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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
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M-163 Vulcan on the M-113
sgtreef
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Oklahoma, United States
Joined: March 01, 2002
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Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 11:40 AM UTC
Well here it goes model is a tad weak in detail ,soft and the tracks suck.
So here goes.

Cheers

Jeff














TankCarl
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Rhode Island, United States
Joined: May 10, 2002
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Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 12:00 PM UTC
"hole"-y track sinkholes!
alchemymike
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Texas, United States
Joined: December 14, 2011
KitMaker: 208 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 12:05 PM UTC
will you use any upgrade kits? good luck will be watching!
ReconTL3-1
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Texas, United States
Joined: June 07, 2006
KitMaker: 726 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 12:26 PM UTC
That was the first armor kit I built when I was involved in a Federal Internship Program at the Air Defense Artillery Museum at Fort Sill when I was a patient at the Warrior Transition Unit. It was the original release of the Academy kit, though, which is the same thing you have in a newer box. It wasn't bad for a first armor kit for me, but now that I have a few more under my belt, there is some to be desired with this kit. You can still make a nice model out of it with some work. I've seen some of your work before, so I am sure you will make this look good.
Cheers,
James
ptruhe
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Texas, United States
Joined: March 05, 2003
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Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 12:48 PM UTC
Odd they’ve included bar armor and .30 cal mg.
Klaus-Adler
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MODELGEEK
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Scotland, United Kingdom
Joined: June 08, 2015
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Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 02:38 PM UTC
Is the academy kit the same as the italeri kit or is that a completely different kit/mold?
GeraldOwens
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Florida, United States
Joined: March 30, 2006
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Posted: Wednesday, November 21, 2018 - 07:09 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Is the academy kit the same as the italeri kit or is that a completely different kit/mold?



Academy and Italeri offer completely different kits. Both companies did M113 kits, which served as the basis for the M163. Italeri's kits have different wheels than are commonly seen on US vehicles, with larger wheel fasteners inside the rim, and a smaller stamped "doughnut" around the hub. These may represent wheels made by OTO Melara, which built the M113 under license from FMC. Since Italy didn't build the M163, you'd have to source a different set of wheels somewhere. In any case, Academy's kit is the better of the two.
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
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Posted: Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 01:16 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Odd they’ve included bar armor and .30 cal mg.



It looks like they also included all the parts from their previous M113A1 Vietnam kit (M1919 MG)...


....and their M113A3 Iraq kit ("bar armor" is the side bins).


The Academy M163 Vulcan parts are actually pretty nice.
panamadan
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Minnesota, United States
Joined: July 20, 2004
KitMaker: 1,513 posts
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Posted: Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 05:33 AM UTC
I served in the 24th ID way back when.
Victory!
Dan
Dragon164
#226
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: February 20, 2012
KitMaker: 1,909 posts
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Posted: Thursday, November 22, 2018 - 07:08 PM UTC
There is a new M163 coming out with an interior!

Cheers Rob.
sgtreef
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Oklahoma, United States
Joined: March 01, 2002
KitMaker: 6,043 posts
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Posted: Friday, November 23, 2018 - 03:58 AM UTC
Good to see a bunch on board on this, James, thanks for that service a lot can not do that no more I was stationed at FT Sill 1980 -1981, great unit 2nd shop combat engineers. We replaced engines on trucks jeeps, dodges, cranes Dozers, 2 1/2 tons 5 tons, the shop next door did the tracked stuff, whatever we could not do , was sent to the Civilians, on base. Where we got our engines from, Ft sill was one of the best places I was ever at, I would of stayed 20 years if kept there.
Even though married a lot of time spent with cases down by the lake driving my buddies that had no car, down to bust back the brews, sometimes did not know how I got home, or what went on. Yes those were the good times,made Sgt there. One thing I never liked was I was getting put up for E-6 and my Platoon Sgt, rode my back as telling me I should not hang with my squad, I told him to mind his business, well that did not go over well, as he said I should be hanging out with E-5's and E-6's, screw that.
Now back to the model.
Weak details, tracks suck both kinds, I do have metal ones from spade ace might use them, and I also bought the Aber metal barrel set last year ,so might put that on, I do have the Italeri kit also.
And what the heck is the square cutout on the side from?
I am going to fill it, as looked and no part that goes there.

Mike I might use some upgrades to it,see where it takes me, the wheels also suck too.so far I will give it a 50% as the spruces say 1993. Which is way outdated. I do have 3 Tamiya kits also, I should maybe use some of their parts, but the deal is supposed to be a review build of the Academy kit, and not 3 different companies parts to build the Academy kit, is it?


Jeff
Klaus-Adler
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MODELGEEK
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Scotland, United Kingdom
Joined: June 08, 2015
KitMaker: 1,505 posts
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Posted: Friday, November 23, 2018 - 06:52 AM UTC

Quoted Text

There is a new M163 coming out with an interior!

Cheers Rob.



That's good news, any idea who is producing it and what it's release date is?
TheoBraat
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Noord-Holland, Netherlands
Joined: April 21, 2017
KitMaker: 113 posts
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Posted: Friday, November 23, 2018 - 12:32 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

There is a new M163 coming out with an interior!

Cheers Rob.



That's good news, any idea who is producing it and what it's release date is?



I am keeping my fingers crossed for AFV Club doing this one ..
Bravo36
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Arizona, United States
Joined: January 11, 2002
KitMaker: 247 posts
Armorama: 229 posts
Posted: Friday, November 23, 2018 - 02:24 PM UTC
Man, when they demonstrated one of the originals of those things for us at Benning, IOBC, back in 1973, we couldn’t believe the rate of fire! Too cool
What a beast!
We need a kit that will do it justice.
Dragon164
#226
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British Columbia, Canada
Joined: February 20, 2012
KitMaker: 1,909 posts
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Posted: Friday, November 23, 2018 - 08:09 PM UTC
Damn!

My mistake, there I go relying on my memory.

Dragon is releasing the M113 with flame thrower turret with interior.

Sorry guys.

Cheers Rob.
sgtreef
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Oklahoma, United States
Joined: March 01, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, November 25, 2018 - 02:00 PM UTC
A little more , we had them in Korea some bad firepower off one of them.









bat-213
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Canada
Joined: December 30, 2011
KitMaker: 902 posts
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Posted: Friday, November 30, 2018 - 02:07 PM UTC
I have the same Vulcan kit ,so I will your build .
sgtreef
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Oklahoma, United States
Joined: March 01, 2002
KitMaker: 6,043 posts
Armorama: 4,347 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 02, 2018 - 12:00 PM UTC
Let me say Instructions are also lacking ,look like back in 1970's there.
But we can figure it out one way or the other.
And a part is missing calls for it, but not on the sprue, or even in copied instructions but it is there.
I guess a mail to Academy ,and ask what is up goes under the Vulcan, J34 or J36.

A little more done.
Jeff






ReconTL3-1
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Texas, United States
Joined: June 07, 2006
KitMaker: 726 posts
Armorama: 687 posts
Posted: Monday, December 03, 2018 - 10:55 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Good to see a bunch on board on this, James, thanks for that service a lot can not do that no more I was stationed at FT Sill 1980 -1981, great unit 2nd shop combat engineers. We replaced engines on trucks jeeps, dodges, cranes Dozers, 2 1/2 tons 5 tons, the shop next door did the tracked stuff, whatever we could not do , was sent to the Civilians, on base. Where we got our engines from, Ft sill was one of the best places I was ever at, I would of stayed 20 years if kept there.
Even though married a lot of time spent with cases down by the lake driving my buddies that had no car, down to bust back the brews, sometimes did not know how I got home, or what went on. Yes those were the good times,made Sgt there. One thing I never liked was I was getting put up for E-6 and my Platoon Sgt, rode my back as telling me I should not hang with my squad, I told him to mind his business, well that did not go over well, as he said I should be hanging out with E-5's and E-6's, screw that.
Now back to the model.
Weak details, tracks suck both kinds, I do have metal ones from spade ace might use them, and I also bought the Aber metal barrel set last year ,so might put that on, I do have the Italeri kit also.
And what the heck is the square cutout on the side from?
I am going to fill it, as looked and no part that goes there.

Mike I might use some upgrades to it,see where it takes me, the wheels also suck too.so far I will give it a 50% as the spruces say 1993. Which is way outdated. I do have 3 Tamiya kits also, I should maybe use some of their parts, but the deal is supposed to be a review build of the Academy kit, and not 3 different companies parts to build the Academy kit, is it?


Jeff



Other than being temporarily assigned to Fort Sill while in the Warrior Transition Unit, I had never been stationed there, but while at WTU I really liked the post. Just the right size, just enough stuff in Lawton (it's changed a bit since you were stationed there ), and not far from OKC and where I live in Texas. If you ever make your way to Fort Sill after February, let me know. I will be working at the Fort Sill Historic Landmark and Museum. I'll make sure you get the grand tour of all of our stuff from all three museums - there is a lot of cool stuff not on display.

Are you going to attend the IMPS shows in Tulsa and OKC or the Tulsa Figure Show this upcoming year?

Cheers,
James
sgtreef
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Oklahoma, United States
Joined: March 01, 2002
KitMaker: 6,043 posts
Armorama: 4,347 posts
Posted: Monday, December 03, 2018 - 02:38 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Good to see a bunch on board on this, James, thanks for that service a lot can not do that no more I was stationed at FT Sill 1980 -1981, great unit 2nd shop combat engineers. We replaced engines on trucks jeeps, dodges, cranes Dozers, 2 1/2 tons 5 tons, the shop next door did the tracked stuff, whatever we could not do , was sent to the Civilians, on base. Where we got our engines from, Ft sill was one of the best places I was ever at, I would of stayed 20 years if kept there.
Even though married a lot of time spent with cases down by the lake driving my buddies that had no car, down to bust back the brews, sometimes did not know how I got home, or what went on. Yes those were the good times,made Sgt there. One thing I never liked was I was getting put up for E-6 and my Platoon Sgt, rode my back as telling me I should not hang with my squad, I told him to mind his business, well that did not go over well, as he said I should be hanging out with E-5's and E-6's, screw that.
Now back to the model.
Weak details, tracks suck both kinds, I do have metal ones from spade ace might use them, and I also bought the Aber metal barrel set last year ,so might put that on, I do have the Italeri kit also.
And what the heck is the square cutout on the side from?
I am going to fill it, as looked and no part that goes there.

Mike I might use some upgrades to it,see where it takes me, the wheels also suck too.so far I will give it a 50% as the spruces say 1993. Which is way outdated. I do have 3 Tamiya kits also, I should maybe use some of their parts, but the deal is supposed to be a review build of the Academy kit, and not 3 different companies parts to build the Academy kit, is it?


Jeff



Other than being temporarily assigned to Fort Sill while in the Warrior Transition Unit, I had never been stationed there, but while at WTU I really liked the post. Just the right size, just enough stuff in Lawton (it's changed a bit since you were stationed there ), and not far from OKC and where I live in Texas. If you ever make your way to Fort Sill after February, let me know. I will be working at the Fort Sill Historic Landmark and Museum. I'll make sure you get the grand tour of all of our stuff from all three museums - there is a lot of cool stuff not on display.

Are you going to attend the IMPS shows in Tulsa and OKC or the Tulsa Figure Show this upcoming year?

Cheers,
James



Thanks James I might just do that if I head that way to Lawton, been quite awhile since I have been down that way.
Nice living down there, well to me anyway, plus Duncan only 30 odd miles away.
As to the shows I might do that one that you talk about, been like 9 or so years since I did that one. The IMPS show,the Tulsa show maybe so.Missed last year was not feeling good.
Will let you know on that.
Yes Ft Sill was a good time.
Those 155 MM's firing about all the time.

Jeff
sgtreef
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Oklahoma, United States
Joined: March 01, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, December 15, 2018 - 02:54 AM UTC
Still on it , and getting stuff done.
The " Wheat Bran " idea I got from a guy in Hungary , will give that a try on another diorama , I have the leaf deals already from different companies, but what the heck try something different right.
Well more pics should be ready to paint the hull soon.
Jeff











sgtreef
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Oklahoma, United States
Joined: March 01, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, December 15, 2018 - 03:04 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Man, when they demonstrated one of the originals of those things for us at Benning, IOBC, back in 1973, we couldn’t believe the rate of fire! Too cool
What a beast!
We need a kit that will do it justice.



Speaking of that have you seen the Million rounds a minute one they are coming out with Ralph?
One bad mother that is, hate to be a loader on that crew.

Talk about getting a work out.

Cause they have not figured how to keep it loaded yet.
sgtreef
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Oklahoma, United States
Joined: March 01, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, December 16, 2018 - 01:55 PM UTC
Well put some paint on.

More soon.





barron
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Virginia, United States
Joined: December 01, 2001
KitMaker: 666 posts
Armorama: 598 posts
Posted: Sunday, December 16, 2018 - 02:47 PM UTC
Had some of these bad boys on a calafax exercise at Graf go down range with our tanks. All I can say is wow. Can they spit out some fire
sgtreef
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Oklahoma, United States
Joined: March 01, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, December 23, 2018 - 03:47 AM UTC
They sure can Robert,when I was at Ft Rucker and they still had cobras , now that was some bad dudes also.

1 Pic is all,wheels done.

Maybe a few little touch ups but not bad.

 _GOTOTOP