IDF Fitter's M113, (not so) quickie build..... it's back!

[rbaer]

Academy's IDF M113 Fitter's rig, in a hurry so I can get on with the little dio I want to put the recently "finished" Magach in. I have essentially zip for references on the inside of this thing, so I'm not going to obsess about what color the toilet flush handle is, no way to find out, don't have to spend an hour poring through umpteen books looking for a picture if it that shows it in the correct lighting, bla, bla, bla. If Academy doesn't see fit to tell me what color it is in the instructions, the SWAG method will be employed.
I also plan to restrict the view into the inside somewhat, so I'm not going to get all verklempt about all the huge gaping emptiness Academy leaves inside this thing. Seems like pipes and hoses should go somewhere after they start in thin air, but hey, who am I anyway?
I will however spend a little more time and effort on the outside, for which I have a couple of very good pics, without re-making every single part. And I may have the wrong number of rivets, too. I'm not even going to use the engine, absolutely no need for it when that hatch will be securely closed..... plus I have no desire to detail that mess enough to open the access hatch/cover/lid thing.
So, a pic or two.

I guess that big tank thingie is a big fuel tank thingie. I guessed on the color. The crane mount could use a lot of work, and having plumbing that actually had a point of origin and a destination would be cool, but, rule # 1 applies here, which is: Don't waste time on something that will never be seen by real people".

Above is a plastic IDF tanker's view, more that I'll be able to see when this thing is done. It needs the big carbon monoxide sticker, but Academy didn't give me one.
I'm hurt.

Look, Ma, no engine!
See rule # 1.

[rbaer]

Ed Zachary, Dicky.
I'm gonna use your M3 Fitter crane pics for plumbing when I get that far.... looks like a very similar unit.

[rbaer]

I was cleaning up the inside of the roof this morning, looking at the rather empty main inside area, and it hit me, hard enough to make me wince, THERE'S NO RADIOS IN THIS THING!
Academy has neglected to supply nay form of communications gear, not even tow tin cans and string. I have to fix that, which means finding a pic or two. So much for rule # 1.

[wbill76]

Cool project Russ! Follow Rule #1 assiduously and you'll never be disappointed.

[rbaer]

Ah, yep!
I think I've got a couple of radio-looking thingies from Tamiya Shermans that I didn't use because I closed the turrets up, that may be the ticket.
Remember Shep Paine's term, "gizmology"? I'm a fan.

[wbill76]

Dec 27, 2013 20:54:19 GMT -5 rbaer said:

Ah, yep!
I think I've got a couple of radio-looking thingies from Tamiya Shermans that I didn't use because I closed the turrets up, that may be the ticket.
Remember Shep Paine's term, "gizmology"? I'm a fan.

Gizmology has saved many a build that otherwise might have languished. Gizmo onward and upward!

[Leon]

Looking good Russ,on with the gizmology.

[rbaer]

I gizmoed! I remembered a few half-disassembled kits I had in the "what do I do with these" box and found an Academy M10 and some MP Models M50 parts. Bingo! I also found some Verlinden radio trays with shock mounts. A little scrap plastic, a few pieces from the M10, and some extra tool boxes and I'm looking suitably cluttered. I also used some extra plastic and resin pout blocks to fill in the area around the crane mount, to give some plausibility to the magic plumbing.
I then promptly closed it up, so I wouldn't keep fiddling with it. I've added welds around the major joins on the exterior, and can move onward and upward to Gizmoville!
Pics:

Above is about what will be visible to the casual viewer, or a plastic IDF guy.

Above, some welds and that permanently closed engine cover. I do have a pic or two of IDF M113s with a big ol' slab of armor plate where the trim vane normally resides that I thought were pretty neat which I may do on this model, gives it a definite "locally modified" look.

And finally a flash shot that shows the front of the main cabin and a little of the driver's office.
AND, I got to watch both the Cowboys and Chiefs snatch defeat from the jaws of victory while modeling. What a day.

[deafpanzer]

The interior looks pretty good!!!

[Deleted]

great idea and very nice work old chap

[rbaer]

Andy, Pete, thanks! I really dread interiors, glad I've got this one to the point where it'll work.

[rbaer]

Thank you sir! I'll be tossing loose items in there later, once I get a little further along with my "story line".....

[wbill76]

Nice scrounging effects there Russ! Looking good from here.

[rbaer]

Thanks, Bill. It's just back to the basics!
I did an engine and filled out the engine bay in an old Monogram Sherman one time with a 25th scale car V8 and a lot of stuff from who knows where, all because I read a few paragraphs on a pamphlet written by Shep Paine, and never looked back.
I know this thing would never pass muster on a contest table, it's just not accurate, but that's not what I need here. It's in the "campaigns" section over on Armorama, kind of hiding.....

[Jaymes Crowther.]

Great work! I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the diorama with the magach. I also agree with your theory about not doing something if you're not going to see it. Keep up the good work.

Jaymes

[rbaer]

Thanks you Jaymes. I barely have time to model the obvious stuff, so I figure why model what's hidden? I deviate from that now and then, but rarely. I spent hours doing some Blazer armor mounts on a Magach, where I thought it would be noticeable, and they're almost totally hidden on the completed model, so I'm pretty picky with my time now. I think I have a pic......

All that stuff under the Blazer blocks? Totally obscured on the finished tank. Hours out of my valuable modeling time, and not particularly fun either.

[deafpanzer]

And we all know its there too... they look GREAT!!!

[rbaer]

Thanks guys. All in the name of modeling.....
Okay, a few M113 pics today.

Above is the front hull with lights and light guards. Kits parts are a little thick and simplified, so I added some bilt heads and tried to clean up the driver's headlight mounts. Academy did a pretty poor job here.

Here is the rear, with can rack from PE, and storage box. Also rear light guards, from scrap PE and plastic, to replace to lousy kit parts.

And crane base, to ck fit to the hull, and see how it was going to go together, which is poorly. I expect the rest of the crane will be similar. I do plan some basic plumbing here too. I think I'll use Dicky's M3 Fitter half-track crane as an example.

[ceresvesta.]

Pure Eye Candy Rbaer!
I am in!

[rbaer]

Thank you Phil.
I was really wanting to not get bogged down doing a lot of re-working of things, but some of the parts on this kit need it so bad it hurts.
And I have to make it feel good.

[wbill76]

Keep slugging away Russ!

[ceresvesta.]

Keep at it, its working!

[rbaer]

Gents, thank you kindly.
I think rule #1 is out the window.

[rbaer]

Some progress sticking the outside bits on from last night. There's a lot of bits, sort of starting to look like the Clampetts put this thing together.




Going to the beach for the weekend, see 'ya!

[rbaer]

The beach, like sea coast..... you know, where the ocean is.
Texas Gulf Coast, most affordable place in the country to have a few days at the ocean. Loading up the 'cruiser and hitting the road in about two more hours, in fact.
I'm already havin' a Mojito, in my imagination, that is.

[rbaer]

[wbill76]

Have fun on the Gulf Russ! The bucket Fitter looks suitably loaded down for all contingencies.

[rbaer]

Thanks, Bill.
And I have some more stuff to add, maybe tell a story......

[rbaer]

And one for Dicky:

Not quite a "beach" picture, but close.....

[rbaer]

We had a pretty good time, even w/o the donkeys.
You're looking across in inland waterway, from Pelican Island up the coast across from Galveston, towards Houston.
We saw LOTS of container ships coming and going, seems that both Houston and Galveston are now very busy ports.