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

BarryC · Post by **BarryC** » Mon Dec 09, 2019 12:26 pm

OK, Louis the Builder it is.

As usual your work is fantastic!

Barry

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Fri Dec 13, 2019 11:57 pm

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.

: M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build; Capture1.JPG (30.68 KiB) Viewed 3650 times

The 1/35 AFV Club model is providing accurate measurements to transpose to 1/16 scale.

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

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

It is specially critical for the dented ring to be installed and glued to the hull without any distorsion.

: M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build; Capture5.JPG (86.82 KiB) Viewed 3650 times

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.

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

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.

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

A new gun barrel is made using a series of brass and aluminum tubes of various sizes.

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

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.

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

Continuing on following post

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Sat Dec 14, 2019 12:16 am

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.

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

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.

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

The new 76mm gun and Browning coax Mg are mounted on the modified mantlet.

: M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build; Capture11.JPG (83.94 KiB) Viewed 3649 times

: 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

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.

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

The 360 servo is carefully positioned, tested and then solidly fixed at the bottom of the turret.

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

It runs extremely well, thanks to the previous hard work in aligning all components during dry fitting and testing.

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

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.

: M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build; Capture17.JPG (95.29 KiB) Viewed 3649 times

This is the turret electronics, with servo elevation, servo recoil, servo rotation, main gun and coax MG flash.

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

Continuing on following post

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Sat Dec 14, 2019 12:22 am

Another view of the turret electronics

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

Overview of the model as it stands today. The next step is to dress up the turret, and of course, the turret basket...

: 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

Time to rest and get a sun tan.

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

BarryC · Post by **BarryC** » Sat Dec 14, 2019 2:51 pm

Barry

Post by **HERMAN BIX** » Sat Dec 14, 2019 9:21 pm

BarryC wrote:OK, Louis the Builder it is.

As usual your work is fantastic!

Barry

I assume “The Magnificent “ is only used when on the ‘Vegas stage tours or cruise liner shows!!

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 .

lmcq11 · Post by **lmcq11** » Sun Dec 15, 2019 8:41 pm

Thank you Barry and Herman.

HERMAN BIX wrote:What gets me on each build is the creative solutions to otherwise confounding problems.

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.

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.

: M-113 M113 M-113A1 MRV 1/16 RC Scorpion Turret Australian Army build; Capture1a.JPG (43.47 KiB) Viewed 3590 times

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.

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

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.

: 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

The upper plates installation also went well. The whole thing only requires some adjustments here and there to fit, and almost no putty.

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

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.

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

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.

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

Small magnets will keep the turret roof in place and removable for easy access to the electronics.

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

My first shot at creating the heavy cut and weld lines.

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

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.