M-113A1 Medium Recon Vehicle - Australian Army 1980s - build
Re: M-113A1 Medium Recon Vehicle - Australian Army 1980s - b
OK, Louis the Builder it is.
As usual your work is fantastic!
Barry
As usual your work is fantastic!
Barry
"Details make perfection, and perfection is not a detail."
Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo Da Vinci
Re: M-113A1 Medium Recon Vehicle - Australian Army 1980s - b
Hi,
This series of posts are for the turret mount, weapons and electronics.
The MRV Scorpion turret is jacked up on a large base plate and 2 think roundels of different sizes.
The 1/35 AFV Club model is providing accurate measurements to transpose to 1/16 scale.
The turret rotation dented ring is shown on this reference picture. In order to conceal the turret rotation system on a detailed interior, there is nothing better than trying to mimic the real thing.
I was lucky enough to have kept the rotation ring for the Ludwig V-150 commando, which is a perfect fit for the MRV. I assume that these can be ordered separately from Christian because I have not seen inverted dented rings elsewhere readily available. These are made of two halves that must be carefully glued together with precision. Then the other two roundels are made using a geometric compas.
It is critical that the rings be made perfectly round, otherwise it will not work and you will enter a world of pain and frustration trying to get the turret to rotate 360.
It is specially critical for the dented ring to be installed and glued to the hull without any distorsion.
The turret mount is completed and ready to accept the turret. Small drops of superglue were used to dry fit the rings into a optimal position for turret rotation. I had to redo the position 5 times until I got it correctly placed to work with the rotation unit on the turret bottom. Once you have everything perfectly aligned after a hour of sweating and cursing, apply superglue around to reinforce the rings in place without impacting their location anymore.
Moving to the turret, I am starting with the main gun. This miserable looking 3D printed mantlet needs to be reworked. The Spyker Workshop plastic is very soft. It is ok for sanding but it is easy to break and scratch. Also, this is a Scorpion tank turret, not the one that was adapted to the M113 MRV. There are differences that must be studied and accounted for. The main difference for the gun is the long cylinder that is not present on the MRV. It needs to be replaced by a naked gun tube with a canvas cover.
A new gun barrel is made using a series of brass and aluminum tubes of various sizes.
Comparing the new barrel with the one provided with the kit (top). I have determined that the kit tube was too big and closer to a scaled 88mm gun than the 76mm of the Scorpion turret.
Continuing on following post
This series of posts are for the turret mount, weapons and electronics.
The MRV Scorpion turret is jacked up on a large base plate and 2 think roundels of different sizes.
The 1/35 AFV Club model is providing accurate measurements to transpose to 1/16 scale.
The turret rotation dented ring is shown on this reference picture. In order to conceal the turret rotation system on a detailed interior, there is nothing better than trying to mimic the real thing.
I was lucky enough to have kept the rotation ring for the Ludwig V-150 commando, which is a perfect fit for the MRV. I assume that these can be ordered separately from Christian because I have not seen inverted dented rings elsewhere readily available. These are made of two halves that must be carefully glued together with precision. Then the other two roundels are made using a geometric compas.
It is critical that the rings be made perfectly round, otherwise it will not work and you will enter a world of pain and frustration trying to get the turret to rotate 360.
It is specially critical for the dented ring to be installed and glued to the hull without any distorsion.
The turret mount is completed and ready to accept the turret. Small drops of superglue were used to dry fit the rings into a optimal position for turret rotation. I had to redo the position 5 times until I got it correctly placed to work with the rotation unit on the turret bottom. Once you have everything perfectly aligned after a hour of sweating and cursing, apply superglue around to reinforce the rings in place without impacting their location anymore.
Moving to the turret, I am starting with the main gun. This miserable looking 3D printed mantlet needs to be reworked. The Spyker Workshop plastic is very soft. It is ok for sanding but it is easy to break and scratch. Also, this is a Scorpion tank turret, not the one that was adapted to the M113 MRV. There are differences that must be studied and accounted for. The main difference for the gun is the long cylinder that is not present on the MRV. It needs to be replaced by a naked gun tube with a canvas cover.
A new gun barrel is made using a series of brass and aluminum tubes of various sizes.
Comparing the new barrel with the one provided with the kit (top). I have determined that the kit tube was too big and closer to a scaled 88mm gun than the 76mm of the Scorpion turret.
Continuing on following post
Last edited by lmcq11 on Sat Dec 14, 2019 12:35 am, edited 3 times in total.
Re: M-113A1 Medium Recon Vehicle - Australian Army 1980s - b
In the 1980s, the MRV was equipped with Browning 7.62mm machine guns. These were replaced in the 1990s with FN Mag. I have decided to show the vehicle with Browning MGs for the coax and for the turret top mount. An Aber M1919 brass tube is used, and the tip was perforated to accept a 1mm Fibre optic cable along a brass tube.
All the 3D printed rings on the external mantlet are replaced by a combination of white plasticard and aluminum tubes of different sizes overlapped until the required thickness is reached.
The new 76mm gun and Browning coax Mg are mounted on the modified mantlet.
A small 360 degrees bi-directional continuous servo is used for the turret rotation. In this shot, a small Vex Robotics dented wheel is being adapted to fit the servo.
The 360 servo is carefully positioned, tested and then solidly fixed at the bottom of the turret.
It runs extremely well, thanks to the previous hard work in aligning all components during dry fitting and testing.
In addition to being concealed, it is somewhat resembling a real tank rotation system. The small dented wheel on the servo will be further reduced in thickness.
This is the turret electronics, with servo elevation, servo recoil, servo rotation, main gun and coax MG flash.
Continuing on following post
All the 3D printed rings on the external mantlet are replaced by a combination of white plasticard and aluminum tubes of different sizes overlapped until the required thickness is reached.
The new 76mm gun and Browning coax Mg are mounted on the modified mantlet.
A small 360 degrees bi-directional continuous servo is used for the turret rotation. In this shot, a small Vex Robotics dented wheel is being adapted to fit the servo.
The 360 servo is carefully positioned, tested and then solidly fixed at the bottom of the turret.
It runs extremely well, thanks to the previous hard work in aligning all components during dry fitting and testing.
In addition to being concealed, it is somewhat resembling a real tank rotation system. The small dented wheel on the servo will be further reduced in thickness.
This is the turret electronics, with servo elevation, servo recoil, servo rotation, main gun and coax MG flash.
Continuing on following post
Last edited by lmcq11 on Sat Dec 14, 2019 12:44 am, edited 2 times in total.
Re: M-113A1 Medium Recon Vehicle - Australian Army 1980s - b
Another view of the turret electronics
Overview of the model as it stands today. The next step is to dress up the turret, and of course, the turret basket...
Time to rest and get a sun tan.
Overview of the model as it stands today. The next step is to dress up the turret, and of course, the turret basket...
Time to rest and get a sun tan.
Re: M-113A1 Medium Recon Vehicle - Australian Army 1980s - b
Barry
"Details make perfection, and perfection is not a detail."
Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo Da Vinci
- HERMAN BIX
- Brigadier
- Posts: 10238
- Joined: Sun Jan 12, 2014 12:15 am
- Location: Gold Coast,Australia
Re: M-113A1 Medium Recon Vehicle - Australian Army 1980s - b
I assume “The Magnificent “ is only used when on the ‘Vegas stage tours or cruise liner shows!!BarryC wrote:OK, Louis the Builder it is.
As usual your work is fantastic!
Barry
That barrel /mantlet combo you came up with is a true thing of beauty.
What gets me on each build is the creative solutions to otherwise confounding problems.
The quest for perfection is inspiring .
HL JAGDPANTHER,HL TIGER 1,HL PzIII MUNITIONSCHLEPPER, HL KT OCTOPUS,HL PANTHER ZU-FUSS,HL STuG III,HL T34/85 BEDSPRING,
HL PZIV MALTA,MATORRO JAGDTIGER,HL F05 TIGER,TAMIYA KT,HL PANTHERDOZER,HL EARLY PANTHER G,TAIGEN/RAMINATOR T34/76,
HL AN-BRI-RAM SU-85
HL PZIV MALTA,MATORRO JAGDTIGER,HL F05 TIGER,TAMIYA KT,HL PANTHERDOZER,HL EARLY PANTHER G,TAIGEN/RAMINATOR T34/76,
HL AN-BRI-RAM SU-85
Re: M-113A1 Medium Recon Vehicle - Australian Army 1980s - b
Thank you Barry and Herman.
The next 2 posts are for the turret core, minus the more fragile details that will be added later as these could be damaged through manipulations as the build is far from over.
The Scorpion turret as seen on the web. Notice the overlaid armored plate, angles and reinforcement that must be studied for an accurate dressing up of the turret.
Sanding and polishing the 3D printed parts takes a good two hours, the process is creating fine dust requiring the mandatory wearing of a N95 mask and thorough cleanup of the work area. The plastic is soft so it helps getting to a flat, smooth and acceptable finish. The sanding of the parts, which requires most built-in details to be erased, is essential. Otherwise, the heavy 3D printed lines will make the finished model look like a freak, painting will only make the printed lines show even more. As for the built-in detail, it is ok to erase it all with the sanding because most of it is not accurate for the MRV anyway.
The installation of the armored plates went surprisingly well, starting with the lower sections. The parts dimensions are good. Only the back plate required an extension to fit.
The upper plates installation also went well. The whole thing only requires some adjustments here and there to fit, and almost no putty.
The main corrections are for the angled plates at the back, it cannot be glued flush with the middle plate. It must be recessed as per reference picture. Also, the weld reinforcements at the front sides need to be created with plasticard, with metal cutting and welding simulations.
The sanding of the turret roof is difficult but doable. Again, most of the small built-in details were erased in the process and will need to be reproduced in plasticard.
Small magnets will keep the turret roof in place and removable for easy access to the electronics.
My first shot at creating the heavy cut and weld lines.
The turret core, minis its small detail that will be added later, such as the Infra red light on the right of the mantlet, smoke grenade launchers on both sides, brackets of all kinds, the two radio antennas, machine gun mounts, etc.
More views on following post
On each build, i am exploring new solutions, improving skills as well. I am working on subjects i have not seen before for the specific purpose of creating challenge.HERMAN BIX wrote:What gets me on each build is the creative solutions to otherwise confounding problems.
The next 2 posts are for the turret core, minus the more fragile details that will be added later as these could be damaged through manipulations as the build is far from over.
The Scorpion turret as seen on the web. Notice the overlaid armored plate, angles and reinforcement that must be studied for an accurate dressing up of the turret.
Sanding and polishing the 3D printed parts takes a good two hours, the process is creating fine dust requiring the mandatory wearing of a N95 mask and thorough cleanup of the work area. The plastic is soft so it helps getting to a flat, smooth and acceptable finish. The sanding of the parts, which requires most built-in details to be erased, is essential. Otherwise, the heavy 3D printed lines will make the finished model look like a freak, painting will only make the printed lines show even more. As for the built-in detail, it is ok to erase it all with the sanding because most of it is not accurate for the MRV anyway.
The installation of the armored plates went surprisingly well, starting with the lower sections. The parts dimensions are good. Only the back plate required an extension to fit.
The upper plates installation also went well. The whole thing only requires some adjustments here and there to fit, and almost no putty.
The main corrections are for the angled plates at the back, it cannot be glued flush with the middle plate. It must be recessed as per reference picture. Also, the weld reinforcements at the front sides need to be created with plasticard, with metal cutting and welding simulations.
The sanding of the turret roof is difficult but doable. Again, most of the small built-in details were erased in the process and will need to be reproduced in plasticard.
Small magnets will keep the turret roof in place and removable for easy access to the electronics.
My first shot at creating the heavy cut and weld lines.
The turret core, minis its small detail that will be added later, such as the Infra red light on the right of the mantlet, smoke grenade launchers on both sides, brackets of all kinds, the two radio antennas, machine gun mounts, etc.
More views on following post
Last edited by lmcq11 on Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: M-113A1 Medium Recon Vehicle - Australian Army 1980s - b
Overview of the M-113A1 MRV and its Scorpion turret. You can see where this build is going.
The sanding and finishing of the complex optical apparatus is work in progress, its getting there.
An M-113A1 MRV is taking shape, a rare sight.
Regards, Louis
The sanding and finishing of the complex optical apparatus is work in progress, its getting there.
An M-113A1 MRV is taking shape, a rare sight.
Regards, Louis
Re: M-113A1 Medium Recon Vehicle - Australian Army 1980s - b
Truly a unique build Louis!
Barry
Barry
"Details make perfection, and perfection is not a detail."
Leonardo Da Vinci
Leonardo Da Vinci
Re: M-113A1 Medium Recon Vehicle - Australian Army 1980s - b
I'm amazed at how fast you are progressing. Congratulations for your work