"113, do you think it's a lucky number ?"

1/16-scale M113A1 ACAV model kit from Andy's Hobby Headquarters, showing the armored vehicle with machine guns and crew Le M113 de Andy Hobby : Une bien belle pièce de qualité. Manque le moteur mais sûrement prévu plus tard... Commerce oblige... Dommage qu'il manque la pelle sur le glacis avant - pièce propre à quasiment tous ces véhicules... Ainsi que le combiné téléphonique. Mais j'y reviendrai...

M113 ACAV hull parts being assembled with sealant, as shown in the instructions Première chose : boucher au mastic tous les traces en creux de moulage des pièces apparentes...

Small gray pieces on a plastic cluster, separated one by one with tweezers Attention avec les nombreuses poignées qui viennent sur le pourtour et à l'intérieur du char. Très fragiles, elles se cassent en deux. Il faut couper les deux parties en même temps au ciseau pour éviter le problème...

Details of the installed handles...

Gray hull of the M113 ACAV being assembled, placed on top of the assembly instructions

Assembly of the left side: fuel tank, radio equipment, pilot's seat...

Assembled M113 A1 ACAV hull, painted gray, placed on the assembly instructions Fixation du plancher avec le rail latéral. La partie latérale droite sera collée plus tard car elle gênerait pour le processus de peinture intérieure...

Model of the M113 ACAV with the rear hatch open and an unpainted resin soldier figure Un conducteur va venir s'assoir sur le siège du pilote. Mais il ne s'adapte pas bien à la pédale, d'où : section du pied droit !

A metal rod is attached from the foot to the leg and will be coated with putty...

An M113 A1 ACAV tank viewed from the side, showing its machine guns and armored shields Une présentation des pièces principales avec les sous-ensembles...

Interior Painting

A green-painted model of the M113 A1 ACAV next to the assembly instructions

The base coat is an acrylic green with a light "dry brush" effect using lighter shades of green...

Applying the decals to the radio units will require a magnifying glass...

Detailed interior of the M113 ACAV, featuring a radio, fire extinguisher, and equipped side panels A noter la précision des détails des postes radio : toutes les inscriptions sont fournies. Certaines font dans les 2 millimètres !

Green interior rear partition of the M113 with instruction signs and a lowered rear ramp Peinture et pose des decals du sous-ensemble du compartiment moteur...

Olive-green side panel of the M113 ACAV with hooks and attached details Détails de la partie droite...

Interior floor of the M113 ACAV with a machine gun mount and seats painted green Close-up of the tank commander's seat...

Olive-green interior panels on the M113 ACAV with a hatch and a fire extinguisher plate Le compartiment arrière avec la porte hydraulique et la porte latérale...

The left side panel—paint and decals complete...

Detailed interior of the M113 A1 ACAV model, featuring seats and partitions Vue du poste du conducteur...

Painted dashboard and cockpit of the M113 ACAV under construction Le "plafond" qui comprend le tableau de bord, les épiscopes et différentes pièces comme le levier de trappe...

Green interior partition of the M113 with a bundle of cables and an unpainted gray part Différents câbles manquants sont ajoutés...

Three rolled-up strips of white fabric, the last one marked with a black pencil Les banquettes sont recouvertes de papier "essuie-tout" enduits de colle à bois très liquide...

Detailed interior of the M113 A1 ACAV model, featuring seats, benches, and radio equipment Pose des tissus des banquettes une fois celles-ci sèches. Des posters et journaux ont été ajoutés...

Miniature telephone handset made of coiled brass wire for the M113 ACAV model Le combiné téléphonique et son cordon, oubliés dans le kit - pièce pourtant essentielle et visible alors que tout l'équipement est complet - est fabriqué en carte plastique et en fil de plomb...

Detailed interior of the M113 ACAV model, featuring radios, seats, and accessories on the floor Le compartiment terminé...

Detailed interior of the M113 A1 ACAV model, featuring benches, a seat, and equipment painted green Autre vue : des poudres de pastel ont été disposées sur le plancher et parois...

Detailed interior of the troop compartment of the M113 A1 ACAV model, featuring benches and equipment Autre vue...

The exterior of the tank

Gray road wheels from the M113 ACAV, assembled and primed prior to painting on a workbench Préparation des roues. Le pourtour reçoit du mastic pour éliminer les joints qui est ensuite poncé...

Assembling the skate one by one doesn't pose any particular problems...

Figurine of a soldier wearing a helmet emerging from a hatch on the M113 ACAV armored vehicle under construction Assemble the four side panels of the vehicle as well as the roof. The "joining" process is not easy and requires precision for a clean finish...

The pilot figurine—which has been painted—is placed in his seat before the case is closed...

Miniature machine gun and ammunition boxes placed on the open roof of the M113 ACAV D'autres accessoires sont ajoutés dont des armes...

Model of the gray M113 A1 ACAV with crew figures and armored shields on the superstructure Le modèle terminé - pas de problèmes particuliers de montage du reste de l'équipement - avec une simulation des personnages qui viendront prendre place sur la partie haute...

A three-quarter rear view...

Model of the M113 A1 ACAV surrounded by soldier figures, some painted and others gray Another view showing the layout of the figures for the future diorama. They're all resin figures: some are from Verlinden, others from Kirin...

Exterior Paint

Top view of a gray M113 A1 ACAV model, with hatches open and covered with paper We cover the exposed areas to prevent paint from seeping in...

Model of the M113 tracked armored vehicle, viewed in profile, with weathering and detailed tracks Teinte de base : XF69 TAMIYA NATO puis un gris clair traité à la laque à cheveux pour les salissures et différents effets...

Model of the M113 A1 ACAV with gray primer, open hatches, and detailed tracks Autre vue...

U.S. Army M113 ACAV tracked armored vehicle with two soldiers in the jungle

That's right—contrary to what one might think, not all M113s are green, as is commonly stated. Some were anthracite black. You can compare them to the green of the helmets...

Painted models of M113 ACAV machine guns with armor shields and ammunition belts Painting the machine guns and shields. Bands of ammunition are added...

Model of the M113 A1 ACAV with armored turrets, U.S. Army markings, and a driver figure Pose des boucliers et protections du chef de char...

Model of the M113 A1 ACAV with an armored turret, machine guns, and an open rear hatch Vue aérienne...

Front view of an M113 A1 ACAV model, with 11-ACR and E-32 markings, weathered gray armor Model of the U.S. Army's M113 A1 ACAV armored vehicle with turret and machine guns More views...

Scale model of the M113 A1 ACAV with figures of fully equipped U.S. soldiers surrounding the tracked armored vehicle Painting the figurines: Humbrol and Winsor & Newton oil paints...

Figures of armed American soldiers sitting on the armor of the M113 ACAV Détail...

The Setting

Vegetation materials and twigs for creating a diorama setting

The set will feature a jungle border with plastic plants, dried plants, and small maple branches to create the coconut trees—only the lower parts, the trunks, will be visible...

The trunks are covered with gauze strips cut into 1-centimeter-wide strips, soaked in diluted wood glue, and wrapped around the trunk to simulate the texture of coconut palms. They are planted and glued onto a sheet of extruded polystyrene, which will serve as the base of the diorama...

Diorama under construction featuring palm tree trunks, tropical vegetation, and sandy ground for an M113 model Pose des premiers éléments. Les branches mortes des cocotiers sont des feuilles d'albizia séchées. Le bananier blanc à gauche (pas encore peint) est constitué de plumes d'oiseau...

Applying the ground texture, including some plants and various types of gravel...

Tropical vegetation diorama with a palm tree and ferns on sandy soil for an M113 ACAV model Détail après peinture...

Model diorama depicting sandy terrain with palm trees and tropical vegetation for the M113 A1 ACAV Peinture du sol et des troncs des cocotiers...

M113 A1 ACAV American olive-green semi-tracked armored vehicle—detailed view of the assembled model Détail...

Tropical diorama setting with palm tree trunks, ferns, and vegetation on sandy soil Tropical vegetation diorama with palm trees and ferns for an M113 A1 ACAV model Deux vues de la végétation. Le jeune cocotier est en résine...

Diorama scene under construction featuring a sandy path, palm trees, and tropical vegetation on a base Vue latérale avec les traces de chenilles dans le sol...

Diorama of a U.S. Army M113 A1 ACAV surrounded by soldiers advancing among palm trees Collage du char et des figurines sur le décor...

Painted backdrop depicting a tropical diorama with palm trees, vegetation, and a Vietnamese hut Le fond du décor. Il est peint sur un panneau de mdf enduit de blanc de 70x35 cm...