Tamiya AMX-13

[rbaer]

I needed something to do that wasn't nine million parts and might go together without a bunch of aftermarket so I started poking through the stash. I came to this kit (one of two actually, the second one missing parts) that I bought at a show a while ago, don't remember why exactly... and two sets of Friuls for the IDF version (long story). Well heck. It's a really nice kit, typical for recent Tamiya offerings and if I didn't want to do the IDF version it wold have been fine totally OOB. But.
So a little research and I have identified the major mods to do, only two really, and a couple of minor things. The "major" things are covers over the rear air (intakes?) and a turret riser, the latter done by the IDF so the turret could rotate its full 360 degrees without interfering with the driver's hatch and something else, maybe to do with the gun having to elevate in a certain position. I forgot. The required mods are all over the internet.
It took maybe two hours to have the lower hull and running gear done, another couple of hours to do the tracks and not long to build the turret riser, along with re-positioning the turret lock ring.
IMG_4069 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_4070 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
Then I had to do a spacer under the turret ring to give it the required stand-off from the hull, easily done with .010"x.040" strip:
IMG_4068 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
I have no desire whatsoever to dork around with PE for this thing so I'm thinning thick parts where necessary, like the headlight brush guards:
IMG_4067 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
Even the TC fig is really good, all I'll have to do is change his head and viola, I'll have a Six Day War AMX-13 with a dude. I fully expect this to be a quick build, says Murphy.

[deafpanzer]

You really do LOVE IDF stuff! I got me a seat on the front row this time. You are off to a great start... good luck!

[buddho]

Ohhh yeah...looking forward to more!

[stikpusher]

Oh yes! Another master class on IDF armor.

[M1Carbine]

More IDF….im in.

-Bob

[Joe Rix]

Very cool subject. You've certainly done some nice early work. I'll be be keeping up on this.

[handiabled]

You make big modifications look easy. Bookmarked this one

[Leon]

Ill be following along!

[moparmadness]

Looking forward to seeing more of this one. I’m a fan of IDF armor.

[Real G]

You have my attention!  The AMX-13 ticks off all my boxes - weird looking, not well known, yet it's a Tamiya, and yours will be a conversion.

[chromdome35]

Russ, I love your build threads, I always learn something from you. Your ability to scratch-build details really blows me away. Following with interest.

[rbaer]

Temporary slow-down while I wait for some reference material. I realized the IDF version has a lot of differences from the kit and the Takom "IDF" version too, so I ordered the SabingaMartin book last week. I have the major issues handled (hull riser and rear air grill covers) but there's a LOT of smaller stuff that I don't have good info on.
So much for "quick and OOB"... I'll get a pic up of my progress to date soon.

[stikpusher]

Oct 17, 2023 7:06:02 GMT -5 rbaer said:

So much for "quick and OOB"... I'll get a pic up of my progress to date soon.

I know that outcome all too well…. 🤨

take a pause and regroup for the next go at it.

[rbaer]

Making adjustments.... there's a lot of small things different on the IDF version.
IMG_4091 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_4090 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
It was kind of a shame to cover up the very nicely done rear air vents/intakes/exhausts/(?) but the IDF did, so I followed suit.

[406 Silverado]

I was wondering what was happening there with the covers at first Russ but you explained it at the very end. BTW.....I know I'm gonna feel like an idiot when you tell me but what does IDF stand for?

[chromdome35]

Oct 18, 2023 5:21:52 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

I was wondering what was happening there with the covers at first Russ but you explained it at the very end. BTW.....I know I'm gonna feel like an idiot when you tell me but what does IDF stand for?

IDF = Israeli Defence Force

[rbaer]

Well I've done done it again. I researched the IDF use of the AMX-13 and found out the Tamiya kit is maybe not the best starting point. It's not a bad one, and the work I've done so far is in the right direction, but there's some things that Takom got pretty close in one of their issues of the same tank, so I guess I'm gonna slow down a bit until I get some more goodies. I ordered some 3D printed early headlights and guards from FC Modeltrend, taking a leap there since I haven't heard anything good about their parts, and a Takom kit to get the turret details and later style fender stowage bins. Other than that, I'm good to go.
I never actually realized how long this little tank served and how many variants there were. I've become somewhat reasonably well versed in the basic hull types, but oh man the turrets....

[stikpusher]

Would one of the Takom AMX-13 kits make a better start point for an IDF subject?

[rbaer]

Oct 25, 2023 19:51:56 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Would one of the Takom AMX-13 kits make a better start point for an IDF subject?

I think so, yes. There are still things that need changing for a 6-Day War period tank, and they were pretty much gone after that. The most visible would be the headlights and guards. I have those ordered from FC Modeltrend, fingers crossed....
In the meantime, I'm doing basics, working towards the most-often seen IDF example, what appears to be a type 2B or C hull with an early turret with the big dust shield. Yeah, right.
I still have stuff to "un-do", but I'll wait for the Takom kit to show up to make sure the "correct" parts are in fact "correct". I've done enough poring over other builds in magazines and such to be optimistic. Anyway, my example so far:
IMG_4098 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_4099 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
Lots of holes to fill.

[ogrejohn]

Looking good Russ!

[stikpusher]

Do you think this would be a good kit for a French Operation Musketeer AMX?

[rbaer]

Oct 30, 2023 19:00:24 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Do you think this would be a good kit for a French Operation Musketeer AMX?

Other than the road wheels, yes. I've been informed and confirmed it through research that the welded road wheels Tamiya used are a later style. The early style have the rims fastened to the centers using bolts, kind of like a Panther. Accurate Armor makes the needed wheels for a Takom kit but not Tamiya, so earlier today I started converting the Tamiya wheels. Using a small cordless drill, I chucked the wheels up and removed the welds, than re-scribed the inner edge of the rims. I will add bolts later. The pic is lousy, but the Tamiya has short welds spaced around the inner rim, now removed. The bolts will go just inside the outer rim.
My scribing tool is pointing to the area I'm re-working...
IMG_4102 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_4103 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
Once I got a system down it only took about an hour to do all ten.

[handiabled]

You are masterful with picking out the smallest of details that make a particular variant what it really is. This is coming together wonderfully!

[406 Silverado]

You really know your stuff on these vehicles Russ and it shows in the modifications and lengths that you're going to in order to get it all correct. Lookin' good so far buddy.

chromdome35 : Thank you for the IDF clarification. After I posted it a couple of days later the light bulb came on and I put it together, but I do thank you for that.

[rbaer]

I'm learning as I go, with a lot of help from guys on Armorama. But I do like to have the details as close as I can get them.

[rbaer]

And after 120 bolts, I have the early(er) bolted wheels.
IMG_4106 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
Twelve per wheel, ten times. Argh.
IMG_4105 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
At least I had the six wheel bolts to index the rim bolts by.

[handiabled]

I bet it was more than tedious putting those on but the result really stands out. By chance are those Anyz bolts?

[stikpusher]

Wow! You added all the needed bolts on all the road wheels?! Crazy! 😵‍💫

[rbaer]

The bolts (actually studs, nuts and washers) are Meng. They're very useful.
Call me crazy, my wife does.

[rbaer]

Oh happy day, the old style headlights from FC Modeltrend came in and they're pretty good, I think. Plus I was able to get them ready to go on without destroying them, something I've done with quite a few other 3D printed parts. Some producers use resin that is stupid brittle... and the Takom kit came in, so I'm back on track. Between the Takom kit and the FCM parts, I now have everything I need to finish, except maybe decals...
After a couple of hours fiddling with the right side bins and muffler cover, I gave up on the Takom part and went back too the Tamiya part, I think since the Tamiya muffler is bigger.... anyway, I imagine this combination could have happened, an early cover with late side bins, and if it's "wrong", I'll live with it.
Pics:
IMG_4118 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_4119 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_4120 by Russel Baer, on Flickr