Proposal Kit Professional V150 Rapidshare
Would the outside look different or is it just the internals that are different? Quite a lot of differences in fact, just not obvious ones. The most noticeable is different configuration of driver's vision blocks - only one in V100 (plus a pistol port) and two in V150 (no pistol port). The number of vision blocks in hull sides was also different, but I don't remember details. The axles are different - V100 uses 2.5t truck axles, while V150 uses 5t truck axles.
Wheel rims are different. There are also differences in exhaust configurations. The small hatch on top of the hull (to the right from engine intake grille) is different shape - one variant has round hatch, the other has rectangular one (I don't remember which is which now). To continue this line of thought, what are the differences between the V-150 and the M1117 ASV? I think the ASV is longer, but what else is different? I believe that practically everything is different.
I remember reading an article shortly after M1117 was introduced to service that clearly stated that other than general appearance, there is very little in common between V100/V150 and M1117. The new vehicle is longer, has different engine, different suspension, different wheels, different interior layout and equipment etc.
So probably for HB releasing M1117 would mean 100% new tooling. Thats what I was thinking. Maybe we'll get lucky and they will make an M1117. I'll keep my fingers crossed. I see Cromwell has announced one in resin, I think New World Minatures (a.k.a.
Trafaret shrifta gos nomerov na avto 1. Chris Mrosko) has announced one, along w/an M1130 Fire Support Vehicle in resin too. EDIT: According to specs at Global Security.org, the V150S and M1117 are actually pretty close. V150S Length: 20 ft 2 in Width: 7 ft 5 in Height: 6 ft 6 in M1117 ASV Length: 20 ft 5 in Width: 8 ft 4 in Height: 8 ft 5 in The biggest difference is the height, that is probably from the larger tires. The width would only be a 3-4 mm difference in 1/35. The vision blocks on the M1117 are bigger, and it doesn't have the external, rear radiator(?) shroud. The basic hull shape is the same. You could use a turret from a LVTP7A1 w/UGWS too.
With some scratch parts and modified kit parts, you could make a pretty close copy. It wouldn't be perfect, but pretty close. Bronco has a V150S w/Cockerell turret scheduled to come out next too. What does product improved mean And does anyone know if the open top version of the V100 is going to be released Thanks Wayne Judging from the pics of the box art I've seen, 'Product Improved' means a dozen smoke grenade launchers stuck to the turret and a 30 caliber mounted beside the rear hatch.
The basic V100 Commando kit is very definitely of a Vietnam vehicle with a nice, clean turret with viewports all of the way around. Pics of all of the boxes can be found in the Hobbyboss section of 'New Kits' at PMMS.
Given the variety of turrets they're putting on that chassis, and the corresponding variety of turret rings (and hull tops) even if Hobbyboss don't do one (they're doing five so far, I wouldn't expect more to appear) it seems fairly likely that if there's any demand, there'll be a conversion for an open-top version from an after-market company. What does product improved mean? Most of the improvements were internal as part of engine and drive train upgrades. It just denotes an upgraded version. The same idea as SEP (Systems Enhancement Program), SLEP (Service Life Extension Program), and RISE (Reliability Improvement and Sustainment Enhancement) upgrades are on most military vehicles. Its just the name given to the upgraded pieces of equipment to know that they have been upgraded.
Not to forget TUSK, although since that's not a global upgrade, maybe that doesn't count. These might all go the way of the dodo with the current trends in defense procurement, where you deliver the product half-baked and then take two or three 'tranches' to gradually upgrade to the full capabilities that you promised when you won the contract. Very clever way of doing things - nice proposal claiming an all-singing, all-dancing super-capable defense system at an amazing price, except what you get for the amazing price is, well, uh, not very good, and it isn't until Tranche 3 or whatever that it meets the given specs - although the Tranche 3 vehicles, and upgrading the Tranche 1 and 2 vehicles to that standard, cost three times as much as the initial spec. Very big in the aeronautical side of things, yet to see it hit tanks, but it will in time, I'm sure. Now that the services are expecting service lives for systems that may, in time, exceed a century, putting expansion and improvement plans in the initial proposal is coming into fashion (sounds dull, isn't really from a data management and archiving perspective - wrote an SBIR proposal a year or so back on the subject. Didn't win it:-() Also useful if your spouse or significant other likes finding fault - tell them you're jjust the Tranche 1 version and that, oh, doing additional housework is a feature that will be added in Tranche 2. I used to tell me wife that keeping my model-buynig under control was a Tranche 5 (*) feature, but alas my employment situation means it's been brought forward in the schedule.