Tamiya 35135 - 1:35 M113 ACAV

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the American M113 ACAV armoured personnel carrier

Tamiya 35135 is a model kit for self-assembly depicting the American M113 armoured personnel carrier in the ACAV (Armored Cavalry Assault Vehicle) configuration — a vehicle that became one of the symbols of the Vietnam War. Rather than serving purely as a battle taxi for infantry, the ACAV-equipped M113 received an armoured shield for the heavy machine gun position and two additional shielded machine guns, allowing it to fight directly from the vehicle.

The kit was released in 1987 and is based on the 1974 M113 tooling. It features a reproduced interior compartment and engine, while the stowage accessories — rolled netting, a field cot and tools — give the vehicle the look of a machine in everyday field service. The decal sheet covers four marking options: three Vietnam vehicles (11th Armored Cavalry Regiment and 3/4 Cav) and one from 4-16 Inf., 1st Infantry Division stationed in West Germany.

What's in the box:

• Plastic parts for the hull, equipment and armament
• Vinyl band tracks
• Reproduced interior compartment and engine
• Armament: shielded 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and two M60 machine guns with shields
• Accessories: rolled netting, field cot, tools
• Three figures
• Decal sheet with four marking options
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35135
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: approx. 139 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (interior and engine detail, extensive armament)

Please note: The kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

Assembly is approachable even for less experienced modellers — the parts fit together well and the vinyl band tracks considerably shorten work on the running gear. The shielded gun stations and the external stowage call for a little more care; it is worth painting the interior and the engine before closing up the hull, as access becomes limited afterwards.

For painting we suggest the classic American Olive Drab (e.g. Tamiya XF-62); the instructions give paint codes for all four schemes. The character of a Vietnam-era vehicle is brought out nicely by dust and grime, so a wash and weathering pigments will come in handy. Military vehicle models are usually finished with a matt varnish.

Tools you will need:

• Model sprue cutters
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper for cleaning up sprue gate marks
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Precision modelling tweezers
• Brushes in a range of sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out details and recesses
• Optional: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – M113 ACAV:

The M113 is an American tracked armoured personnel carrier with a hull made of aluminium alloy — a solution that significantly reduced weight and gave the vehicle an amphibious capability. Its light construction, simplicity and roomy troop compartment made the M113 one of the most widely produced and longest-serving vehicles of its class in the world.

In Vietnam, American and South Vietnamese armoured cavalry units began to use their carriers not merely to transport infantry but above all as fighting vehicles patrolling roads and carrying out reconnaissance. The exposed commander's position at the heavy machine gun proved highly vulnerable to fire, so in 1966 the ACAV kit was introduced: an armoured shield for the heavy machine gun and two additional shielded machine gun positions on the sides of the compartment.

M113s modified in this way offered much greater firepower and better crew protection, becoming a recognisable image of the fighting in the Mekong Delta and along the supply routes. Tamiya 35135 reproduces exactly this configuration, together with the additional field stowage typical of the theatre.

Original vehicle specifications (M113 ACAV):

• Length: approx. 4.86 m
• Width: approx. 2.69 m
• Height: approx. 2.5 m
• Combat weight: approx. 11–12 t
• Crew: 2 plus infantry squad
• Armament: shielded 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and two M60 machine guns with shields (1966 ACAV kit)
• Armour: aluminium alloy hull
• Powerplant: diesel engine, tracked running gear
• Amphibious capability

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The company initially traded in timber and produced wooden models, and in 1960 it launched its first plastic model kit. Two years later came the 1:35 scale tank that set the worldwide standard for military modelling. The brand is known for precise injection moulds and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are chosen by beginners and experienced modellers alike. Tamiya instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the painting diagrams provide specific paint codes. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, comprises hundreds of items covering vehicles, artillery and figures from across the twentieth century. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the industry.