Rubicons ACAV - anyone built one?

[brunei35]

Has anyone built one of these models and would care to share their opinion on the kit and hopefully pictures please? Wondering how it scales with the metal miniatures on the market.

I will not post a link to the model because on their website they have the page url as 'copy of m577a1' so imagine they'll fix that at some stage.

For those that have not seen it the model's name for google (or similar web search engines  )  is; 280134 - M113A1 Armoured Personnel Carrier

Thanks
Cheers

[carlos marighela]

Yes, I've built one. I made the Australian version and added my own gun shield out of plastic card.

It's a superbly engineered kit like most of their models. Easy to put together and the instructions are clear. If you aren't familiar with with the various iterations of the M113 family and national preferences it's sensible to pay attention to the instructions before starting the model as you can make  an Australian variant with different air filters to the US standards and ACAV variants.

Plenty of detail, including interior detail. including an engine and driver station. You can omit some of that if you don't wish to have the vehicle open, some of the stuff in the rear passenger area is required as it' part of the structure. But it's a beautiful kit to have open even if it's jut the rear hatch because there's sufficient detail that merits viewing, like the crew commanders seat. I kept the top hatch open and plonked a seated figure in there. I'll  be buying a couple more once they release the T50 turret but I'm thinking of getting at least one other just so I can open the whole thing up, as the rear ramp is also able to be posed open. They even give you interior decals for the engine firewall.

Decal sheet is extensive and very good. Overall it' very hard to fault this as a model. It's accurate and builds easily. My only minor nit picks would be the size of the brush guards for the aerials (which you can cut down anyway if you wish) and the absence of stowage but no doubt they will remedy that soon. That and the fact that the crew are all in flak jackets. You get four crew, two driver poses and two crew commanders/gunners. Plenty of spares for the box

Highly recommended.

[carlos marighela]

Here's you go. Sorry for the quality phone photo and it's dark here.

[carlos marighela]

More

[carlos marighela]

Note, the spare road wheel and track lengths are white metal from another model. The Rubicon model only comes with a short length of spare track.

[brunei35]

Thanks Carlos for the description and photos, certainly sold the model to me.

Cheers
Tony

[Russ justice]

Rubicon are certainly turning in to a force to be reckoned with.

[Poiter50]

Are Rubicon doing the Aussie turret as an upgrade?

Yes, I've built one. I made the Australian version and added my own gun shield out of plastic card.

It's a superbly engineered kit like most of their models. Easy to put together and the instructions are clear. If you aren't familiar with with the various iterations of the M113 family and national preferences it's sensible to pay attention to the instructions before starting the model as you can make  an Australian variant with different air filters to the US standards and ACAV variants.

Plenty of detail, including interior detail. including an engine and driver station. You can omit some of that if you don't wish to have the vehicle open, some of the stuff in the rear passenger area is required as it' part of the structure. But it's a beautiful kit to have open even if it's jut the rear hatch because there's sufficient detail that merits viewing, like the crew commanders seat. I kept the top hatch open and plonked a seated figure in there. I'll  be buying a couple more once they release the T50 turret but I'm thinking of getting at least one other just so I can open the whole thing up, as the rear ramp is also able to be posed open. They even give you interior decals for the engine firewall.

Decal sheet is extensive and very good. Overall it' very hard to fault this as a model. It's accurate and builds easily. My only minor nit picks would be the size of the brush guards for the aerials (which you can cut down anyway if you wish) and the absence of stowage but no doubt they will remedy that soon. That and the fact that the crew are all in flak jackets. You get four crew, two driver poses and two crew commanders/gunners. Plenty of spares for the box

Highly recommended.

[carlos marighela]

"Are Rubicon doing the Aussie turret as an upgrade?"

Yes, supposedly. From what I can tell, they're doing a T50 turret with various gun fit outs and what must be a boxed upgrade for the FSV version, including an interior with the ammo racks. I can live without the latter, given it's extremely limited service but really looking forward to the T50/ LRV version. I suppose I could add a 1/56 Scorpion turret and kit bash an MRV at some stage for 1980s wotifs.

It's a pity they have ignored the M74 C turret, that probably saw almost about as much service as the T50 in Vietnam (1966-68). Annoyingly that's the version required for 3 RAR's Tet battle in Ba Ria. Hopefully someone can be convinced to do a drop in version as an aftermarket part.

They already do a an M577 command track and I think there is a fitters' variant on the horizon. Have to make your own M125 if you want the whole set but given they have previewed the wrong mortar for the Australians in Vietnam, that's probably a good thing.