Author Topic: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)  (Read 11806 times)

Offline Twiddle

  • No, it's pronounced Frankensteen
Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« on: September 15, 2018, 11:41:49 PM »
Tamiya Centurion / Academy ACAV kitbash

Centurion hull widened



Centurion hull front



Hull rear

Kit instructions are not acceptable - let the imagination howl forth !

Offline LemonJello

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Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2018, 02:28:43 AM »
Looks like it's off to a good start.  Let's see what develops.

Offline Frank3k

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Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2018, 06:58:33 AM »
Looks like a good start. I want to do something similar with an old Tamiya T-62

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2018, 05:39:25 PM »
 :smiley:
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Twiddle

  • No, it's pronounced Frankensteen
Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2018, 10:55:12 PM »
A thought on the interior layout



Above is not to scale

10 pax + Driver + Gunner + Commander.

Enough interior storage for the gear and equipment for the 10 troops

Not that I am doing the interior but however I still need to apply a bit of realism ?
Kit instructions are not acceptable - let the imagination howl forth !

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
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Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2018, 06:29:35 PM »
Pax 6 looks to be in a position which would interfere with the ingress/egress of the commander, gunner & Pax 1, at least, to me. So maybe a 9 troop carry? ???
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Steve Blazo

  • The man likes white plastic...weird.
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Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2018, 08:47:38 PM »
Very nice. Definitely watching with interest.   :))
As I walk through the valley of death,
I have no fear, because I am the meanest mother*ucker in the whole valley.
- Gen. George S. Patton

Offline Story

  • Nicht mein Zirkus, nicht meine Affen...
Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #7 on: September 19, 2018, 11:21:52 AM »
Depending on the neverwhen for which you're planning this build*, consider the LVTP-7 turret with either the .50 M85 or the dual .50 M2/40mm Mk 19.

http://www.armorama.co.uk/modules.php?op=modload&name=SquawkBox&file=index&req=viewtopic&topic_id=198135

This should give you an idea for planning considerations on what the heavier turrets require.


* Oh, duh - Finnish World of Tanks clan. 
« Last Edit: September 19, 2018, 11:25:30 AM by Story »

Offline Twiddle

  • No, it's pronounced Frankensteen
Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2018, 04:16:53 AM »
Some progress tonight - at least it's night time in my part of the world :) !

Hull sides initial work done. PSR to follow tomorrow

Right hand side



Above rectangle indicates where the exhaust (Leo 1 tank in stash) will be mounted

Left hand side



I recycled the M113 side panels and pieces of the M113 flooring for above - styrene was more or less perfect thickness

It might be argued that the height will make the hull an easy target (again realism creeps in ....)

However that will be addressed tomorrow ....

Thanks for making BtS so great  :smiley:
« Last Edit: September 21, 2018, 04:23:48 AM by Twiddle »
Kit instructions are not acceptable - let the imagination howl forth !

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #9 on: September 21, 2018, 07:17:27 AM »
That's some yeoman's work your doing there!

Watching with interest,
Brian da Basher

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #10 on: September 21, 2018, 09:09:31 AM »
It might be argued that the height will make the hull an easy target (again realism creeps in ....)

APC's are tall, it comes with the role & the fact that most people aren't 4' (120cm) tall (4' short?).

Even most of the big modern APC's are pretty cosy & limited in head-space, as much of the size increase is comprised of better armour & improved-survivability design features (including better ground clearance). Whilst passenger comfort is important for combat effectiveness of the troops, that can be kept quite low, when they're sitting, but effects the width of the vehicle, often making them wider for greater leg room. However, the egress & entry of the troops requires a minimum height, so they can get in & out sufficiently quickly so as not to expose the APC to excessively long times as a stationary target.

I'm sure military vehicle designers have come up with an optimal compromise but at 6' 21/2" (190cm) I'm fairly sure I'd still feel a bit crowded by the roof.
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline tankmodeler

  • Wisely picking parts of the real universe 2 ignore
Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #11 on: September 21, 2018, 10:41:55 PM »
Looking very interesting so far.

Something to consider is that with the engine in the front, the drive sprockets need to be in the front as well. The power pack is a combined engine transmission and you don't want a drive shaft running though the crew compartment if you don't have to.

A total of 13 passengers is quite large for an APC so your idea that the side height might be a bit tall are not out of line. "in real life" (tm) with the extra width of the hull, the plan might be to sit the passengers a bit lower and drop the side wall height. Just a thought.

Also note that by running the armoured walls upwards from the hull sides and not extending them outward from the edge of the fender line, as the M113 and most APCs do, you are forgoing a lot of interior volume that the crew might really need. Now, a good use of the exterior wall space might be for both external stowage boxes, providing shaped charge stand-off distance, and as external armoured fuel tanks which also provide HEAT stand-off and get the fuel out of the passenger compartment maximising passenger numbers.

Just some thoughts.

Looking forward to this.

Paul

Offline finsrin

  • The Dr Frankenstein of the modelling world...when not hiding from SBA
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Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #12 on: September 22, 2018, 10:47:54 AM »
Lot of widening plastic surgery.  Nice,,, keep posting.

Offline Gingie

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Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #13 on: September 24, 2018, 12:31:58 AM »
Kit bashing 113 and Centurion...gobs of white p-card...what's not to love!! :-*


Offline Twiddle

  • No, it's pronounced Frankensteen
Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #14 on: September 24, 2018, 02:21:26 PM »
Prep work for the side sponsons (correct word?) more or less sorted

Left



Right



Below is what I want to achieve with the sides . Not drawn to scale



Tinkering with the idea to add some vision blocks for the interior seated infantry ....
« Last Edit: September 24, 2018, 02:23:12 PM by Twiddle »
Kit instructions are not acceptable - let the imagination howl forth !

Offline Twiddle

  • No, it's pronounced Frankensteen
Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #15 on: September 24, 2018, 08:05:10 PM »
Some progress today.

Initially thought of chucking it in the bin (taking way longer than I planned  :o :( ) however I will continue  :))

Started with the sponson supports

Right hand side





The gap will be used for the power plant

Left hand side



Topside view

Kit instructions are not acceptable - let the imagination howl forth !

Offline perttime

  • The man has produced a Finnish Napier Heston Fighter...need we say more?
Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #16 on: September 24, 2018, 09:27:37 PM »
Hmmmm. I have a suspicion about nationality....

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #17 on: September 25, 2018, 06:40:36 AM »
I'm glad you're going to see this build through!

Work of this caliber should indeed be taken to its conclusion.

Three cheers!
 :icon_beer: :icon_beer: :icon_beer:
Brian da Basher

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #18 on: September 25, 2018, 03:13:20 PM »
Hmmmm. I have a suspicion about nationality....

Does it involve a blue six-pointed star on a white background? ???
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline perttime

  • The man has produced a Finnish Napier Heston Fighter...need we say more?
Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #19 on: September 25, 2018, 08:38:48 PM »
I wasn't thinking of a six-pointed star - although that would be logical from the technical point of view.

Offline Twiddle

  • No, it's pronounced Frankensteen
Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #20 on: September 30, 2018, 10:57:31 PM »
Some progress on the LH sponson





Kit instructions are not acceptable - let the imagination howl forth !

Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #21 on: October 01, 2018, 01:17:30 AM »
That's some fine looking work, Twiddle!

You have some serious modeling chops!

It never ceases to amaze me how much you can do with just a bit of card.

Brian da Basher

Offline finsrin

  • The Dr Frankenstein of the modelling world...when not hiding from SBA
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Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #22 on: October 01, 2018, 05:39:34 AM »
Ambitious build you are following thru with.  Is lesson in plastic surgery we can all learn from.
Liking the pictures.

Offline Twiddle

  • No, it's pronounced Frankensteen
Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #23 on: October 21, 2018, 10:51:54 PM »
Haven't  had too much time for whiffing

small amount of progress

Left sponson more or less done



I am toying with the idea of making this a wheeled APC .

Photo shows a 1/35 DEF Model HEMTT wheel for comparison. Too small or plausible in real life?

Might have to source 1/16 scale military tyres should the 1/35 wheels look too small ...

Front view



right hand side sponson



Gap will be used for engine exhaust

Thanks for making BtS so great :)
Kit instructions are not acceptable - let the imagination howl forth !

Offline Frank3k

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Re: Norsu Heavy APC (M113 / Centurion kitbash)
« Reply #24 on: October 22, 2018, 01:20:52 AM »
I think the HEMTT  wheels look good - compare them to the Centauro or a LAV.
 
The hardest part will be scratchbuilding the suspension, unless you have a set handy.