Wednesday, June 08, 2016 - 03:52 AM UTC
Another M113 hits the market, with the ACAV version. It has been announced by Italeri for June, together with a Battle Set box of Operation Cobra.
Without any doubt, the M113 is one of the most famous armoured personal carrier in the history of military vehicles.

The "armoured cavalry assault vehicle" or "ACAV" version was developed very soon to improve the fighting effectiveness of M113. The new features implemented on ACAV version were a circular turret armour for the commander’s M2 12.7 mm machine gun and two additional 7.62 mm M60 machine guns, protected by shields, and fitted on either side of the top cargo hatch.

The new kit from Italeri is a logical move, after releasing four years ago the ACAV with recoilless gun. It comes with decals for four versions.

There is a new Battle set also, another big box with lots of kits for building a large diorama about Operation Cobra.

Such was the codename of the offensive, planned by Lieutenant General Omar Bradley, that had the goal to break the German defence line around St.Lo and advance towards Brittany and the Seine. The Operation Cobra began on 25th July 1944 with a heavy aerial bombardment and was followed by intense fighting in the difficult terrain of the Norman countryside. The “bocage” created a lot of constraints to the armoured vehicles and to the infantry movements and activities.
After some days of fighting the defensive lines collapsed under the pressure of Allied troops.

The box includes all this 1/72 models:
  • Two French houses
  • 32 figures of German Paratroopers
  • Pz.Kpw. V Panther Ausf. G
  • Sd.Kfz.251/1
  • 32 figures of U.S. Infantry soldiers
  • Sherman M4A3 76mm
  • M3 Half Track

Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
Click Star to Rate
6 readers have rated this story.
Get a daily email with links to all our latest news, reviews, and features.

Comments

This just isn't where they put their big money. You want a new Sterling bomber or Sunderland flying boat they cut all new molds . But 1/35 armor just isn't worth the capital outlay for them.
JUN 08, 2016 - 09:22 AM
Then only new items in the M113 ACAV kit are the additional trim vane and flotation devices, and the decal sheet. To be honest, Italeri's M113 is just a copy of the old Revell M113. Poor to say the least. Academy and Tamiya are still leading in the ACAV department.
JUN 08, 2016 - 01:14 PM
The old Revell M113 was the old Italeri kit reboxed. The molds were created by Italeri. The kit goes back to the early 1990s. The Tamiya M113 goes back to the 1970s. Even this kit is head and shoulders above the venerable Tamiya one.
JUN 08, 2016 - 01:39 PM
Yeah, but the Sunderland and the Stirling are 1/72 kits, leaving the 1/48 fans such as myself out in the cold. As for myself, "NOPE!"... I'll wait for the AFV CLUB kit of the M113, rather than buy an old, old, old kit with three "new" parts... I'm under-whelmed...
JUN 08, 2016 - 04:24 PM
Bravo1102, I prefer Tamiya's M113. More interior parts, better fit and the linked tracks are easier to work with. Academy's ACAV still wins, but I would rather build another Tamiya M113 any day than buy this 'new' kit. I will admit that the decals in the new Italeri kit look nice.
JUN 08, 2016 - 05:08 PM
now italeri kits is direct copy of the tamiya and academy kits.
JUN 09, 2016 - 02:54 AM
No, never were, never will be. Each has their own molds for the M113 ACAVs. All 3 are very different with Academy's currently being the best of the lot. Can you actually post a coherent, logical post? I hope it is just the language barrier.
JUN 09, 2016 - 02:55 AM
Aside from doing more than tanks they stay in business by offering stuff that is "good enough" at "good enough prices" for many in the hobby. Not everybody wants a "perfect" kit with 300+ parts including "assemble yourself" tracks(1) and so instead of say a Meng Leo1A5 at 52€ one rather buys a Italieri/Revell Leo1A5 at 25€. Add in a few things that only they have and their exchange with Revell that is THE Brandname in germany among younger modellers due to shop presence(2) And if I only need a background piece (Say a Harley or a Jeep) then the 10€ kit from Italerie (2 Harleys) is good enough, why waste a 30€ Miniart (1 Harley) Finally their kits go together quite decently, their instructions are good (better than say Dragon) and their availability is good as well (1)I hate them. Even more so since with many modern tanks they vanish behind track guards or bazooka plates anyway and live tracks as used by most post WW2 vehicles have no sagging (2) If a german toy store has scale models they are most likely Revell. Even more true for ToysRUs and MyToys, the two big chains around
JUN 09, 2016 - 03:08 AM
Aside from doing more than tanks they stay in business by offering stuff that is "good enough" at "good enough prices" for many in the hobby. Not everybody wants a "perfect" kit with 300+ parts including "assemble yourself" tracks(1) and so instead of say a Meng Leo1A5 at 52€ one rather buys a Italieri/Revell Leo1A5 at 25€. Add in a few things that only they have and their exchange with Revell that is THE Brandname in germany among younger modellers due to shop presence(2) And if I only need a background piece (Say a Harley or a Jeep) then the 10€ kit from Italerie (2 Harleys) is good enough, why waste a 30€ Miniart (1 Harley) Finally their kits go together quite decently, their instructions are good (better than say Dragon) and their availability is good as well (1)I hate them. Even more so since with many modern tanks they vanish behind track guards or bazooka plates anyway and live tracks as used by most post WW2 vehicles have no sagging (2) If a german toy store has scale models they are most likely Revell. Even more true for ToysRUs and MyToys, the two big chains around[/quote] Just a comment on the above; "Live" Tracks were in use on many US tracked vehicles WAAAY before WWII- That's just one detail about US Tanks such as the M4-series Shermans; an M4-series' Tracks were designed to go 2500 miles. Your average German Tank's Tracks would only last 500 miles, if ever...
JUN 09, 2016 - 05:29 PM
THIS STORY HAS BEEN READ 10,799 TIMES.
ADVERTISEMENT

Photos
Click image to enlarge
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
  • move
Italeri ReviewsMORE
Italeri M4A1 Sherman In-Box Review
by Colin Key
Carro Armato M14/41 I In-Box Review
by Frederick Boucher | of 1 ratings, 100% found this helpful
Italian Infantry W.W.1 In-Box Review
by Bob Davis
Austro-Hungarian troops Built Review
by Bob Davis | of 1 ratings, 100% found this helpful
M1120 HEMTT LHS Built Review
by Jake McKee
M113 ACAV In-Box Review
by Russ Amott
US Infantry On Board Built Review
by Pete Becerra
Kfz.15 Funkwagen In-Box Review
by Brian | of 1 ratings, 100% found this helpful
M4A2 76mm In-Box Review
by Russ Amott
HEMTT Gun Truck In-Box Review
by Seb Viale
Military Container In-Box Review
by janwillem
ISO 20' Container In-Box Review
by Seb Viale | of 1 ratings, 100% found this helpful
Folgore Paratroopers In-Box Review
by Frederick Boucher | of 4 ratings, 100% found this helpful
Italeri Elefant tank destroyer In-Box Review
by Tom Cromwell | of 13 ratings, 92% found this helpful
Sd.Kfz. 234/2 Puma Built Review
by Tom Cromwell | of 3 ratings, 100% found this helpful

ADVERTISEMENT