Team Yankee Americans: M901 ITV, M981 FIST-V (and other M113 hulls) build & paint

by Dennis ‘Matt Varnish’ Campbell

Alright, back at it, Team Yankee Americans. In this post, I am outlining my Desert MERDC camo M113 hulls.    MERDC camouflage was designed in the 70s to be a standardized pattern that could have 1 or two of the 4 colours repainted and thus transition from region or season.   In reality, apart from some White added for winter, the camo remained and was eventually replaced.   I like the look of it for my desert forces rather than the blander tan you see on most Desert Storm vehicles.   Since I am doing Texas National Guard units (with Texas-based regforce attached) I loved finding a pic of an M901ITV from Fort Hood at the NTC in this very camo!

Disregard the green M150 TOW in the foreground

So I wanted a crack at this camo scheme, plus I needed to build 2 more M901 ITVs, but first, let’s see the last post’s finished M1’s, in all their 112pt glory (since I said I would show the completed force):

 

Three platoons of tanks with 2 HQ.   One of the tank platoons are modelled as M1A1s for the next US book, especially now we know some stats and points.. I’ll put extra stowage on the M1A1’s.  My formula for the tan is a darker tan underspray (doesnt matter which really) then VJ Stone Grey 884, highlight VJ Panzer Aces Afrika Korp Highlight 340, then finally a weathering of VJ Pale Sand 837

If you recall from my previous post, I had acquired this army which was painted by two different people.    I decided I would finish up the most ‘in-need’ units, which were 2 sections of M901 ITVS painted by the original owner, then 1 section of M901ITVs painted by Scott ‘Obsidian23’ Roach, and then I built my last 2.  The below pic shows what paints were used for the desert MERDC, the only colour that was the same between the two was the black.

I had to decide which of the two I liked more, the heavier contrast between Buff and Chocolate brown, or the closer tones of Afrika Korps Highlight and beige brown.  I went with the latter…

This meant repainting 4 M901s plus the 2 I had just built and primed.    VJ Beige Brown on everything.

I even did the M981 FISTV and HQ M113 with the Beige Brown

 

VJ Desert Yellow and any matt Black for the black

 

They are tabletop ready at this point, but anyone who knows me, knows I need to DETAIL THAT UP some, son!

 

Before weathering, however, I added decals to the sides and rear doors of all 8 M901ITVs and the did the track guards in VJ Dark Grey and then diagonal ‘scratches’ of VJ Field Blue (my go-to rubber colour for roadwheels too) before dry brushing the weathering colour of VJ USA Tan Earth.   Its got TAN and USA in the name, GOTTA use it

Command M113 on the left, M981FIST on the right, after all detailing (headlights, taillights, stowage crates, jerry cans, and tools)  Obligatory Officer-with-Map meme for the HQ M113 from the open hatch

 

Rear view, the USA Tan Earth really made these stand out I thought, especially on the track guards

The finished 4 sections of M901ITVs, all painted to one standard, and with all periscopes and lenses done.  I think they turned out great, too bad I now have to redo every other M113 hull I have (8 M113s, 3x M106s, 4x VADS) to this standard (see below)

 

Last weekend (at time of writing, it’s obviously COVID-Isolation now), myself, Rob ‘MRE’ Kelly, and Scott Roach had a paint-fest at Scott’s while we watched Long Tan, an excellent Vietnam movie featuring Aussies and Kiwis.   Rob had brought some german MRE’s, I love that they are called Panzerplattten!

 

Rob painted up some M1 supports for his Canadians.   The Thermal Sight recognition plates on my tanks are inspired by these models.

 

Rob is ‘gasp’ also working on some non-Canadians, namely some Israeli’s.  His M113 Zeldas look amazing

Fate of a Nation Israeli stowage packs really make a difference

 

His Merkava’s are chomping at the bit to fight my Syrians… they look great.

Definitely ready to re-fight the Valley of Tears, where the Syrian wrecks are still sitting out in the sun to this day.

 

I couldn’t let my Air Defence assets not get the rework.   4x VADS    Disregard the 15mm Persian Immortal in the background…

As well as the MILAN-killing Armoured Mortars   3x M106

Last but not least, making 4x custom Cav Scout turrets to hot-swap between the ITVs.   In this way, I can field the Cav Scouts x4 (with formation HQ track in the middle) with the armoured MG turrets, or run 4x ITV platoons if I am running Mech Infantry.

Now to add stowage to them all, but that’s an article for another day!

 

Matt Varnish, AKA Dennis Campbell, plays Team Yankee, Flames of War, and Black Powder and now Ancients in the frozen wastes of Canadia. Check out my youtube channel for hundreds of :