slightly double that at 1,225 kg (2,701 lb)). In order to avoid using the 600 to 1000 rounds carried by aircraft all at once, a burst controller is generally used to limit the number of rounds fired at each trigger pull. Bursts of from two or three up to 40 or 50 can be selected.

So a bigger (rather than smaller) hull with room for more than a sneeze of ammunition would be a neat practical application.  LAV? HEMTT?

Or this dune buggy
https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/standard-manufacturing-co-excalibur.4814/

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/21002/excalibur-was-a-vulcan-gatling-gun-wielding-air-defense-vehicle-straight-out-of-g-i-joe

[Frank3k]

The M114 is tiny - I don't think you can fit the Vulcan in it - it was a very tight fit in the M113.

The M114 was considered an "armored jeep"... so now I have the thought of turning an Academy M151 MUTT (I'm not going to waste the excellent Tamiya one) into a true armored Jeep. Maybe with the spare M114 track if the M113 works out.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

The M114 is tiny - I don't think you can fit the Vulcan in it - it was a very tight fit in the M113.

The M114 was considered an "armored jeep"... so now I have the thought of turning an Academy M151 MUTT (I'm not going to waste the excellent Tamiya one) into a true armored Jeep. Maybe with the spare M114 track if the M113 works out.

M151 MUTT-FT would be an interesting variation on the original MUTT theme.  One of my favorites that never went into production is the 6X6 MUTT with extended wheel base to accommodate the additional rear axle. 

[Story]

The M114 is tiny - I don't think you can fit the Vulcan in it - it was a very tight fit in the M113.

The M134 notion I mentioned is the 7.62 NATO one, like what Jesse Ventura packed going after the Predator.

[Old Wombat]

Wasn't Jesse supposedly using the XM214 Microgun?

[Frank3k]

I discovered that the Italeri (not Academy) M113 wheels are considerably different from the Tamiya M113. So I have four Italeri road wheels and four Tamiya. I have to do plastic surgery to the Italeri drive wheels and hope that the crappy (because I damaged them) Tamita return roller will work. I'm also using the Takom track assembly jig to put the Italeri tracks together. I would use the Tamiya rubber tracks, but joining the two ends is probably harder than just building the link and length tracks.

@Story - I have a Legend 1/35 M134.... I'll use it. I was thinking of a Mk 19 grenade launcher, but the one I have is not in great shape.

[Story]

Wasn't Jesse supposedly using the XM214 Microgun?

214, 134, whatever it takes....

@Story - I have a Legend 1/35 M134.... I'll use it. I was thinking of a Mk 19 grenade launcher, but the one I have is not in great shape.

This should set the mood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbJtGBR19gk

Only for conceptional inspiration.  Note that the third crewman would spend most of his life reloading that ready box.
https://www.super-hobby.com/products/M134D-Minigun-MMC-System-Transparent-Shield-Turret-w-3-000rd-3-Bay-Ammunition-can.html

[LemonJello]

Following along and adding these kits to the wish list - seems like there's a lot of potential here for different versions - Anti-Tank and NBC come to mind.

[Frank3k]

NBC would be interesting, with e airlock-like round hatch at the rear - easier on o-rings to seal without sharp corners.

BTW, o-rings are going to be the downfall of civilization.

[Frank3k]

Adding the M113 wheels and tracks have taken a long, long time:





Everything is loose, so I can remove and paint. The Tamiya rubber tracks are held together with some thin wire threaded through the ends. I may have to redo one side, since it's only using one wire and it's a bit wonky.

[finsrin]

Nice project.   Like how its going.   

[Story]

If it's a three man crew, there'd really be no need for that circular troop door - maybe a flat plate rear with an accordion style folding exterior fuel tank?

No matter whether it's police or military, a bank of smoke/gas dischargers on the front glacis would make sense.

https://www.wegmannusa.com/76mm-grenade-launchers-overview

[Jeffry Fontaine]

Adding the M113 wheels and tracks have taken a long, long time:
 <snip>
Everything is loose, so I can remove and paint. The Tamiya rubber tracks are held together with some thin wire threaded through the ends. I may have to redo one side, since it's only using one wire and it's a bit wonky.

Good to see that the M113 road wheels are able to fit.  I was wondering if that was possible or that there would be a fit issue. 
The smoke grenade launchers from the late model M113A2/M113A3 would look good mounted on the M114 but space at the front is at a premium so maybe Story's suggestion to use the Wegmann devices might be the better option since those are all linear and could be mounted along the sides of the vehicle or on the roof at the rear and out of the way.   

[Frank3k]

Slowly making progress on this tiny kit. I used one of the Legend M134 Miniguns and it was a quick build. I used solder (instead of the included brass/copper wire) since it was easier to bend to shape:



I also used some copper rod to add an altitude axis (rather than just gluing it in place) and I shortened the mounting post, so it could mount on the existing (and better detailed) kit part. I added a copper rod in the post to allow it to turn in azimuth.

Here's the French Guy for scale:



There's also a stiff, fragile and brittle resin ammo belt that I'll have to heat and bend to shape and a large ammo can. I must have broken the ammo belt in three or four pieces while taking it off the resin block.

[Dr. YoKai]

 This is looking neat so far. I wish now I had gone to Camp Mabry in Austin before the move and taken some pictures. Pretty sure the vehicle park there has an M114.

 The Honduran conversion with the triple 20 mm mount looks interesting-but as mention in regard to the Vulcan, it's hard to imagine it carrying enough ammo to be very effective.

[Ramba]

Looking good. Nice addition with the M134. What is the main weapon going to be?

[Buzzbomb]

Ah yup... terrific as usual.

[finsrin]

Fine touches on minigun 

[Frank3k]

Thanks, guys. I just finished building a wireless GPS interface for one of my telescopes that lets me control it from an app and get an accurate time and position. My work bench was taken over with my soldering iron, wirewrap tool, oscilloscope and 3D printed parts. So no modelling.

@Craig - the Salvadorean M114 with the three 20 mm guns looks like it belongs in a bad war movie.
@ Ramba - the M114 interior space is tiny - probably similar or even less usable space than inside a HMMWV - just the ammo box for the M134 takes up about 1/5 of the floor area - it's too tall to fit on the sponson. So I think it's just going to be the M134 and an M2.

I'll add the seats for the driver, TC and M134 gunner plus other bits and pieces and I may make shields for the guns and add a remote operator station (if there's enough room!) since I printed so many M151 joysticks.

[Frank3k]

This little tank is taking a long time to build! Adding an interior adds complexity, in part because it's such a small vehicle.

Just an idea of what it will look like with the glacis and engine vents installed:



This is a very rough mockup of the interior, with the internal fuel tank, 0.50 cal ammo boxes (they're facing the wrong way), M134 ammo and the seats. I moved the driver seat back after I took this picture:



Note that there's little room left for the radio, driver's instrument panel and other equipment.

I thought I could free some room by either moving the fuel tank to the M134 side or making external fuel tanks:



I'm not sure which version to go with. Another issue is with the M134. If the ammo is kept inside, it has to be fed through an open hatch. Reloading (and aiming, if I leave it manually operated) is out of the question:



Just no room. I thought that putting the ammo box on the side might help:


or


Or I could just ditch the M134 and put a Mk19 or Mk47 grenade launcher in its place, with a shield. I can add a remote control station inside the vehicle to aim and shoot. This may make more sense in for a recon vehicle, since the 40mm grenades will fit in a 0.50 cal ammo can, freeing up some internal space.

I'm open to suggestions.

[Old Wombat]

What about a SAG turret to replace the commander's cupola?



Or there are a couple of funky RWS's available









Unfortunately, almost all of them are from LiveResin out of Russia & are, therefore, a little difficult to come by right now.

The last two are BlackDog (out of the Czech Republic) & Legend Productions (out of South Korea).

[Frank3k]

Thanks for the suggestions, Guy - I have one of the generic Live Resin SAG turrets. Some US retailers still have some LR items in stock, although that's probably going to be it for a very long time.

I think the LR Sag turret may be too big even for the commander's cupola (it may completely block the driver's hatch in all positions) but I'll test it out.

[Story]

 

Only for conceptional inspiration.  Note that the third crewman would spend most of his life reloading that ready box.
https://www.super-hobby.com/products/M134D-Minigun-MMC-System-Transparent-Shield-Turret-w-3-000rd-3-Bay-Ammunition-can.html

?

[Frank3k]

Thanks, Story. That's an option. I thought the hatch would have been big enough for a crew member and ammo belt for the Legend M134.. If I go with this (or any other minigun option) I'll have to enlarge that hatch, which may cause other issues.

The Live Resin SAG turret is way too big for the commander's cupola. It would block the driver's hatch in most positions.

I can see why the M114 was a failure in practice.

[Story]

I can see why the M114 was a failure in practice.

I brought a 1:1 scale 1968 Austin Healy Mk IV Sprite back from the dead.
When I was a penniless college student.
I have a deep appreciation for turning lemons into lemonade.
Which is why I put myself on the motorpool floor right alongside you for these noodling sessions.

[jcf]

I'm afraid the M113 to M114 engine swap is a non-starter.

M114, Chevy SB V8 283 cu. in.
Width: 26"
Length: 28"
Height: 27" (20" to top w/out carb and air filter)
Weight: 575 lbs

M113, Detroit 6V53T
Width: 37"
Length: 39"
Height: 41"
Weight: 1695 lbs

[jcf]

Popular American V8 Engine Dimensions:
http://www.carnut.com/specs/engdim.html

Engine Dimensions for the Engine Swapper (US):
https://www.teambuick.com/reference/engine_dimensions.php

Index to Diesel Engine Specs and Manuals:
https://barringtondieselclub.co.za/enginesindex.html

[Frank3k]

Thanks, Jon - I must have gotten the wrong dimensions for the Detroit 6V53T. Can you suggest a diesel engine roughly the size of the V8 (but with slightly more power)?

On the armament front, I put together the Trumpeter M151 RWS (it's not quite up to the level of the AFV Club kit, but it'll do). I have to hold back my desire to put grenade launchers on everything - so I'll probably put an M2 in the RWS and a pintle mounted Mk. 19 at the rear.

[jcf]

What time period are you considering? The farther back you go the harder it is
to find a diesel that fits within your requirements. Even the "small" ones of the
'60s to early '70s that fit the size envelope are pretty hefty and the horsepower
is a lot less than the 283 V-8. Which is one of those things where it isn't really
a matter of one to one equivalency for a variety of reasons, but they'd still not
fulfill the requirements. Modern Volvo-Penta marine diesels would fulfill all of your
needs but, they're all post 2000.

Have you considered a Boeing 502-10MA gas turbine first used on the S-Tank?
Dimensionally it could fit and the weight would be about half the 283. The 553
version used in the production S-Tank could also possibly be made to fit, but the
300 hp of the 502-10MA would give you enough horsepower.
 

Of course if you want something the size of the 283, there's always the marvelous
Oldsmobile/Cadillac diesel conversion of the Olds small-block V-8.
 

502-10MA manual including dimensioned drawings. The overall length of the engine
as installed, 41.5" w/out inlet bell, 45" with inlet bell; is easily within the envelope of
the 283 with Hydromatic transmission; 28" + 24"+/-. Plus yer laughin' with the 24"
diameter.

https://archive.org/details/B-001-001-962

[jcf]

Looking at this photo, I don't think there'd be an issue installing a 502-10MA.
The engine would install with intake to the rear, exhaust fwd.

[Frank3k]

Thanks again, Jon! The Boeing 502-10MA can run on diesel, so I guess it still fits! I'm thinking of a model upgraded in the early 70s, with the vehicle in service until the early 2000s.


I'm waiting on some Tamiya Seafoam Green so I can start painting the interior. Then I can add all the interior bits and seal it up. The way Takom designed the hull, you end up with a step or gap between all the plates. Clayton Ockerby added putty to make a weld seam in his build.

[Frank3k]

I finally got the sea foam green and was able to paint the interior. The M151 joystick is glued to a dual display I'd printed out for a previous project. The display background was painted with Molotow chrome before the decals were applied. It makes the display look like they're lit. The instrument/switch boxes on the wall are from a Trumpeter 1/35 CH-47 cockpit kit. The main instrument panel is scratchbuilt with dials and switches. Don't know where the ammo boxes came from. I added a 3D printed pedal from one of my aerosan helicopter projects and the smaller pedal for when the driver's seat is raised came from an ancient RPM Renault FT tank... although this vehicle is so tiny that I doubt the driver would need the higher pedal.

The internal fuel tank, seats and control sticks are from the Tamiya 1/35 M113 kit:



I still need to add placards and maybe some internal wiring, but not much is visible through the open hatches.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

The Italeri M163 Vulcan ADS kit included a quartet of 20mm ammunition containers that were supposed to be mounted on the roof of the vehicle in the left rear corner.  Those were a two-part assembly cut diagonally across all four containers from top corner on the high side to the bottom corner on the low side which was a bit unique.  The upgrades to the commander/gunner position are looking good. 

[Frank3k]

Thanks, Jeff - that must be where the ammo containers are from. I think I got them from you, Bill or as part of one of the boxes of random model bits that were thrown in as part of an small pile of kits that I bought. I have the Italeri kit but I've never looked at the sprues in detail.

The TC/gunner's seat post is scratch-built (I couldn't fine the Tamiya kit's post) and the seat can move up and down, plus fold.

Every time I put a figure in the vehicle, I'm amazed at how small it is. I think these guys would fit just fine:

[Jeffry Fontaine]

<snip> Every time I put a figure in the vehicle, I'm amazed at how small it is. I think these guys would fit just fine<snip>

It is tiny from what I recall of sitting in the driver's seat of an M114A2 on the wash rack in the motor pool located in Mainz, Germany long ago it made the the M151 MUTT and HMMWV appear to be quite spacious in comparison.   

[Frank3k]

I closed this one up. Last view of the "spacious" interior. The fire extinguishers are sprue sanded to shape and strips of styrene. They're barely visible from outside, so good enough:



I'm having trouble assigning a backstory. I want to add an M151 RWS, but that would put it post 2000 (2002+) So if it had been in operation for 3040 years, like the M113, it would have received some exterior protection. I cut some standoff armor plates (ceramic, whatever) and tacked them (and the weapons and external fuel tanks) with some poster putty:



Somehow, the M151 makes the vehicle's tiny size even more apparent.

Top view - new intake (from a German tank vision port) and exhaust (3D printed leftover):



I may add a smoke grenade launcher at the rear. Then I have to think of a paint job. Probably NATO 3 color or armor sand.

[finsrin]

Gets better with each new picture.  Like how looks used but not overly so.  Nifty fire extinguisher scratch build too.  Exterior armor adds a lot. 
Not built an AFV since 1970s.  This peaks my interest to do so....

[apophenia]

Gets better with each new picture....

It does, doesn't it! I too was very impressed by the scratch-built fire extinguishers. "They're barely visible from outside, so good enough." 

Thanks for a final opportunity to see the entire interior Frank. It really does emphasize that the M114s were effectively replacing jeeps!

[Old Wombat]

Can't argue with either of the above.

Great job on the interior

[Jeffry Fontaine]

@Frank - Looks great with the additional armor protection and the RWS certainly gives it a new lease on life along with the M113 wheels and sprockets.  One thing that I find odd with your external fuel tanks is the position with the slanted portion being on top and the longer bottom portion sticking out further to the rear.  Have you considered reversing the external fuel tanks to have the slanted portion on the bottom?  I would imagine in doing this it would give more clearance to the hull and tracks to help clear debris that would accumulate in that area on muddy or wet terrain. 

BTW, the commander's cupola on the M114A1/M114A2 is the same cupola albeit modified (heavily) that were put to further use on the LAV-25 TOW ATGM variant, M981 FISTV, and the M901 ITV (TOW ATGM) based on the M113. 

[Buzzbomb]

Very fine work, in both detail and quality.
It is very small isn't it ?

@Frank - Looks great with the additional armor protection and the RWS certainly gives it a new lease on life along with the M113 wheels and sprockets.  One thing that I find odd with your external fuel tanks is the position with the slanted portion being on top and the longer bottom portion sticking out further to the rear.  Have you considered reversing the external fuel tanks to have the slanted portion on the bottom?  I would imagine in doing this it would give more clearance to the hull and tracks to help clear debris that would accumulate in that area on muddy or wet terrain. 

Quite sound thinking on that Jeff, the lower slant position would also help climbing angle without fouling.

Frank, really like how this is going along.

[Frank3k]

Thanks, guys. I'm following Jeff's suggestion and flipping the rear tanks.

Not thrilled about the NATO 3 color scheme, but I'm not sure desert sand would be an improvement.

[Frank3k]

I'm going to declare this one finished - it's gone way beyond my "motivation budget" for this kit.

I went with a desert sand color, circa 2002-2003 with the implication that it was painted over NATO green. The Mk 19 grenade launcher is missing in these pictures. All the hatches are open because the TC had a particularly potent burrito for lunch. The usual Inspector and French Guy for scale:





I tried to add some paint weathering in addition to the dust/grime:





The Tamiya rubber tracks (cut to length) were a fail. The road wheels look wonky because they're not glued on:



Here it is with the Mk 19 - I didn't have an ammo box handy, so it'll be ammo-less for now. Assume they're inside the vehicle. The name "Beats Working" is named after a Scree class ship from  Iain M. Bank's "The Hydrogen Sonata"

Scree-class Contact Unit

The Scree-class was a type of Culture Limited Contact Unit active by c. 19th century CE.
Screes were very small; they were the least expensive type of Contact Unit to build. They were only 80 metres long; types of ancient Culture missiles were larger than them. Screes were nearly unarmed.
The class only had a crew of five. This was regarded as far too small to maintain a healthy psychological state in the Mind.

Appropriate name, I think.



Thanks for following along and all the comments!

[Ramba]

Great job! The RWS looks cool and really makes a difference.

[Jeffry Fontaine]

As usual Frank you have hit this one out of the motor park once again.  The external fuel tanks at the rear really make this stand out and the addition of the RWS at the commander's cupola would certainly rectify some of the complaints that were common with the Hispano 20mm cannon that it was previously armed with.  The addition of the add-on armor plating to the hull sides puts this vehicle easily into a Twilight 2000 setting. 

The one detail you missed is to not remove the fuel filler cap feature from next to the driver's hatch opening.  But that does not take away from the awesome work you put into this model.   

[finsrin]

Added armor, rear fuel tanks, and tasteful weathering (stains around fuel fillers are nice touch) is realistic.   
Lucky to catch photo op at time of burrito fume air out.

[Frank3k]

Thanks, guys. I enjoyed putting the Trumpeter RWS together - not as nice as the AFV Club version (and not as many useful spares) but nice enough. The lenses are different color and match the real world lens reflections, well - although they're not visible in the pictures. I used a strip of flexible resin ammo belt that claimed to be .50 cal, but looks more like 7.62mm. There's a tracer round every 5 rounds, but of course, only one of the three on the strip is visible.

Jeff, I left the existing fuel tank caps in place (there's another one on the glacis) since I would expect it to be a bit of a gas guzzler. I even added a section of fuel line in the interior (made from sprue) to the upper front left of the driver's position, directly under the filler cap.

I noticed that some of the pencil marks on the armor plates are visible under the paint/grime... I was about to repaint the areas, but they look pretty good.

[Old Wombat]

Afghanistan, here I come!


Looks awesome, Frank!

And the upgrades are very plausible.

[GTX_Admin]

 

[LemonJello]

Now I have to add a couple of these to the inventory - this is just an exceptionally well done modification.

Great job!

[Story]

"Beats Working" looks like something the 48th Infantry BDE (GA National Guard) would have dragged along, had they actually made it to the Sand Box.

For reference, enjoy https://www.ajc.com/news/local-govt--politics/gwinnett-sheriff-keep-military-vehicle-despite-federal-recall/YHQQfXDSRdNUGPu2ozffyK/

[Gingie]

Works for me! But I'm biased towards the more plausible whifs, and this is 100% one of those.

[Dr. YoKai]

 With it finished and the weapons station in place, the diminutive size of the vehicle is quite evident. Nice finish, Frank. Now I want to go back and re-read Banks-the Minds are some of the neatest characters...

[Frank3k]

Thanks for all the comments! I slapped together an ammo box for the Mk.19:



Here it is in a family portrait with the wheeled M113 and HMMWV guntruck:



I was going to add a couple of figures from the Dragon/DML US Tank Crew, but they're US Army from the first Gulf War. I tried to hide the fact with a Trumpeter USMC camo decal for the uniforms, but it fell apart.

[apophenia]

Dang that looks good!

Too bad about the uniform camo decals but the three vehicles together do give a really good sense of scale 

[Ramba]

Nice collection. Really liking that HMMWV guntruck.

Sorry about the Trumpeter decals falling apart. I use Microscale liquid decal film over the camo decals especially on the Cross Delta, FFSMC and other camo decals. The only one I haven't used the liquid decal film on was the Trumpeter decals. Out of all the different camo decals I have used, Trumpeter were the best ones so far, for me. Try the liquid decal film on yours and see if that would help.

[LemonJello]

That's a nice little light armor recon team you've got there.

[Frank3k]

I'll try Future on the decals - it's a good substitute for decal film.


It's funny that the HMMWV probably has the most firepower of the bunch - 4x .50 cal, plus the Mk.19 grenade launcher.