Right On Replicas, LLC Step-by-Step Review 20150429* M-50 Ontos 1:32 Scale Renwal/Revell Model Kit #85-7823 Review Here s a fun fact: Ontos is the Greek word for thing. The M50 Ontos is a U.S. Light Armored Tracked Anti Tank Vehicle that had a GMC 302 six cylinder engine. The Ontos was designed to be transported by the cargo aircrafts the U.S. used during the 1950 s.this anti tank vehicle had six M40 106mm recoilless rifles that could be fired in a rapid succession. The secondary weapon was a 30 caliber machine gun. It weighed 8600kg, had an effective firing range 2750m and had a maximum firing range 7700m. The Ontos was used in the Vietnam War until 1970 and in Operation Power pack (U.S. occupation of the Dominican Republic). The Ontos units were deactivated in 1969 and some of the Ontos were given to the Army Light Infantry Brigade. There was a second variant known as M50A1 which used a Chrysler 361 V8 engine. The U.S. Army canceled their order of the M50 Ontos after the prototypes testing however the Marine Corps ordered 297. The production cycle only lasted two years (1955-1957). For the Modeler: This is the Revell/ Renwal kit 7823 that is 1: 32 scale, and a Skill Level 3. Revell released this kit before in 1982 after the original release by Renwal in the 1960 s and now Revell brings it back in 2015.The pieces are molded in olive drab, black vinyl track with water slide decals. There are 108 pieces to this kit and very well laid out instructions. According to Revell s box this kit was scaled from U.S. Army Ordnance blueprints. The dimensions are; 5 L X 3 3/8 W X 2 11/16 H just the M50 Ontos, 5 L X 3 3/8W X 3 1/4 H with the Loader.
Figure 3300 Here is the kit s retro style box art. Unless stated differently Testors Model Cement in the tube and Testors Enamel paint in the bottle was used for the construction of this model kit. Figure 3301 and Figure 3302 There are trademarks on the ammo storage and the hull bottom that can be removed with a # 11 blade and some sand paper. There is also a sticker on the hull bottom that can be removed and the sticky residue can be removed with mild dish detergent. Figure 3303 & 3304 In Figure 3303 the Gun Traveling Lock Hinges have some light flash. In Figure 3304 the Rear Door Hinges also have flash on them that needs to be repaired.
Figure 3305 The driver and Commander have either a pin hole or sink mark that needs to be repaired with Squadron Green Putty, a #11 blade and some sand paper. Figure 3306 The Left Hull Side is secured to the hull bottom. The Ammo Storage Cover is installed into the Left Hull Side. Special NOTE: if you want the Ammo Storage Cover to be operational do not use glue on the Ammo storage Cover hinge pins. The Right Hull Side is secured to the Hull Bottom and the other side of the Ammo storage Cover. The Ammo Storage is secured to the Hull Assembly. The Hull Assembly is painted Model Master Faded Olive Drab. ***NOTE*** Use caution when painting around the hinge areas so that the paint does not act like a form of glue.
Figure 3307 and Figure 3308 (lower) This is what the Hull Assembly will look like after it is assembled and painted. Figure 3309 and Figure 3310 The Outer Road Wheels (8 each) and Inner Road Wheels (8 each) are painted with Model Master Faded Olive Drab and detailed with Model Master Flat Black. The Outer Drive Wheels (2 each) and Inner Drive Wheels (2 each) are painted Model Master Faded Olive Drab. The Outer Drive Wheels and Inner Drive Wheels are assembled (2 times). The Outer Drive Wheels and Inner Road Wheels are assembled (8 times).
Figure 3311 The Right Suspension Rail, Left Suspension Rail, and both Rocker Arms are painted Model Master Faded Olive Drab. Figure 3312 The Rocker Arms installed onto the Hull Assembly with no glue. One Drive Wheel assembly and four Road Wheel assemblies attached to each side of the Hull assembly. The Left and Right Suspension Rails are attached to the Hull assembly trapping the Rocker Arms in place. The interior of the Hull Assembly is painted Tamiya X2 White. Figure 3313 and Figure 3314 The Firewall, Seat, and Seat Back are painted Tamiya X 2 White. The Seat Back is detailed with Model Master Faded Olive Drab. The Firewall and Seat are attached to the interior of the Hull Assembly. The Seat Back is attached to the Seat and the Hull Assembly. A section of the fenders on the Hull Assembly are painted Tamiya X2 White that will be inside the Hull Top when it is installed. Use some superglue to connect the tracks together then stretch them over the drive wheels on each side to install them.
Figure 3315 and Figure 3316 One Commander s Hatch Hinge is attached to the Turret. The Commander s Hatch is installed into the Commander s Hatch hinge (No glue). The second Commander s Hatch Hinge is attached to the Commander s Hatch (No glue) and the Turret (with glue). The Periscope Shield is attached to the Turret. The interior side of the Hull Top and the Turret Assembly are painted Tamiya X2 White. The Elevating Wheel, Traverse Wheel, and Control Panel are painted Model Master Flat Black. The Turret Assembly is installed into the Hull Top (no glue) and then the following parts are attached to it on the interior side; Elevating Wheel, Traverse Wheel, and Control Panel. Figure 3317 The Headlights, Left Taillight, and Water Can are attached to the Hull Top.
Figure 3318 The Gun Travel Lock is placed on the Hull Top and then two Gun Traveling Lock Hinges are installed locking it in place. The Driver s Hatch is installed onto the Hull Top and then the Driver s Hatch Hinge is installed locking it in place. For most of the parts they are installed into holes on the Hull Top so I used glue on the interior side to secure them. The interior side of the Hull Top is touched up with Tamiya X2 White. Figure 3319 The Muffler, Tool Tray, and Right Tail Light are attached to the Hull Top. The Left Rear Door is installed onto the Hull Top and the Rear Door Hinge is attached locking the Left Rear Door in place. The Right rear Door is installed onto the Hull Top and the Rear Door Hinge is attached locking the Right Rear Door in place. The interior is touched up with Tamiya X2 White. The Hull Top Assembly is attached to the Hull Assembly. The Hull Top Assembly is painted Model Master Faded Olive Drab. The Tool Tray is detailed with Testors Flat Brown and Testors Silver.
Figure 3320 and Figure 3321 A front and rear view of the build so far. All of the hatches and turret are operational. Figure 3322 The M40 106mm Rockets are painted Testors Brass (casing), Testors Red (round) and Model Master Flat Black (round tip). The Left Rear Door Stop and Right Rear Door Stop are painted Model Master Faded Olive drab after being installed onto the rear of the Hull Assembly. Figure 3323 Four of the 106mm Rockets are shown in place on the M50 Ontos assembly and two of the rockets are on the ground.
Figure 3324 and Figure 3325 The M40 106mm Recoilless Rifles consist of a Gun Muzzle (6 each), Gun Barrel front (6 each), Gun Barrel Rear (6 each) being assembled. The six barrels, Gun Barrel Mount, Left Breech Mount, Right Breech Mount, and six Breeches are painted Model Master Faded Olive Drab. The six Barrels are attached to the Gun Barrel Mount. The Left and Right Breech Mounts are attached to the Gun Barrel Mount. Three Breeches are attached to the Left Breech Mount and three Breeches are attached to the Right Breech mount. Here the M40 106mm Recoilless Rifle Assembly is placed on the M50 Ontos assembly. Figure 3326 The six Breech Locks, Swivel Mount, Gun Mount, and Gun Retainer are painted Model Master Faded Olive Drab. The Machine Gun is painted Model Master Flat Black.
Figure 3327 The Breech Locks are attached to the Breeches. The Gun retainer is glued into place on the Turret locking the Gun Barrel Mount in place. The Gun Mount is attached to the Gun Retainer. The Machine Gun is snapped into the Swivel Mount and then the Swivel Mount is attached to the Gun Mount. Figure 3328 The Driver, Commander, and Loader are painted; Testors Flat Olive (uniforms), Model Master Acrylic Skin Tone Warm Tint (flesh), Model Master Flat Black (boots and binoculars), and Testors Flat Brown (helmets and belts).
Figure 3329 The following decals are applied to the kit; left side; 9 and 4, rear, 6, 6,5 and 5, right side, 9 and 3, and the front, 1,7,8,7,and 2. Figure 3330 Decals 9 are the tail lights or the tail lights can be painted red. Both decal 7 s are the headlights that also can be replaced by painting the lenses silver. Decal 8 is the turn signal in the front and that can be changed by using yellow paint, however it is located on the wrong side according to Step 10 because where it shows to place the decal 8 is the black-out light.
Figure 3332 To make the kit look more realistic weathering sets can be used like the one in Figure 3332. Figure 3333 I first painted the decals with Testors Dull Coat Lacquer to seal and dull them down. I then used the mud pigment to make the white decals darker and then I used the sand pigment to detail the entire kit.
Figure 3334 There are spare parts and decals in the kit, the spare parts are; a commander s hatch hinge and a gun traveling lock hinge. The decals are for the Marine identification. Conclusion: I feel this is a must have for any military collector and or history collector. I found it very enjoyable to build this kit and the instructions were very well laid out. The flash and pinholes are easy to correct on this kit and were the only defects I found during the build. I will have to get another kit to do the Marine version since the M50 Ontos was used primarily by the Marines.