Man Builds a Half-Scale M113 Armoured Vehicle You Can Actually Climb Inside and DriveMotorBiscuitAlex HarringtonSun, September 13, 2026 at 9:00 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleMan Builds a Half-Scale M113 Armoured Vehicle You Can Actually Climb Inside and DriveA scale model usually belongs on a shelf. Trev's M113A1 MRV belongs in a field, where its tracks can churn through grass and a person can climb through the roof to drive it. The Australian builder spent about two years creating this roughly half-size armoured vehicle, complete with a petrol engine, hydraulic drive, suspension, road wheels, a working turret, and a real operator's compartment."G'day, I'm Trev and this is the beast," Trev says at the start of the walkaround. That undersells it slightly. This creation is not merely a replica; it functions as a smaller, self-propelled tracked vehicle finished in camouflage.The Real M113 MRV Was an Unusual Australian HybridTrev chose the M113 because its squared-off hull was practical for his project and could fit inside his box trailer. The subject was also more interesting than the standard M113 personnel carrier. His replica copies the M113A1 Medium Reconnaissance Vehicle, or MRV, an Australian adaptation that paired the familiar tracked hull with a turret from the British FV101 Scorpion family.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe original armored vehicle was developed in Australia during the Vietnam War as a solution that filled the gap between an armored personnel carrier and the more robust Centurion tank. The initial variant designed for fire support featured a Saladin turret, while the subsequent MRV version incorporated the Scorpion turret design. According to Modellbau König, Australia adapted 48 M113A1 vehicles into the MRV format, which served in the Australian Army until 1996, as reported by European Security & Defence.That history explains why Trev's machine looks more purposeful than a normal M113 replica. The low tracks and multiple road wheels support a slab-sided hull, while the upper turret adds a long forward-pointing barrel and a much more serious silhouette. No, it is not a restored military vehicle. It's something much more entertaining: a functional half-scale interpretation built in a workshop.This Is a Ride-In Vehicle, Not a Display PieceAt roughly 700 kilograms, the replica is far too substantial to dismiss as a remote-control toy. Trev identifies the petrol motor and hydraulic drive system, then walks viewers around the suspension, continuous tracks, turret, hull, and external fittings. The brown, green, and black camouflage is finished with stencil-like markings and numbers that make the machine look convincing from a distance."The vehicle weighs around 700 kilos, petrol motor, hydraulic drive system, tracks, road wheels, suspension, and of course a working turret," Trev explains. The rear access panel exposes a tightly packed mechanical bay containing wiring, batteries, hoses, and drivetrain hardware. The cramped arrangement makes the engineering even more impressive than the paintwork.AdvertisementAdvertisementA prominent hatch on the roof distinguishes this build from typical armored vehicle models. There is an actual interior beneath the turret, with enough room for a person to sit and operate the machine. Trev leans into the opening during the demonstration, and other shots show him beside the vehicle for scale. The hull reaches roughly to his seated height, while the turret rises above him.A half-scale M113 with a petrol engine, hydraulic drive, working tracks, and an occupant inside contains seriously more engineering than its camouflage initially admits. It may have started as a way to build something boxy enough for a trailer, but it ended as a miniature personal armoured vehicle. Shelf space was never going to be enough.