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The YPR-765 is an armored tracked vehicle specially developed for the Netherlands. The design, which is derived from the M113 and whose foundation was laid in the fifties of the last century, is approaching the end of its service life in 2008. For the Army Museum reason to acquire a copy. The YPR can highlight a core task of the Army of the past three decades: armored infantry action in all its facets, from Cold War to peacekeeping mission.
In the run-up to the purchase of the YPR, around 1970, the Dutch armored infantry had French AMX armored tracked vehicles and DAF YP 408 armored wheeled vehicles. Important in the armored infantry idea was that the vehicles in combat should be able to follow the maneuver units. This set the bar high. For example, being able to follow a Leopard tank through the terrain meant that a wheeled vehicle would fall off in advance. YP 408 drivers were able to talk about this. There really was not much choice. The Americans still had the M113. The Army had the M113A1 (with diesel engine) in use by the armored pioneers, by the cavalry scouts (as an M106 mortar platform), and as a wounded transport vehicle.
The manufacturer of the M113, the Food Machinery Corporation (FMC) of San Jose, California, had been constantly modifying the vehicle from the beginning. Not only did the technical performance, engine, drive, running gear, etc. improve over time, but in 1965, under the pressure of tactical lessons, the design of the vehicle was also thoroughly addressed. The move from personnel vehicle (M113) to a combat vehicle, which the Americans designated as Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle (MICV), began with the fitting of firing and observation holes in the hull of the personnel compartment. Initially four on both sides and two in the back of the valve. The layout inside also had to be adjusted: from now on the infantry soldiers sat back to each other. The armament was increased from a 12.7 mm machine gun to a 20 mm gun. With the next step in the project that was designated XM-765, the M113 lost so much of its original design that it was effectively a new vehicle.
The Netherlands placed the first order of 880 vehicles in 1975. The vehicle now also received its definitive Dutch name: YPR-765. Y stands for Dutch production, PR for Pantserrups (tracks) and 765 is a reference to the file number at the earlier experimental stage in which the vehicle was derived from the M113 A number of Dutch companies participated in the production of the YPR. This resulted in 265 hundred person-years of extra employment at an additional cost of 150 million guilders.
The YPR806A1 is a derivation of the YPR765 only with an M113 body. Equipped with, among other things, a HIAB crane, and additional tools, the 806 is used by the armored infantry battalions, armored pioneers, and reconnaissance units for:
Maintenance support
Recovery
Repatriate broken other YPR’s.
Only a few years ago we had a tough time as modelers of Dutch Army models, quite bad. A lot of scratch building/heavy conversion etc. to get something decent, especially I think of scale 1/35.
Robert-Jan van Raamsdonk changed that with his beautiful 1/35 resin models of which construction models are now also supplied for the last series and upcoming series.
Fairly new on the market is Sylly's Mini Models with mainly conversion sets for Royal Netherlands Army subjects.
Sylly's Mini Models was born, as so often, out of the need to build a model of which there was no standard version on the market. The first product of this was the Canadian M113A2 SEV in 3D parts followed by the Wiesel Aufkl. And the CV9035NL
The next step, after enthusiastic reactions, was of course expanding the products and having your own web shop. According to the owner, this is now a hobby that has gotten out of hand, but one that makes us modelers happy with all the new possibilities. Take a look at the Sylly's webshop; https://www.syllysminimodels.nl/
YPR806A1 ARV Royal Netherlands Army
This is one of their 1/35 conversion sets! The conversion set is neatly packed in a sturdy cardboard box (see photos). The contents of the box consist of a large number of zip bags of varied sizes and of course content. It looks a bit modular, for example the tracks can also be used for the Canadian M113, which of course makes packing and shipping a lot easier.
The various 3D printed parts are crispy with no flash without the necessary support for printing only the tracks still have them, but that makes sense to prevent them from breaking since there is a certain system of assembly. The resin used looks sturdy and solid (I have encountered worse), but when working with casting resin, caution is still required in connection with breaking.
All necessary (extra) parts for assembling an 806 are included. Recommended "mother" kit for the conversion is the 1/35 scale Tamiya M113 35040 / 35135 as first choice but the AFV, Italeri, Academy of Revell kits are also possible. I have been able to find the Tamiya kit 35040 in advance but ordered two, together with the one in stock now so three which should keep me busy.
The conversion is not for beginners. Sylly's itself gives XXX00 as difficulty level take that into account, but yes for everything there is a start.
The set also comes with a small decal set with five different registration plates, five different versions of the chalkboard for column designation (NL – different options GE for the units stationed in Germany and one without designation. 4 Dutch flags, tonnage indication in yellow and black and a unit emblem if I am not mistaken. The decals are of good quality by the looks of it but printed like a layer of film. Tight cutting is the advice. A piece of wire that I suspect is intended as a tow cable or perhaps for the HIAB crane is included with the parts, this is not mentioned in the construction manual. This construction manual is briefly conducted by a color printer and only shows the approximate positions of the various conversion parts. Photographs are therefore referred to as reference material. I have not been able to find too many on the internet. What is not shown as an image in the construction manual is that a piece of the upper deck of the M113 must be sawn out and replaced by the 3D printed part. See photo 1(1) and drawing 1(8). It is also important to look carefully at reference material regarding the side skirts. There is quite a difference with vehicles from none to normal and smaller / narrower. When studying the reference material I found, you can find more small things that you can possibly improve in the conversion.
Conclusion
A very welcome conversion set to build this version in the Royal Netherlands Army. The casting resin is of good quality and has virtually no flash. Certainly not a conversion for beginners. The decal set is of good quality and offers plenty of possibilities. The construction manual is brief. To make a nice model very recommended and to your own building qualities can be improved even further.
Sylly's Mini Models, by the way, has "nefarious" plans. Now, models and sets are already being produced in 1/72 and 1/87 in collaboration with the PanzerShop for the M113 versions. There is a YP408 (1/35) on the roll and they have now released a number of army military figures from the cold war period and that series should grow to about 30 pieces, a long-cherished wish of many, followed by modern Dutch vehicle crews!
Thanks to Sylly's Mini Models for providing the review copy.
Reviewer: Fred Bachofner
This review was published by M. de Vreeze on the IPMS.NL site May 5, 2023