Thanks gents - I'm glad you are enjoying it as much as I like finding the background material.
Yeah, that minigun. Apparently that photo was taken at a demonstration trial. They abandoned it after figuring out it was too hard to keep the ammo supply going in the field.
Tongde M113A1 - Australian Army Vietnam 1966
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Estnische
- Warrant Officer 2nd Class
- Posts: 1193
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2016 11:52 pm
- Location: Wollongong, Australia
Re: Tongde M113A1 - Australian Army Vietnam 1966
I found this little gem yesterday.
Here is the link - https://www.military-references.com/wp- ... 0_1978.pdf
There is a lot of detail inside. For quite a while now I noticed this canvas roll placed in between the engine grilles consistently on Aussie M113s.
Based on other photos of it, I guessed it held wire cutters for quick access. But the manual shows it is a debris cover for the engine grilles.
Similarly, here is an 81mm mortar carrier version. There is quite a lot going on here
The manual shows both the 81 and 107mm mortars and the three-part hatch details for anyone wanting to build it.
Here is the link - https://www.military-references.com/wp- ... 0_1978.pdf
There is a lot of detail inside. For quite a while now I noticed this canvas roll placed in between the engine grilles consistently on Aussie M113s.
Based on other photos of it, I guessed it held wire cutters for quick access. But the manual shows it is a debris cover for the engine grilles.
Similarly, here is an 81mm mortar carrier version. There is quite a lot going on here
The manual shows both the 81 and 107mm mortars and the three-part hatch details for anyone wanting to build it.
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Herr Dr. Professor
- Major
- Posts: 6066
- Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2019 10:48 pm
- Location: Southern Wisconsin USA
Re: Tongde M113A1 - Australian Army Vietnam 1966
Thank you for the link to the M113 resource. 
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Estnische
- Warrant Officer 2nd Class
- Posts: 1193
- Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2016 11:52 pm
- Location: Wollongong, Australia
Re: Tongde M113A1 - Australian Army Vietnam 1966
More details to add to the top deck, including the fuel cap.
The AHHQ fuel cap is somewhat squarer and taller.
The TD actually looks more accurate – go figure. I had salvaged it before I obliterated the top deck features. I also added a variety of fittings, antenna guards and associated bits where appropriate.
Next was the driver’s cupola. The periscopes will go in later.
Now to the commander’s position. I’m not going to use the TD version, but it is worth noting how inaccurate it is. Here you can see the front of the armour comes to just behind the centre of the driver’s hatch. Also, the bottom of the armour is nice and close to the top deck.
On the TD you can see it is further forward and much higher.
As Louis pointed out, the AHHQ commander’s hatch instructions are a little confusing. To me the pivot bar is also unnecessarily complex and weak.
I drilled out the plastic pivot points and used brass (inner) and aluminium (outer) tube instead. Here we are with it assembled.
I will do the gun and shield in the next update.
The AHHQ fuel cap is somewhat squarer and taller.
The TD actually looks more accurate – go figure. I had salvaged it before I obliterated the top deck features. I also added a variety of fittings, antenna guards and associated bits where appropriate.
Next was the driver’s cupola. The periscopes will go in later.
Now to the commander’s position. I’m not going to use the TD version, but it is worth noting how inaccurate it is. Here you can see the front of the armour comes to just behind the centre of the driver’s hatch. Also, the bottom of the armour is nice and close to the top deck.
On the TD you can see it is further forward and much higher.
As Louis pointed out, the AHHQ commander’s hatch instructions are a little confusing. To me the pivot bar is also unnecessarily complex and weak.
I drilled out the plastic pivot points and used brass (inner) and aluminium (outer) tube instead. Here we are with it assembled.
I will do the gun and shield in the next update.
