M2HB .50 Cal Machine Gun & Australian M113 Gun Shields (Vietnam) – 1/35

This 1/35 scale M2HB .50 Cal Machine Gun & Australian M113 Gun Shield Set accurately represents the gun shield configurations used by the Australian Army on M113 APCs during the Vietnam War.

Designed using authoritative Australian references, this kit captures the evolution of locally fabricated gun shields fitted to open-pintle .50 cal mounts from the mid to late Vietnam period. Multiple shield options allow modellers to depict vehicles from early, lightly protected deployments through to later field-refined configurations adapted to Australian operational requirements.

With left- and right-hand feed M2HBs, multiple barrel types, and detailed ammunition components, this set is ideal for historically accurate Australian M113 builds, armoured cavalry subjects, and Vietnam-era dioramas.

Kit includes

• 2 × M2HB .50 Cal machine guns (left & right feed)
• 10 × barrels (2 each of 5 types)
• 2 × ammunition liners and mounting trays
• 2 × ammunition belts
• 4 × gun shields (3 Australian designs + 1 US style)

All parts are 3D printed in high-detail resin, ready for cleanup, painting, and weathering.

Early Australian M113A1s deployed to Vietnam were fitted with exposed .50 cal pintle mounts, leaving commanders highly vulnerable. Combat experience quickly led to the development of locally fabricated gun shields, progressively refined to provide improved frontal and side protection while maintaining visibility in dense jungle terrain. These open-mount shielded configurations were used prior to the widespread adoption of fully enclosed turret systems, reflecting the practical, field-driven evolution of Australian Army M113s during the conflict.