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French AML90 by Takom
TonyE78
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Hordaland, Norway
Joined: October 28, 2012
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Posted: Tuesday, July 25, 2017 - 04:09 PM UTC

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As Olivier C. said the light camouflage is actually mud painted on the vehicle as a sort of short therm camo scheme during manouvers. A different picture showing this vehicle and another AML90 says that they belong to a training squadron from the 12e DLB (12e Division Légère Blindée, so 12th Light Armoured Division, a training formation in peacetime), quite correctly in Champagne. This division had one regiment with 36 AML90s, the 3e Regiment de Chasseurs (active from 1981 to 1997).


Impressive knowledge about this peculiar unit Tony
At that time, the French army had two light armored divisions composed of regular units which were supporting the branch schools, the 12th vicinity of Saumur (home of tank school) and the 14th vicinity of Montpellier (home of infantry school). The chore of the units was constituted by draftees and to reach the war establishment size, the students (officers and NCOs in training sessions) were used as augmentees.

Olivier


I blame the late Yves Debays photo caption and the "Armee Francaise 1989" website for the knowledge.
Here is the other AML-90 photo from the same occasion btw, this is taken from the book "Véhicules de combat francais d'aujourd'hui" by Debay (1998)

bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
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Posted: Tuesday, July 25, 2017 - 05:23 PM UTC
Thank you for the reference of the book. I guess it should still be available.

Olivier
vab75007
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Paris, France
Joined: January 13, 2014
KitMaker: 93 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, July 26, 2017 - 10:03 PM UTC
turret bin removed
vettejack
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Florida, United States
Joined: November 23, 2012
KitMaker: 1,277 posts
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Posted: Sunday, July 30, 2017 - 08:15 PM UTC
Just got word from HLJ that they will send the 5 tires and sprue G that was missing from my Takom AML 60 kit. Yep, that's right...2 shipments of Takom kits, and in consecutive shipments, had either missing and/or defective parts.
avenue
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Philippines
Joined: May 25, 2013
KitMaker: 544 posts
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Posted: Sunday, July 30, 2017 - 08:30 PM UTC
Is this the same AMl-90 used by kuwaiti palace guard against iraqi tank during saddam invasion of kuwait in 1990?
BKirwan
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Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: August 01, 2017
KitMaker: 7 posts
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Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 03:47 PM UTC
Nice work on the Takom kit; I just got mine over the weekend and have to get stuck in. Its a nice kit and your result looks good.
The only let down is indeed the bare interior and the fact that the AML 60 kit doesn't feature the armament for the HB version only the CS.


Regarding the turret storage box; different users fitted different one at various times and some fitted none at all. Its a question of picking your machine and modelling that one.

As regards to the handle above the right door I have to say that this is entirely new to me; having built both the Azimuth 90 and 60 this year I have seen a lot of photos of the peoples panzer and I missed this entirely. I can't say that I noticed it on the Saumur example either when I photographed it last year.

I have done up some home brew Irish UNFIL decals if anyone is looking to make something a little different. Am currently working on some for 60's as well.

Does anyone have some good published reference books on the Panhard AML in English or French? There is one mentioned in the thread but it seems to be a general reference book.

BTW check out the Facebook page http://https://www.facebook.com/panhardaml.nacho/

there are some great photos of Portuguese,Spanish,Rhodesian and SA stuff.
Regards
Brian
ReluctantRenegade
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Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
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Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 05:30 PM UTC

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Is this the same AMl-90 used by kuwaiti palace guard against iraqi tank during saddam invasion of kuwait in 1990?


I'm not quiet sure what you mean, but AFAIK Kuwait never operated the AML-90. On the other hand, both Saudi-Arabia and Iraq did, which led to some confusion during Operation Desert Storm.
BKirwan
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Zuid-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: August 01, 2017
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Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 06:00 PM UTC
Richard
Maybe you are thinking of the Kuwaiti Alvis Saladin's ?
vettejack
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Florida, United States
Joined: November 23, 2012
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Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 06:18 PM UTC
Since we're on the subject:

Variants the aftermarket gurus need to get busy producing...

AML 60 HE 60-7: 60 mm breech loading mortar and 2 × 7.62 mm machine guns

AML 60 HE 60-12: 60 mm breech loading mortar and a 12.7 mm machine gun

AML 60 HE 60-20: 60 mm breech loading mortar and a 20 mm cannon

AML 60 S530: self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon with dual 20 mm cannons used in Venezuela

AML 90 Lynx: Hispano-Suiza designed turret with a 90 mm GIAT F1 gun, night equipment of vision, and telemeters laser

Eland 60: South African version of the AML 60 HE60-7

Eland 90: South African version of the AML 90

AML 20: Irish Army version which replaced the AML 60 armament with a 20mm cannon.

Panhard M3: An armored personnel carrier variant of the AML.



and a up to date user list, former and current, compliments of Wikipedia:

AML 90/60 current and former operators

Current operators

Algeria: 54 AML-60.
Argentina: 50 AML-90.
Bahrain: 23 AML-90, 22 operational.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: 10 AML-90.
Burkina Faso: 15.
Burma: 50 AML-90.
Burundi: 30.
Cameroon: 31; ex-Bosnian Army.
Chad: 85; likely replaced by the Eland.
Côte d'Ivoire: 20.
Democratic Republic of the Congo (now Zaire): unknown.
Djibouti: 24; 20 operational.
Dominican Republic: 20 AML-90.
Gabon: 18.
Ecuador: 27.
El Salvador: 12 AML-90; 10 operational.
France: Over 300 in reserve.
Iraq: 300; 10 operational.
Kenya: 82; refurbished by an Israeli firm in 2007.
Lebanon: 74, 45 operational.
Lesotho: 6 AML-90; 4 operational.
Mauritania: 60, 39 AML-90 and 20 AML-60.
Morocco: 210; 175 operational.
Niger: 36.
Nigeria: 137.
Pakistan: 5 AML 60-20.
Rwanda: 15.
Sahrawi Republic: unknown.
Saudi Arabia: 300, 190 AML-90 and 110 AML-60; 235 operational.
Senegal: 54.
Somalia: 15 AML-90.
Somaliland: unknown.
Sudan: 6 AML-90; 5 operational.
Togo: 10.
Tunisia: 18.
United Arab Emirates: 90 AML-90.
Venezuela: 10.
Yemen: 185; 95 operational.

Former operators

Al-Mourabitoun: Inherited from the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF).
Amal Movement: Inherited from the LAF.
Angola: Likely captured from Portugal.
Biafra: Likely captured from Nigeria.
Cambodia: 15 AML-60s in service between 1965 and 1975. Saw service during the Cambodian Civil War.
FLEC: At least 2 AML-60; likely acquired from Zaire.
FNLA: 1 AML-90; now on display at the Museu das Forças Armadas, Luanda.
Egypt: unknown.
Ethiopia 56 AML-60.
People's Republic of Kampuchea: 2 AML-60s in service during the early 1980s.
FNLC: 1 AML-60, some AML-90s.
Ireland: 18 AML-20, 15 AML-90.
Israel: 29 AML-90.
Lebanese Forces: 12 AML-90 inherited from the LAF.
Libya: 20 AML-90.
Malaysia: 140 AML-60 and AML-90s.
Portugal: 50 AML-60.
Progressive Socialist Party/People's Liberation Army: unknown but most likely inherited from the LAF.
South Africa: 100 AMLs procured in 1962, swiftly replaced by Eland Mk2.
South Lebanon Army: inherited from the LAF.
Spain: 140 AML-60 and AML-90s.
UNITA: 4, 35 AMLs acquired clandestinely through Zaire; saw service during the Angolan Civil War.
Zaire: 155, 95 AML-60 and 60 AML-90.

NOTE: this list is not exhaustive...there are other operators not listed, some are new...this list changes all the time...and I don't claim accuracy of the list. What the list does present...is an endless array of modeling possibilities for the AML 60 and 90.

COMBAT history: the more well known war games the AML 60/90 are known for...

Angolan Civil War: 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000 and beyond
Rhodesian Bush War: 60's, 70's
South African Border War: 60s, 70s, 80s, 90's
Namibian War of Independence: 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's
Zaire (Kolwezi, Shaba Province, Katanga Province): 70's and 80's
Western Sahara War: 70's, 80's, 90's
Falklands War: 1982
Gulf War: 1991
rdlocke
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: March 28, 2007
KitMaker: 13 posts
Armorama: 12 posts
Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 08:21 PM UTC
I am also making up this kit and I noticed that you have the mantlet incorrectly fitted. The top of the mantlet should lie behind the frame not on top. This way you will be able to elevate the barrel.
So what exactly are the circular objects on top of the front mudguards? I presume the holes need filling on the AML-90.
I like the Takom system for allowing repositioning of the steerable front wheels. I also think that the piuck head is far too small (should be at least 50% bigger).
Nice kit though!
Bob Locke
ReluctantRenegade
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Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
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Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 08:51 PM UTC

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COMBAT history: the more well known scraps...

Angolan Civil War: 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000 and beyond
Rhodesian Bush War: 60's, 70's
South African Border War: 60s, 70s, 80s, 90's
Namibian War of Independence: 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's
Zaire (Kolwezi, Shaba Province, Katanga Province): 70's and 80's
Western Sahara War: 70's, 80's, 90's
Falklands War: 1982
Gulf War: 1991


Six Day War (IDF): 1967
Lebanon (LAF, various militias): 70's, 80's, 90's
vettejack
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Florida, United States
Joined: November 23, 2012
KitMaker: 1,277 posts
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Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 09:21 PM UTC

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COMBAT history: the more well known scraps...

Angolan Civil War: 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000 and beyond
Rhodesian Bush War: 60's, 70's
South African Border War: 60s, 70s, 80s, 90's
Namibian War of Independence: 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's
Zaire (Kolwezi, Shaba Province, Katanga Province): 70's and 80's
Western Sahara War: 70's, 80's, 90's
Falklands War: 1982
Gulf War: 1991


Six Day War (IDF): 1967
Lebanon (LAF, various militias): 70's, 80's, 90's




Correctamundo!

And how are the file of pics I sent you working out for ya??
ReluctantRenegade
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Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
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Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 09:32 PM UTC

Quoted Text


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COMBAT history: the more well known scraps...

Angolan Civil War: 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000 and beyond
Rhodesian Bush War: 60's, 70's
South African Border War: 60s, 70s, 80s, 90's
Namibian War of Independence: 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's
Zaire (Kolwezi, Shaba Province, Katanga Province): 70's and 80's
Western Sahara War: 70's, 80's, 90's
Falklands War: 1982
Gulf War: 1991


Six Day War (IDF): 1967
Lebanon (LAF, various militias): 70's, 80's, 90's




Correctamundo!

And how are the file of pics I sent you working out for ya??


Outstanding! Received the kit today, so I'm pretty much ready to go!
vettejack
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Florida, United States
Joined: November 23, 2012
KitMaker: 1,277 posts
Armorama: 1,254 posts
Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 10:21 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


Quoted Text


Quoted Text


COMBAT history: the more well known scraps...

Angolan Civil War: 70's, 80's, 90's, 2000 and beyond
Rhodesian Bush War: 60's, 70's
South African Border War: 60s, 70s, 80s, 90's
Namibian War of Independence: 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's
Zaire (Kolwezi, Shaba Province, Katanga Province): 70's and 80's
Western Sahara War: 70's, 80's, 90's
Falklands War: 1982
Gulf War: 1991


Six Day War (IDF): 1967
Lebanon (LAF, various militias): 70's, 80's, 90's




Correctamundo!

And how are the file of pics I sent you working out for ya??


Outstanding! Received the kit today, so I'm pretty much ready to go!


Out-damn-standing! Ever since I was introduced to those AML 90 cuties back in the 70's, I have a soft spot for them. The 1/35 Azimut AML 90 have been on, and off, my bench over the past 10 years or so. So far I have added over 100 additional bits and pieces of aftermarket and homemade goodies plus a few corrective actions here and there to improve it's detail. One of these days...

ReluctantRenegade
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Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
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Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 10:51 PM UTC
I still haven't figured out what makes this a "2 in 1" kit...
DriftwoodDan
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Idaho, United States
Joined: March 25, 2015
KitMaker: 23 posts
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Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 11:10 PM UTC

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I still haven't figured out what makes this a "2 in 1" kit...

I think it is the Israeli parts that are included.
ReluctantRenegade
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Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
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Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 11:37 PM UTC

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I still haven't figured out what makes this a "2 in 1" kit...

I think it is the Israeli parts that are included.


You mean a single piece (the turret storage bin)...? C'mon Takom, you gotta be kidding. There isn't even an indication in the instructions that the bin is an optional part only to be used when building the IDF version. That's how the OP ended up gluing it onto the turret...

DriftwoodDan
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Idaho, United States
Joined: March 25, 2015
KitMaker: 23 posts
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Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 11:54 PM UTC

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I still haven't figured out what makes this a "2 in 1" kit...

I think it is the Israeli parts that are included.


You mean a single piece (the turret storage bin)...? C'mon Takom, you gotta be kidding. There isn't even an indication in the instructions that the bin is an optional part only to be used when building the IDF version. That's how the OP ended up gluing it onto the turret...

If I recall correctly, it is the bin on the rear of the turret, different antenna mounts plus one on each side, different parts for the muzzle brake and possibly a modification to the rear part of the main gun barrel. I agree, not a lot. I think there is supposed to be a three section gun tube cleaning rod in the small rack on the turret back. At least that is easy to make.
ReluctantRenegade
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Wien, Austria
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Posted: Tuesday, August 01, 2017 - 12:22 AM UTC

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If I recall correctly, it is the bin on the rear of the turret, different antenna mounts plus one on each side, different parts for the muzzle brake and possibly a modification to the rear part of the main gun barrel. I agree, not a lot. I think there is supposed to be a three section gun tube cleaning rod in the small rack on the turret back. At least that is easy to make.


There isn't any indication of any of those in the instructions.
This kit has one of the oddest features I've came across lately. The driver's hatch has slots to slide the episcopes in (so far so good) - which are made of...solid styrene! I mean what's the problem molding them in clear plastic when the kit includes such a sprue anyway (headlights)!?

vettejack
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Florida, United States
Joined: November 23, 2012
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Posted: Tuesday, August 01, 2017 - 08:51 PM UTC
After a routine mission had us crew resting in Torrejon AB, Spain, mid May of 1978, our crew was alerted to UN calls for help in moving arms/equipment/troops to Zaire. Our first 'leg' took us to Corsica (then the French Foreign Legion home), to load FFL vehicles...and to carry approximately 50 members of the French Foreign Legion, 2nd ReP. We would then continue on to Kinshasa, Zaire, to begin pre-positioning the equipment for the FFL and other foreign troop contingency...and then for eventual offloading in either Kolwezi or Lubumbashi, Zaire, both in the Shaba Province (where the atrocities and the deadliest of fighting took place). Over the course of several days, and future missions, we would have multiple back and forth refueling stops in Libreville, Gabon, still transiting Corsica and other now established deployment sites throughout Africa. We loaded, for this particular mission, during the evening/morning of 18-19 May, more than a dozen and a half mixture of AML 60's and 90's. The rest of the vehicles being Land Rovers and other four wheeled transport. Of all these vehicles the AML's would be in white, light or dark grey while the Land Rovers carried various shades of green and grey. Below are 2 photos I took of one example of an AML 90 we loaded that first night..in light grey. All totaled, we had 36 vehicles in the cargo compartment of the C5 Galaxy. We did this routinely for months throughout 1978 to early 1979.

The array of equipment loosely ladened on this AML, was in fact secured before we took off. Most of the vehicles remained stripped of equipment to the outside, as the FFL knew that once in country that the vehicles would probably be stripped of any and all loose equipment, by the locals. Once we landed in Lumbabashi and Kolwezi, the FFL immediately drove the vehicles off the aircraft and in to the bush. I repeated these types of missions to Zaire at least a half a dozen times over the course of almost a year. Each mission, I would witness the brutality/violence of the conflict.

What looks like a barrel lock modification, is NOT: but a cargo tie-down strap to immobilize the gun: keeping it from bouncing up and down and preventing potential left to right turret rotation. We took no chances when it came to armor vehicles with turrets inside our cargo bay.

You can go the Kitmaker gallery, or click on the photos, where they can be seen in a larger format.

As for a scale kit of the AML 90, I have the 1/35 Azimut kit I've been hacking away on for over 2 years...waiting on usable aftermarket items as they are released. With the Takom release, I'm a happier camper 'cause I can build multiple vehicles of different markings and conflicts...and the Azimut kits are rarely seen now and way too expensive. Do the Takom kits need a bit of aftermarket help? Yep! Eventually they will get there and turn in to fine kits to deal with...







The Azimut kit







The link below is to a video of the C-5 Galaxy that I was a crew member of...in Zaire...May-June 1978...at the 0 to 6 second mark and then again from the 1.00 to 1.16 second mark. Not sure who took the video, but I'm glad it's around. Brings back some fairly good, and sometimes, nasty, memories about Zaire and the places we landed within the country.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yDPvNWeTraQ



dtniedert
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Kentucky, United States
Joined: December 11, 2014
KitMaker: 152 posts
Armorama: 139 posts
Posted: Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 01:59 AM UTC
Three questions.

1. What are the circle things mounted on each side top of front fenders?
2. What is dome shaped item strapped on left side of turret used for?
3. What is total parts count for kit?
bison126
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Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
KitMaker: 5,329 posts
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Posted: Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 01:34 PM UTC

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1. What are the circle things mounted on each side top of front fenders?

Well depending on what you call top of fenders, it can be the top of the shock absorbers but most probably you're speaking of the stowage brackets for IR lights.


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2. What is dome shaped item strapped on left side of turret used for?

It is a helmet Mle 51. It was the standard steel pot at the time. The crew helmets were in green plastic so not that much useful as a ballistic protection. When the crew dismounted, they could put the steel helmet on the "tanker" helmet. Strangely enough, only the commander helmet was strapped outside the turret.



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3. What is total parts count for kit?

213 parts including 5 rubber tires and the parts for the IDF version.


Olivier
dtniedert
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Kentucky, United States
Joined: December 11, 2014
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Posted: Saturday, August 19, 2017 - 05:27 PM UTC
Thank you Oliver.
Nahuel19431
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Chubut, Argentina
Joined: August 15, 2010
KitMaker: 593 posts
Armorama: 548 posts
Posted: Monday, November 20, 2017 - 04:44 AM UTC
Hi all, good job VAB, I hope you ended your model soon, I will take your job like example.
The conclution, about the comments. That we must see and check first the version that we will do, the instructions of themodel doesen`t show clear by version. For example for the Argentinian version in Malvinas /Falklands we must combine the variants for make the right model.
This model will be the next target.-
Regards, Omar
 _GOTOTOP