Academy's "Ontos". Greek for "The Thing".
The "Thing" was an 8 ton anti-tank vehicle, specifically designed for the war in the scrub and bush of Viet Nam, with a crew of three and packing 6 X 106mm recoilless rifles.
The only drawback with the 'Ontos' was that the gunner had to exit the vehicle to load and fire the guns.
Even though the detail in the kit is as good as it gets, Voyager have a PE set with 6 turned alloy barrels that increases the external detail to a very high degree indeed. 🙂
Verlinden also produce a fantastic resin 'interior' making the model open to the possibility of being part of a very detailed 'scene', somewhere in Hue city during the "Tet" offensive by the North Vietnamese.
The resin interior is extremly well detailed, right down to the phone 'handset'.
I have allready done some extensive work on this model, doing some extremly fine work in getting the whole breach mechanism to open and close like the real 'thing'.
A bit blurred, but the open and closed breaches are clearly visible.
After the first 'cut', it became impossible to stop and so I just kept seeing more and more possabilities as the WIP continued to gain momentum. But I am happy with my effort.
The overall 'impression' is that the whole lot looks a little more 'believeable'.
There was some really careful trimming and shaving and cutting to get the whole lot to behave like the real breach and then there was the drilling and the copper wire for the pivot pins for the breach lock to ride on, along with the operating handle too.
Here I have carved a new hand set from some leftover resin and with the ultra thin copper wire from an old broken CD player, I was able to create the 'curly cord'.
The comms radio set with the kit handset and some slightly thicker copper wire for the coiled stretch cable.
This is the resin interior image by verlinden.
The rear doors are both operational thanks to some styrene rod and copper wire for the PE pivot mounts and some CA glue.
There was some mighty fine drills used here and some careful alignment of the pivot mounts location points.
Say Ahhhhhh. 🙂
The spanners that help keep an Ontos being an Ontos, but they need to be stored in something, like a tool box.
The first part of five pieces, with the pins installed.
These 'pins' ar for the arms to be attached to.
The copper wire 'winding' from an old CD player was perfect, as the diameter was exactly the same as the holes in the brass.
The scale/size of this tool box was something I was not expecting, and there are 3 to go. !!
I didn't mind the excess of glue here inside the draw, as it created a better grip base for the wire to lock into, and it will never be seen, unless it is in the open position.
All ready for the stacking and the placement of the actuator arms.
And this is the result, and it was NOT an easy thing to do, as the 'tollerances' you have are less than 0.001 of a MM.
The 'pins' here have now been nipped off with my fingernail clippers.
The finished item, and NO, the draws do not fold out, but I will attempt that on the other three.
So much better than the plastic and resin ones available, as the 'depth' these will bring to a diorama will be stunning. 🙂
The excess of the thickness of the cast resin all shaved away, and it took a lot to get it from 5mm thick down to 2mm thin.
As with all resin castings, there is a lot of work involved in getting the trim away exact and as always there is a ton of waste.
All these parts have been 'cleaned up' and ready for finals. 🙂
Still some fine work on just a couple of rough edges to do, but overall, they come up really well, and with the scene I am hoping to create, these are just the 'type' of figure I am hoping will produce a great feel.
Hozzászólások
27 April 2016, 01:09
Kerry COXThe "Thing" was an 8 ton anti-tank vehicle, specifically designed for the war in the scrub and bush of Viet Nam, packing 6 X 106mm recoilless rifles. Operated by the US Marines.
27 April 2016, 01:20
Thomas MayerThere is no stop for you, Kerry! I mighty impressed by the fine coil wire for the phone!
27 April 2016, 06:19
Kerry COXThomas and Hanno, Thank you both. 👍 I do have a tendency to get a little involved with my models now, and after seeing many fine examples of some scratch building here on SM, I have become a little more adventurous in my attempts to do the same. 🙂 But Thomas, that is an other story I have for you when I see you, all about the vehicle you see here. 🙂 Cheers. 👍
27 April 2016, 09:06
Holger KranichOh yeah, the Ontos! I love that strange vehicle!Thats a tank for "badasses"!
And i see you are going to build it with all bells and whistles!Resin, pe, scratch, but i never mentioned anything else from you;)
27 April 2016, 11:57
Kerry COXHolger, mate.!🙂 You certainly know how to put a smile on my face. 🙂
I will let the cat out of the bag on this one, as I have 4 of these kits and it will all be going into a dio of the "Battle of Hue City, 1968" where the 1st Battalion of the 6th Marine Regiment engaged the NVA with the expectation of encountering the Russian built T-34's and possibly, the T-54/55's.
So, I will be busy making a busy 'scene'. 🙂
27 April 2016, 13:04
Holger Kranich4 of them? And all with the same aftermarket stuff? Phew... But the idea is somewhat great! Will you give ´em some sandbag-armour? This is a long-term project, isnt it?
27 April 2016, 13:22
Holger KranichHave a look at this guys Ontos albums, its very inspirational!
Markus Kutsch
27 April 2016, 13:26
Kerry COXHi Holger. 👍. I have just the two Voyager PE kits, and I am still to work out the finer details of the general lay out, and as for the open breaches, just the one vehicle is enough, or I would go nuts trying to get 20 of them done having done just 4 already. :-p
Yes, the process will take up a fair bit of time, but I am planning on not too much, but only as I get some good spare time .
Thanks for the link too. 👍 They certainly are some spectacular results there for sure. 👍 And so rich in ideas for me to use too. 👍🙂
27 April 2016, 17:14
Steven Van DyckGreat work on the guns. I'm a fan of Voyager upgrades but I find them now more rare on conventions. I'm curious about any figures you would be using.
27 April 2016, 18:21
Kerry COXHi Steven. 🙂 The figures that are in the kit are ok, but there is a good selection of some after market ones from Verlinden of the Viet Nam era ground troops I can use. google.com.au/url?sa..ust=1461876522318388
27 April 2016, 20:50
Kerry COXI have got some 'bonus points' with Hobbylink, google.com.au/url?sa..ust=1461877127867253 which will help reduce the financial impact of buying enough to have the dio look 'busy' without overcrowding it. 👍
27 April 2016, 20:55
Thomas MayerNever have heard of HobbyLink. So, thanks for this one: I will check their website later!
Killing headaches ruin my morning...
28 April 2016, 05:35
Holger KranichHey Thomas, time to take some painkillers? Same here too. My spine is not working the way it should...
28 April 2016, 06:23
Kerry COXA dark quiet room with maybe a nice smell of some essential oils in the air Thomas.👍 Maybe sniffing glue is not what it used to be. hahahahah🙂
28 April 2016, 06:43
Thomas MayerHolger, Kerry: thank you! Pain killers taken!
Kerry, maybe this is because of not enough Tamiya Extra Thin in the morning? Who knows...
I also got Tamiya´s new fast drying cement. Very different smell. Makes your brain fly around in the room...
28 April 2016, 09:16
Kerry COXThomas. I hate having to chase my brain around like that too. :-/ 🙂
But it's true. If the ventilation is poor, I get a bit wonky at times.:-p
I hope your ok now mate. 🙂
28 April 2016, 09:24
Bart Goesaertthat's something that never occurred to me yet, chasing my brain around? huh, what brain? 😉
28 April 2016, 09:28
RexWith all due apologies to Thomas and his aching head. As a Ramp Roach that received infantry training, the Ontos scared the bejeebers out of me. All those stories of the backblast from those recoil-less rifles taking out guys on the same side of the fight. One guy I am friends with here in Tenn was in the Army, and just shudders when the subject of a single recoil-less on an Army Mule came up one day.
Cool piece of armor, though, imagine 20 of those running out of the woods at you.
28 April 2016, 18:43
Hanno KleineckeThis toolbox looks absolutely amazing Kerry, with all the wrenches and stuff ! I really admire your scratchbuilding skills, simply stunning.
30 April 2016, 18:01
Kerry COXHanno, thanks mate. 👍
The original piece of wire that was meant to be the 'pins' that all the arms pivoted on was made of a really hard stainless steel, and to try to get that right length for the 28 + holes they had to fit into, especially after snipping the wire, creating a burred end on each piece that prevented the wire from fitting the holes, it was just impossible, (well, for these old fingers it was:-/) so I had to find an alternative and the copper wire winding from the small electric motor was it, as it allowed me to have some 'give' when positioning the arms and took the CA glue really well.🙂
Then there was the added difficulty of balancing all the components in their respective positions while inserting the wire. 🙂
Three more to go, and even though they are "German" mechanics tool boxes, they look exactly the same as the US boxes too, so a lick of different paint, and the difference will be virtually unnoticeable, unless some rivet counting judge with a huge magnifying glass has a closer look. 🙂
Cheers mate, and thanks again. 👍 🙂
30 April 2016, 21:57
Kerry COX🙂 Thomas, This would be something you could really enjoy, knowing how much you welcome a challenge. 🙂 👍
1 May 2016, 08:10
Kerry COX:-O Horse twaddle!!. You have amazing skills Thomas and you could do this with one eye closed. hehehehehe🙂
1 May 2016, 20:14
Thomas MayerI do everything with one eye closed, Terry! Except paying bills. Here I close both eyes... 🙁
1 May 2016, 20:31
Kerry COXLOL. And could that also be said for your typing abilities then. ? K erry. hahahahaha
1 May 2016, 21:38
Gareth WindsorThis is looking like another incredible build Kerry. That tool box is quite something mate.
2 May 2016, 21:24
Kerry COXGareth, Many thanks mate. 👍 The tool box is by Voyager and there are 4 in all, and I mostly bought it for the WLA dio I am wanting to do of the mechanics in the field working on the bikes, but it fits the Ontos somewhere, but as yet, I am to figure out how, in the middle of a fire fight. :-/
2 May 2016, 22:27
Gareth WindsorI've seen some photos of them dug into defensive positions, so dio with camo net, oil drums, creates and tools could work. Not really seen these little machines before, but they had quite the bite.
Youtube Video
2 May 2016, 23:29
Kerry COXThanks for these links Gareth, and it looks like there are some I have not looked at yet, as I have seen a couple of them putting some rounds across the river in Viet-Nam, but I never get tired of watching history mate, so much better than reading a book and filling in the gaps with my imagination. For sure. 🙂
2 May 2016, 23:47
Christian MeyerhoffMissed this one for what reason ever... Kerry You make me thinking about new glasses. I love this tool box mate!
24 May 2016, 19:13
Kerry COXJames and Christian, Good morning gents. 🙂 I do appreciate you both looking in. 🙂 and I actually bought a new magnifying goggle set last month and I sure needed them for the tool boxes. :-/
James, the Ontos was purely a vehicle for the Viet Nam war, 8 tons and did quite a job when confronting the RVN T-70's !
I was really intrigued with it the first time I saw it, as it was just so not like a 'Tank' but could kill them if within range. So far, I am working on just getting the 'openness' of it happening, because when they were in action, all doors and hatches were opened up, and at times was a bit of a draw back, having to load the guns from outside the vehicle.
Yes, the metal barrels are nicely detailed, but the kit ones are just as nice too, which makes for some "maintenance" work action possible too. 🙂
24 May 2016, 21:40
Michael HickeyYou're doing an amazing job on this one Kerry, can't wait to see more.👍
25 May 2016, 04:49
Kerry COXMike, My long lost friend. 🙂 What a welcome sight it is to see your presence again mate. It's made my day. 👍 Thank you for your most encouraging words 👍These kits I have had a while and after having a small success with one dio, It gave me the encouragement to see what I can do with these amazing little gunners. Cheers mate. 🙂 👍
25 May 2016, 07:28
Holger KranichThese Master Box figures look amazing! And the tool box is outstanding!
1 June 2016, 09:14
Kerry COXYes, I certainly am happy with the detail in the figures, and so much extra equipment too. Like smoke grenades, fragmentation grenades, knives in scabbards. All the facial expressions and eyebrows too. !!! :-O
The tool boxes were for the dio of the WLA's road side repair station, but the fact they can fit anywhere is even better. Thanks mates. 🙂 👍
1 June 2016, 11:04
Kerry COXHolger, I take it your quite familiar with the MB kits. ?
I have only just discovered them, as I have looked high and far for some quality figures for the dio, but I would love to find one like the guy asleep on the front of the Ontos. That looks really good, but I guess if I worked on one of the figures, I could get something like it happening. (For a different dio).
1 June 2016, 13:37
Holger KranichAh, what means quite familiar... I have some and i want some more for different reasons.🙂 The fit is great, facial expressions look good and they create very convincing scenerys.
1 June 2016, 14:41
Kerry COXYup. 🙂 That's exactly why I am now a big fan. Which ones do you have Holger. ?
1 June 2016, 16:09
Holger KranichI love their Vietnam series. Head for the Huey for example. Or the LRRP patrolers as well.
1 June 2016, 17:57
Album info
Academy have had this 1/35 model on the market for a number of years now, and Verlinden have an 'interior' in resin for it, and Voyager make a great PE set that comes with 6 turned alloy barrels for it, and they all go to make a really good representation of it.