1:72 Vietnam # 2. ARVN M113 in South Vietnam army.

Star Decals 1:72 - the markings of M113 carriers in the South Vietnamese army

The second part of the Vietnam series concentrates on a single type: the M113 armored personnel carrier in the service of the army of South Vietnam. The sheet in 1:72 scale will give a finished carrier a particular unit designation instead of generic filler from the box.

The carrier that went through the whole war in Indochina

The M113 was designed as a light tracked vehicle with a hull of welded aluminum plates, thanks to which it could be transported by air and crossed water obstacles by swimming. It was precisely in Southeast Asia that it became a fighting vehicle in practice: crews added shields around the commander's hatch and further machine gun positions on the sides. The South Vietnamese units were among the very first foreign operators and committed it throughout the whole fighting.

Decals on an aluminum hull

The sides of the M113 are made up of large flat areas on which every imperfection is visible. Polish the base smooth, therefore, and apply the glossy coat in a thin film, so that no air gets under the drawing. Pierce any bubble with the tip of a scalpel and press it down with a damp cloth until the design settles. Finally even the surface out with a matte varnish, so that the edge of the carrier film disappears.

Suitable for

• builders of tracked carriers in a small scale
• modelers documenting South Vietnamese units
• makers of scenes with a column of vehicles of one type
• collectors of hardware from the period of the Cold War
• modelers who want a vehicle with a documented membership