Cadillac Gage V-100 Commando Armored Car - Vietnam - Build
Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 1:40 pm
Hi,
As I wait for parts for my current build, I might as well use these terrible winter weekends to start planning my next one. I've been pretty much a "track" guy during all my previous 1/35 modelling life with a few wheeled AFV here and there when there was nothing new available. I remember the 80s when there was maybe one new model per year coming out... terrible decade, that's before the Chinese got into the hobby. Like the LVTP guys used to say, I am pretty much aligned with their "You ain't tracks, you ain't s**t" motto... RC cars never interested me. Since my 1/16 phase started, I've built around 50+ tanks in that scale, but now I would like to try something else.
The Cadillac Gage family of armored cars have been around since the early 1960s and sold around the world. Even the newest TAPV armored cars getting into service in the Canadian armed forces is basically a modernized version of it. So, this is an historical vehicle that I would like to add to my collection. I have decided to build a V-100 in service with the Military Police during the Vietnam war, and will keep company with my M-113.
The base for the build will be the Ludwigs "basic" kit advertised as an M-1117. However, the model provided is not an M-1117 Guardian (picture below) which is different. Just by looking at the position of the kit side doors closer to the back wheel vs the front wheel is a clear indicator that the kit is a V-100 or V-150 version. There are also other core differences.
Here are the Ludwigs kit parts. Cost is 95Eu for hull and turret component, which is quite reasonable.
Hull parts;
And this is the tree for the turret. The kit has only the core turret. No gun mount and no gun parts are provided so the builder needs to ponder his options. Ludwigs is advertising a 20mm cannot to go with the turret. However, I have done quite a bit of research and the real V-150 20mm turret does not have the same shape of the kit turret.
A V-150 20mm turret should look like this (1/35 Hobby Boss kit below) and cross referenced with other sources. The frontal arrangement, gun mount housing and the overall look and feel are different.
I think the ludwigs turret is much closer to the Belgian Cockerill 90mm turret (1/35 Hobby Boss kit below) and this is probably the best options for builds that will use the Ludwigs turret. There are a few corrections to be made however. I did not see picture evidence of the side by side hatches aligned like the kit part, the commander's hatch should be a bit more forward. In any cases, I have decided not to use the kit turret. I will build a new smaller turret that fit the V-100 Commando. I will keep this turret for a future project. The top part of the upper hull with the turret ring will be replaced as well.
And of course, a WPL M--35 stripped down chassis will be used and modified for the motorization of the model. So, risk is low that this build will go over budget.
Continuing on following post.
Louis
As I wait for parts for my current build, I might as well use these terrible winter weekends to start planning my next one. I've been pretty much a "track" guy during all my previous 1/35 modelling life with a few wheeled AFV here and there when there was nothing new available. I remember the 80s when there was maybe one new model per year coming out... terrible decade, that's before the Chinese got into the hobby. Like the LVTP guys used to say, I am pretty much aligned with their "You ain't tracks, you ain't s**t" motto... RC cars never interested me. Since my 1/16 phase started, I've built around 50+ tanks in that scale, but now I would like to try something else.
The Cadillac Gage family of armored cars have been around since the early 1960s and sold around the world. Even the newest TAPV armored cars getting into service in the Canadian armed forces is basically a modernized version of it. So, this is an historical vehicle that I would like to add to my collection. I have decided to build a V-100 in service with the Military Police during the Vietnam war, and will keep company with my M-113.
The base for the build will be the Ludwigs "basic" kit advertised as an M-1117. However, the model provided is not an M-1117 Guardian (picture below) which is different. Just by looking at the position of the kit side doors closer to the back wheel vs the front wheel is a clear indicator that the kit is a V-100 or V-150 version. There are also other core differences.
Here are the Ludwigs kit parts. Cost is 95Eu for hull and turret component, which is quite reasonable.
Hull parts;
And this is the tree for the turret. The kit has only the core turret. No gun mount and no gun parts are provided so the builder needs to ponder his options. Ludwigs is advertising a 20mm cannot to go with the turret. However, I have done quite a bit of research and the real V-150 20mm turret does not have the same shape of the kit turret.
A V-150 20mm turret should look like this (1/35 Hobby Boss kit below) and cross referenced with other sources. The frontal arrangement, gun mount housing and the overall look and feel are different.
I think the ludwigs turret is much closer to the Belgian Cockerill 90mm turret (1/35 Hobby Boss kit below) and this is probably the best options for builds that will use the Ludwigs turret. There are a few corrections to be made however. I did not see picture evidence of the side by side hatches aligned like the kit part, the commander's hatch should be a bit more forward. In any cases, I have decided not to use the kit turret. I will build a new smaller turret that fit the V-100 Commando. I will keep this turret for a future project. The top part of the upper hull with the turret ring will be replaced as well.
And of course, a WPL M--35 stripped down chassis will be used and modified for the motorization of the model. So, risk is low that this build will go over budget.
Continuing on following post.
Louis