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US Army M163 Vulcan Defense System 1:35 Academy via Pocketbond The M163 VADS (Vulcan Air Defence System) is a self propelled Anti Aircraft gun system designed for and used by the US Army. The base vehicle is a modified M113, the M741 carrier and mounts an M61 20mm Vulcan Cannon. The GE M61 is a 6 barrelled electrically driven weapon which normally fires at 6000 rounds per minute, this is reduced to 3000 for the M163. In the field the M163 was designed to work along side the M48 Chaparral Missile system. The system was intended to be replaced by the M247 Sgt York but this never happened. On operations the system has never really been needed in its intended role, though like many AA guns in history it has been pressed into use as a ground support weapon. Indeed in Operation "Just Cause" in Panama in 1989 one was used to sink a Vosper Patrol Boat. As well as the US Army the system is still in current use with Chile, Ecuador, Egypt, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Morocco, Portugal, South Korea, Thailand, and Tunisia. The Kit This is a reboxing of Academy's kit which originated in 1995. The kit has been updated with a small sheet of PE and individual link tracks of you don't want to use the rubber band type which are also included. Construction starts with the main hull of the APC. The rear areas each side of the main door are built up, and the main suspension arms are added to each side. The rear door is also built up and added. Next up the road wheels, drive sprockets, and return rollers are mode up and added to the hull. Next up the tracks are added. The modeller can either use the rubber tracks or to 60 parts per side individual links. Following this the front of the APC and the engine hatch are built up. PE grills are provided if the modeller wants to use them. Next up the Vulcan cannon and its turret are made up. For the cannon 3 sets of two barrels are brought together around a central hub, this is then added to a base and the feed mechanism is added. All of this is then built into a surrounding framework. This is then added to the turret base and the side shroud is added. The ranging radar is then added as well. Going back to hull the front parts and the roof are then added, along with various tools & equipment, including bags. The turret and side armour is then added to the hull. Lastly track covers are added if the version being modelled carried them. Markings Decals are in house and look to be sharp & in register. From the box you can build 3 vehicles; 24th Infantry Division, 1st Brigade, 6th Air Defence Artillery, Fort Irwin, Nov 1988 3rd Armoured Division, 3rd Battalion, 6th Air Defence Artillery, Germany, Nov 1987 Unknown unit, Fort Irwin, March 1988 Conclusion It is good to see this kit re-issued, and with a few tweaks to bring it up a notch. Recommended. Review sample courtesy of UK Distributors for

This is Academy's now old (and hard to find) M163 Vulcan SPAAG, modified a little to become the Israeli version, called the "Hovet" in their service. There is external stowage and fuel tanks but little else really. Along with the Academy kit there is some Tamiya, Meng, Accurate Armour and other bits and bobs. The original idea was to have the commander stood on top looking out but the case wasn't tall enough so I had to rethink. As always she was brush painted in Humbrol enamels. She is depicted here in an early 80's pose. In real life in US service, she was due to be replaced by the Sgt. York system but that of course didn't work out. The Israelis added a four pod Stinger launcher to the turret on some vehicles to upgrade it and they became "Machbet". If I can find another Academy kit then I may have a go at that. Pictures then: M163 Hovet - 1 by phil da greek, on Flickr M163 Hovet - 2 by phil da greek, on Flickr M163 Hovet - 3 by phil da greek, on Flickr M163 Hovet - 4 by phil da greek, on Flickr M163 Hovet - 5 by phil da greek, on Flickr M163 Hovet - 6 by phil da greek, on Flickr Hope you like it, I'd appreciate any thoughts.