Author Topic: M50 Ontos Ideas and Inspiration (Read 17621 times)

GTX_Admin · « **on:** January 07, 2012, 09:42:23 AM »

Hi folks,

One vehicle that I have always liked the look of has been the M50 Ontos.

I just don't know what to do with it though, so what are your suggestions?

Regards,

Greg

finsrin · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2012, 09:46:56 AM »

Is one of those that OOB looks bashed. Can put gun in hull like Swedish S tank and machine type turret on top.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2012, 09:52:09 AM »

I suppose one could turn it into a AA platform and replace the recoilless rifles with SAMs?

Regards,

Greg

Weaver · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2012, 09:58:29 AM »

How about replacing the RRs with Hueycobra-style Quad TOWs, with armoured shields around them?

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2012, 10:00:34 AM »

Interesting...

Dr. YoKai · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2012, 10:00:43 AM »

Flak would work. but I don't think there's room in the hull for a gun-it was a pretty small vehicle. There was a proposed successor
called the Ontos 1960 that replaced the hextet of RCL with a pair ( same caliber ) equiped with revolver type magazines.

A TOW version would be possibility, ( Even more so with a crane type launcher arm ) as would a version with ( Mwahahaha )
a pair of Davy Crocketts...

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2012, 10:03:59 AM »

Quote from: Dr. YoKai on January 07, 2012, 10:00:43 AM

a version with ( Mwahahaha )
a pair of Davy Crocketts...

Now you're just being silly...what good would only a pair do???

Regards,

Greg

finsrin · « **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2012, 10:06:27 AM »

Replace with six Bushwacker 25mm and 50cal on top.

Weaver · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2012, 10:06:53 AM »

I love the Davy Crockett idea - it's the perfect answer to the "lack of reloads" problem!

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2012, 10:41:11 AM »

Quote from: Dr. YoKai on January 07, 2012, 10:00:43 AM

A TOW version would be possibility, ( Even more so with a crane type launcher arm ) as would a version with ( Mwahahaha )a pair of Davy Crocketts...

TOW armed Ontos sounds plausible.

A brace of Davey Crocketts sounds even better.


Neighborhood Nuclear Superiority!

I wonder if that resin 1/35th scale Davey Crockett from Sharkit is still available?

sotoolslinger · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2012, 11:52:52 AM »

I have this in progress back in Texas

Both a hull gun and magazine fed recoiless rifles

Weaver · « **Reply #11 on:** January 08, 2012, 01:19:34 AM »

You know, I did wonder who would go for the "ridiculously over-armed" option.... but only for about 10 seconds.....

Alvis 3.1 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 08, 2012, 01:39:57 AM »

Nothing says "NASCAR" Racing tank to me more than the M50. I can also see them as the NASCAR originator, a Moonshine smuggling vee-hickle!

Alvis 3.1

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #13 on:** January 08, 2012, 03:13:21 AM »

Quote from: Alvis 3.1 on January 08, 2012, 01:39:57 AM

Nothing says "NASCAR" Racing tank to me more than the M50. I can also see them as the NASCAR originator, a Moonshine smuggling vee-hickle!

Painted up in markings for Richard Petty and Junior Johnson?

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #14 on:** January 08, 2012, 03:16:02 AM »

Maybe a diorama with a pair of them in a "Wild West" type standoff ...gunslingers at the ready...

Dr. YoKai · « **Reply #15 on:** January 08, 2012, 07:46:09 AM »

Quote from: GTX_Admin on January 07, 2012, 10:03:59 AM

Quote from: Dr. YoKai on January 07, 2012, 10:00:43 AM
a version with ( Mwahahaha )
a pair of Davy Crocketts...

Now you're just being silly...what good would only a pair do???

Regards,

Greg

Hey, all I've got is a pair, and I do just fine....

There is host of good ideas here-If Alvis doesn't mind my kibbitzing his racing tank idea, I think lengthening the suspension
forward by an extra pair of roadwheels would make a great Drag Tank...of course, then you'd have to give it skirts...

Alvis 3.1 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 11, 2012, 06:00:10 AM »

Kibbitz, no, but you can steal it outright! Considering how many ideas I've poached from serious modellers out there, I'd be more than glad to have one of mine taken. Besides, mine is having something else happen to it anyhow. :)

Alvis 3.1

apophenia · « **Reply #17 on:** January 11, 2012, 07:02:50 AM »

Going underarmed, a light recce vehicle à la the Wiesel 1 MK20?

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #18 on:** January 11, 2012, 05:00:19 PM »

Quote from: apophenia on January 11, 2012, 07:02:50 AM

Going underarmed, a light recce vehicle à la the Wiesel 1 MK20?

Makes perfect sense.

Maverick · « **Reply #19 on:** January 11, 2012, 09:00:02 PM »

You could go one step further and do a Recce Stuart on it. Fit a ring with a couple of M2s or M1919s. or even a solid roof and a T50 turret or something similar.

Regards,

John

LemonJello · « **Reply #20 on:** January 11, 2012, 09:41:53 PM »

I'd arm it with 4 GAU-8s (and add a big trailer for all the ammo they'll eat).

jcf · « **Reply #21 on:** January 12, 2012, 04:09:31 AM »

The Ontos was designed as a family of infantry vehicles, the first two built were the T55 and and longer-hulled
T56 personnel carriers (6 and 10 troops respectively). The production M50 six-rifle anti-tank version was based
on the T55 hulled T165E2 developmental vehicle, all SP developments were T55 based. The T166 mounted one
rifle on a hydraulically operated version of the ground mount, four-rifle T164 and eight-rifle T167 variants were
proposed but never built.

Titanium hulled single and twin-turret assault vehicles were also planned, along with heavier anti-tank vehicles
using Ontos family components. Project AT-2 used the hull of the 90mm T101 aka M56 Scorpion/SPAT.

from Hunnicutt - Sheridan.

ChernayaAkula · « **Reply #22 on:** January 12, 2012, 04:40:52 AM »

Quote from: Weaver on January 07, 2012, 09:58:29 AM

How about replacing the RRs with Hueycobra-style Quad TOWs, with armoured shields around them?

Why stop at TOWs!

Go wild! LAU-10 (5in Zuni rockets) pods, LAU-3 (2.75in FFAR rockets) pods, Minigun, Vulcan, 40mm grenade launcher,.....
Six LAU-10 pods in place of the recoilless rifles - that's 24 rockets in ready-to-launch position.

Don't know whether that would work in terms of weight, but would look seriously awesome.

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #23 on:** January 12, 2012, 05:51:43 AM »

For something as small as the M50 Ontos why not mate two hulls in tandem?
Something similar to the Hägglunds BV-206 in appearance.

(image source: one35th.com/Tankograd)

Links:
one35th.com ATTC - All Terrain Tracked Carrier
BAE Systems - Bv206S Armoured All Terrain Vehicle
Wikipedia - Hägglunds BV-206

apophenia · « **Reply #24 on:** January 12, 2012, 05:54:36 AM »

Love the 'Assault Ontos' although it might need Jeffry's Bv-206 trailer

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #25 on:** March 04, 2012, 02:57:49 AM »

Quote from: Weaver on January 07, 2012, 09:58:29 AM

How about replacing the RRs with Hueycobra-style Quad TOWs, with armoured shields around them?

What about simply replacing the RRs with TOW tones on a one for one basis rather then the quad packs?

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #26 on:** March 04, 2012, 03:22:42 AM »

Quote from: GTX_Admin on March 04, 2012, 02:57:49 AM

Quote from: Weaver on January 07, 2012, 09:58:29 AM
How about replacing the RRs with Hueycobra-style Quad TOWs, with armoured shields around them?

What about simply replacing the RRs with TOW tones on a one for one basis rather then the quad packs?

For such a small vehicle it might be practical to consider a single launcher system such as that used on the early M274 Mule, M113, M151 MUTT, and eventually the HMMWV. At least there would be enough space for several missile containers plus the crew and fire control electronics.

That concept could be easily modeled considering the plethora of HMMWV and M151 MUTT kits that came with the TOW parts for the missile armed versions.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #27 on:** March 04, 2012, 03:31:03 AM »

That is a possible (and quite possibly more practical) but it kind of looses that special look the Ontos has.

I would think that you would have the same guidance unit in the centre and just the launch tubes on the sides.

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #28 on:** March 04, 2012, 04:25:08 AM »

Quote from: GTX_Admin on March 04, 2012, 03:31:03 AM

That is a possible (and quite possibly more practical) but it kind of looses that special look the Ontos has.

I would think that you would have the same guidance unit in the centre and just the launch tubes on the sides.

Depends on the level of fiction you want to apply to the project. My interpretation is a bit conservative due to having some idea of just how small the vehicle is and how much can be placed inside of it. The one advantage to the single launcher mounted on top in the mount that comes with several of the HMMWV kits is that you now have a lot of open space along the side of the vehicle that had been previously cluttered up with the recoilless rifles so storage/stowage along the sides of the vehicle would certainly provide room for a lot of items and still leave you with room inside for six or seven missile canisters plus the crew. When you consider what the BundesWehr did with that little Waffenträger Weasel and adapting the TOW system to it the Ontos would be an even better candidate. Now you have me thinking about acquiring a couple of M50 Ontos kits just to see if the TOW system will fit without too much effort.

***Edit to remove dead html -- jjf

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #29 on:** March 04, 2012, 05:19:01 AM »

Quote from: Jeffry Fontaine on March 04, 2012, 04:25:08 AM

Squadron Mail Order has the Academy M50 Ontos on sale at the moment for almost half-price

They are often even cheaper than that on eBay...

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #30 on:** March 19, 2012, 07:21:33 AM »

Quote from: GTX_Admin on March 04, 2012, 05:19:01 AM

Quote from: Jeffry Fontaine on March 04, 2012, 04:25:08 AM

Squadron Mail Order has the Academy M50 Ontos on sale at the moment for almost half-price

They are often even cheaper than that on eBay...

I don't do eBay so it is Skyway Models, Squadron, or Sprue Brothers as the source. That being said, now that Squadron has delivered the pair of Academy M50 Ontos kits it is time to get the parts from the HMMWV TOW vehicle and see if they just drop right in or if some cutting needs to be performed to make it fit. Bummer that the Academy Ontos kit does not have an interior but that is a minor bump in the road of progress. It is certainly much nicer than the old Renwal Ontos and definitely much cheaper than the resin interpretations from Nimex or HobbyFan.

******Update******

I did a quick assessment of to see if the HMMWV TOW launcher and mount would fit on the Ontos. It fits without any issue. I used the parts from the Italeri HMMWV TOW kit and to my surprise the hole in the Ontos hull is the same diameter as the cupola for the HMMWV TOW mount. The HMMWV Tow cupola rotates without any issues. I used some white glue to hold the parts together and managed to get a couple of images before it all came apart.

******Edit to remove dead image links to FaceBook since I no longer have an active account. -- jjf

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #31 on:** March 19, 2012, 03:59:27 PM »

Woohoo!!! This is promising.

Jeffry Fontaine · « **Reply #32 on:** March 20, 2012, 02:52:34 AM »

Quote from: GTX_Admin on March 19, 2012, 03:59:27 PM

Woohoo!!! This is promising.

You betcha! The entire cupola can rotate without interference. While the parts from the Italeri HMMWV TOW vehicle are not the most detailed it was the easiest to get at so I can only hope that the other model companies interpretations of the HMMWV TOW vehicle are similar in dimensions but with the additional benefit of more details.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #33 on:** April 22, 2012, 05:23:58 AM »

Well, here's a different use...as shipboard artillery:

Click on picture for larger view.

Rickshaw · « **Reply #34 on:** April 28, 2012, 12:26:46 PM »

I don't think I'd like to be on the starboard side when all 18 tubes let loose!

Weaver · « **Reply #35 on:** March 05, 2013, 08:44:45 PM »

Matador models do a 1/76th Ontos if anyone fancies a braille-scale version. Pricey, but then it is resin and white metal:

http://www.matadormodels.co.uk/76a/lists.htm

1/72nd scale resin one:

http://www.okbgrigorov.com/R_AFV_1_72/M50A1/box%20M50A1%20Ontos.jpg

A company called Atlantic did an injection one in 1/72nd, but it's been out of production for ages although there do seem to be a few on ebay. Given that Atlantic's main production was toy soldiers in bendy plastic though, I'm not sure whether the Ontos is bendy or hard plastic.

Weaver · « **Reply #36 on:** March 05, 2013, 09:00:12 PM »

Quote from: ChernayaAkula on January 12, 2012, 04:40:52 AM

Quote from: Weaver on January 07, 2012, 09:58:29 AM
How about replacing the RRs with Hueycobra-style Quad TOWs, with armoured shields around them?

Why stop at TOWs! Go wild! LAU-10 (5in Zuni rockets) pods, LAU-3 (2.75in FFAR rockets) pods, Minigun, Vulcan, 40mm grenade launcher,.....
Six LAU-10 pods in place of the recoilless rifles - that's 24 rockets in ready-to-launch position. Don't know whether that would work in terms of weight, but would look seriously awesome.

Regarding rockets, I did a bit of research. Weight-wise, you could probably get 4 x LAU-10 pods on one, but 6 might be pushing it. If you wanted to retain the Ontos look, 6 x 7-round FFAR pods would go a treat though, and would have a lower profile and four more rounds than 2 x 19-round pods.


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Author Topic: M50 Ontos Ideas and Inspiration (Read 17621 times)