M151a2 w/TOW

[murad]

Tamiya's 1/35 Mutt, really lovely kit. Except the Garand on the lap of Tom it's as it is OOB

 

Base is balsa wood painted and wx with oil paints. Grass is Model Scene early summer with various Gale Force foliage coupled with pigments and lil stones from the beach.

 

[HeavyArty]

Looks really good.  The only change I would make it to swap out the M1 Garand for an M16A1.  The M825, the actual nomenclature for the M151A2 w/TOW mount, did not come into service until the mid to late '70s.  Some were tested in Vietnam in '72.  The current weapon at that time was the M16A1, which replaced the Garand by the mid '60s.  It also looks like you painted the rear stop lights/turn signals amber.  These should be red.

Edited January 3, 2017 by HeavyArty

[murad]

indeed you are correct wrt the weapon Gino. actually i made a typo there confusing garand with an m1 carbine which is what i've used, but then again even a standart buttstock carbine would be wrong here; since this is airborne a folding buttstock would be needed - altho i am not sure if the timeframe would still be plausible for a foldingstock one as well...  As for the rear light i'm a victim of Tamiya... i refuse to take the blame for not researching properly, nope.... :D

Edited January 3, 2017 by murad

[HeavyArty]

Nope, an M1 Carbine would not be right either.  The M16A1 replaced all other rifles, including any M1 Carbines that could have been still in use by the mid '60s as well.  By the mid-late '70s, the standard battle rifle for all US forces, including the 82d Airborne was the M16A1.

 

This is a pic of the original test M825s in Vietnam in 1972.  If you look at the soldier sitting on the 1st vehicle, you will see he is holding an M16A1.

[Rocat]

Interesting vehicle, well done.