M-113A1 Medium Recon Vehicle - Australian Army 1980s - build

[lmcq11]

Hi,

This will be my project for the next few months. The year 2019 has been a good year with a BMP-1, a Sho't Kal Centurion, an M-48A3 and a V-150 Commando. Its time for my annual M-113 build. It will be an Australian M-113A1 Medium Reconnaissance Vehicle with Scorpion 76mm turret. I guess people start to know my weakness for AFVs that have a rear ramp and a turret.

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

Designed to replace the M-113 Fire Support Vehicle (FSV) equipped with the Saladin turret and which served in Vietnam, the MRV as the name implied, had a reconnaissance mission and served in the 80s and 90s in Recce troops. Its Scorpion turret with complex sighting apparatus was a good improvement over the Saladin turret.

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

The model will have the following features;
- Ludwig base kit and road wheels
- Modified Spyker Workshop Scorpion turret with rotation, main gun elevation, recoil and flash
- AFV-Model suspension, sprocket, idler, tracks and other accessories
- Mato gearbox
- Coax MG flash and sound
- Opening rear ramp
- Partial interior with turret basket rotation
- Head lights and tail lights
- Clark TK-40 control board

A big component of the build is the Spyker Workshop 3D printed Scorpion turret, purchased separately. There is a lot of parts and look fairly complete for the Scorpion tank, but will require some changes to the equipment arrangements for the MRV.

Spyker Workshop Scorpion turret

This is the core of the turret

Spyker Workshop Scorpion turret

I have mixed feeling about the quality of the 3D printing, with major printing lines that will need to be eliminated or part replaced for a good looking vehicle that can sustain close up inspection. There is nothing that I dislike like sanding 3D parts. So, I am a bit disappointed personally. I will certainly replaced some of these key parts with scratch build components using plasticard sheets and brass tubes.

Spyker Workshop Scorpion turret

The important optical device for the main gun looks ok.

Spyker Workshop Scorpion turret

Hatches and turret top will likely be replaced.

Spyker Workshop Scorpion turret

Spyker Workshop Scorpion turret

continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

I purchased all the M-113 suspension, tracks and drive components available from AFV-Model of Germany. Expensive but these are of good quality. One of the issue if that the tracks are the Nato version (Canada, Germany...) and not the US version that the Australian used, but there is no alternatives.

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

These are the suspension arms and mounting.

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

The arm locks into the mount and is activated by a torsion blade.

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

In addition to the M113 torsion blade, I purchased a set of stronger Leopard blades as the suspension under the gearbox at the front usually requires better support.

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

These are the Ludwig 3D printed M113 road wheels, coming with M3 ball bearings.

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

Close up of the 3D printed lines that will be difficult to sand.

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

One of the issue that will need to be resolved is that the Ludwig road wheel use a M3 axle, while the AFV-Model suspension arms are drilled for an M4 axle. I wish these guys could talk.

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

As this model will not have a full interior, regular gearbox will be used. This time, I will use Mato gearbox. The gearbox main shaft build for a Heng Long sprocket can be easily removed and replaced by a new shaft that can fit the AFV-Model sprocket. Here is a Mato Panther gearbox that I had available but I ordered a lighter Mato Panzer III gearbox for the M113.

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

A spacer will be created to fit between the new shaft size and the 2 Mato gearbox ball bearings. The metal shaft can be purchased on eBay.

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

continuing on following post.

[lmcq11]

Here are the Ludwig M113 base kit components. Nothing new here, this is my third M113 build but each have differences in the way i used the components and build the drive train.

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

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1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

Other than some good walk around on the web, references on the MRV are rare. I purchased this book "Military Briefs - Australian Fire Support Vehicle". A good part of the book is for the FSV but there is a good section on the MRV, with history and many black and white pictures, interior shots and some graphs that will be useful.

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

And finally, for a 1/16 build with some grey areas, I always like to be supported by an accurate 1/35 kit. The AFV Club M113 FSV (actually an MRV) will provide details and dimensions (extrapolated from 1/35) for the various parts that will need to be scratch built.

1/16 RC M-113A1 M113 M113A1 MRV fire support - Australian Army - build

Well, this is it. Now the fun starts.

Regards, Louis

[BarryC]

How many M113s are in your future?

Barry

[lmcq11]

How many M113s are in your future?

Well, if I look back at my 1/35 modelling days for any indications, I had 12.

An IDF Zelda and a M167 are likely next.

[43rdRecceReg]

A masterly and detailed introduction, Louis.
Like you, I'm no fan of the ripple effect lines, which seem to be an inescapable byproduct of 3D printing. I'm sure, though, they won't prevent you from making yet another
superb model. I'll just get my slippers and a nice 10-year old single malt, then.
Do proceed.

[BarryC]

I'm no fan of the ripple effect lines, which seem to be an inescapable byproduct of 3D printing.

It not a byproduct but a quality of the printing machine. Have a look here.
https://www.model-monkey.com/product-pa ... irfix-kits

Barry

[B_Man]

Nice choice of subject Louis, looking forward to this one.

[lmcq11]

Hi,

The build has started and is already well advanced after a few evenings of work.

The Ludwig parts for the lower hull have annoying interlocking joints that are later difficult to make seamless and polished.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

The Ludwig lower hull is configured for Taigen Panther style suspension. After some analysis, the main hole is too big and not adaptable to the AFV-Model suspension.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

I therefore had to recreate new lower hull parts in plasticard, using the Ludwig parts for shape and dimensions. Good thing I had just recently rebuilt my plasticard (Polystyrene) reserve with plates of all thickness from Axels. This gave me the opportunity to eliminate the interlocking joints, and keep the Ludwig parts intact for future use.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

The new M113 lower hull is created totally with home made parts.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

AFV-Model suspension units, exterior view. M1x5 bolts are used, mainly for the look because the part is also glued in place.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

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AFV-Model suspension units, interior view

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

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The useless M4 threads are removed from the suspension arms.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

A 4mm aluminum tube with 3mm inner hole will be inserted.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

It is solidly hammered in place, the crushed end providing traction for the M3 threads.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

The M3 bolt is test fitted.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

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[lmcq11]

Ludwig road wheels with M3 bolts are installed on the modified AFV-Model suspension arms.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

An internal brace similar to the Ludwig design is created but adapted to the AFV-Model suspension. Notice how the torsion blades end points have been reinforced in place in order to adjust the suspension equally among the road wheels and remove any looseness.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

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The suspension arms first fit into a hole of exactly the sized of the arm for a firm and tight suspension, no loose movement here.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

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Fine tuning and adjustments to the arms themselves are required to align the road wheels correctly.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

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The suspension was first tested with AFV-Model M113 torsion blades on all road wheels. It did not take much time to notice that adding the weight of the suspension at the front made the model tilt to 51mm at the front and raised to 54mm at the rear, as I kind of expected, from experience with similar suspension without attachments for dampers. AFV-Model should have provided damper attachments on 6 of the suspension arms...

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

Stronger AFV-Model Leopard 1 torsion blades were therefore installed on road wheel 1 and 2 at the front.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

The model is now at a stable 53mm on both front and rear, the issue is resolved.

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build

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