1:35 Destroyed M 113 base

The real subject

The M113 is an American tracked armored personnel carrier, one of the most widespread machines of its category: it has been in service since the 1960s and has passed through the armies of dozens of countries. This item, however, does not present it as a running vehicle. The subject is a destroyed machine, that is a wreck as part of a diorama base in 1:35 scale.

What it is for

Destroyed vehicles are a rewarding element in a scene. They give a diorama a story, naturally bound the space and at the same time allow you to show what stays hidden on an intact vehicle. The dimensions of the base, the number of parts and the extent of the surface work are given in the manufacturer's instructions; they also tell you how much room will be left around it for figures and other accessories.

Building and painting tips

Cut the excess material off with a sharp blade a little away from the part and sand the rest down. Before painting, wash the whole thing, degrease it and apply a primer. On a wreck it works well to go from a dark base to lighter edges: build the rust and the traces of fire up in layers with thinned paint, and add dust and deposits with pigments only at the end. Match the colors around the wreck to the rest of the scene, so that the vehicle does not look as if it were merely lying on it.

Who it is for

The base will be used by builders of dioramas and display-case scenes in 1:35 scale who want a ready-made starting point and to concentrate on figures, terrain and painting. It will serve just as well as a small scene on its own in a display case. Figures, paints, pigments and glue are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.