The M53 used components of the M47 Patton tank, but the automotive aspects were reversed. The engine was mounted in the front and drove through a front-drive sprocket. The driver’s cupola is visible on the front left of the turret, and spare track blocks were stored on the turret front. Because the driver’s seat was in the turret, a special seat was used to keep the driver facing forward, independent of the turret facing.
The M53 was used during the Vietnam War, and subsequently withdrawn from service in the US military.
The Kit
I will be using the Elite M55/M53 8 inch/155mm kit. The kit is a full resin kit. The kit is better from a scale perspective to the old Revell kit. Warning…. do not attempt this kit without a full tube of good putty!!. The kit could seriously use a PE fret and as such I will be using a number of leftovers to improve the build. Second warning, you will need some styrene sheeting and rods to improve some kit components.
The Build
The main sections of the turret are assembled with 5 structural parts. Fortunately the seams are also along the same lines as the actual weld seams. After assembly and after a number of putty applications, here is the bare turret
After the seams were sealed, I added the hatches and vision blocks. I replaced the kit resin tool rack and parts with PE rack and clips. Around the mantelet I used PE to make the mounting bracket and add the bolts to hold the bracket. The seams are covered with Archer weld seam decals. The lifting lugs are 18 gauge wire and the handles are 22 gauge wire. The antenna mount is brass cast to again replace the kit resin mount. The diamond plate on the step plates are from old PE sets
The main carriage is assembled from 3 major parts. The mounts for each road wheel are the glued to the hull. Again, as you can see there are areas which, require a fair amount of putty. The engine grills require handles which I am using some spare PE handles. I replaced the vent covers on both sides behind the headlights with styrene sheet. Also the styrene under the grill hinges as the attachment bracket.
This is where I started this holiday week. I will have an update tomorrow to get you totally up to date.
That’s it for now
As always if you have any comments, please feel free to drop in.
I’m excited to see you build this one - I have the Revell kit and I also bought a discounted M47 to try to improvise something. Do you have any references for this build that you could share?
I will be watching this build, good luck with it and have a nice day
On the turret much of the rod type parts were in sad shape from the kit so I replaced them with styrene. Also the fuel cans were molded all in one in the kit. I have replaced it with PE holder and will use resin cans and PE straps. The last few items added including PE tie downs. At this point the turret is ready to head to the paint booth for priming.
On the chassis added a bunch of PE handles and PE bolt heads for the grille mounting bracket. The exhaust grilles are a molded blobs from the kit. I replaced them with a scratch PE grill and styrene frame. The handles on the side boxes are fabricated from 24 gauge wire. Lastly had to repair with styrene, some of the molded details, which were broken.
Here is a view of the chassis from the rear. You can see the “putty work” to close the seams and to seal up some of the areas of major gels or air release bubbles. The chassis is also ready for priming
The last major assembly is the recoil spade. This is the worst fit item in the kit and as you can see requires a fair amount of putty work to fill in the poor fit. Still need some more work and then will need Archer weld marks.
Not shown are the road wheels. I spent time cleaning up all the road wheels and assembling the road wheels. They are also moving to the paint booth.
Lastly is the barrel. The kit barrel was molded poorly for the 155mm and was not round but oblonged. The M53, M46 Barrel was the design basis for the M107 175mm barrel. Though not perfect (about 0.6 mm larger in diameter on the model) I took the front end of the Barrel Depot M107 barrel and used a 5/16 brass tube for the back end. The barrel is centered and mounted in the tube and the space between is filled and sealed. This is the base barrel also ready for priming.
Warming up the paint booth next!
As always if you have any comments, please feel free to drop in.
I cannot even tell you how jealous I am that you’re going to have a model of this in your display case! I have been hoping that the big boys would come out with some proper big gins like the kind that used to line Aberdeen’s entry road! An M53, M44, and all the rest of them. That Renwall kit is just too bizarre to waste time on.
Karl - Like Tony said, once I finish it I am sure someone will come out with a styrene version. I will say it is a big boy and with it being resin it is also quite hefty!! Thanks for the peek.
Bill - I have to be careful not to put it in the center of a shelf or the shelf will sag!! It definitely answers the question…where is the beef! Thanks to you and RB for the peek
As I said we will move to the paint booth. The turret assembly and barrel were primed with Vallejo OD primer. After priming I seated the barrel. In to fit things I used some tissue soaked in white glue to make a putty to taper the mantelet to the barrel. I also cover the putty with airplane tissue for the fabric look. At the end is a paper wrap as the mantlet lock ring.
The chassis was primed with Vallejo OD primer.
The road wheels were assembled. Then they were primed with Vallejo OD primer then rubber is painted with Ammo Rubber and Tire.
I am using the Vallejo Air Viet Nam paint set. It comes with the OD primer and the colors to create a shaded VN painted model. The next step after priming is to lay down a base coat, which is a mix of Model Air 043 OD Green and 254 Bright Green. Here is where I stand right now.
Next up is shading and weathering
As always if you have any comments, please feel free to drop in.
Looks very nice! Just don’t make it too green, I heard the OD shouldn’t be green at all - but you’ve seen it in person much more times than me. Or is it going to be a Marine gun? Anyway, good luck with your build and have a nice day
Pawel - Yep, still looking to see how the finished color turns out. I will be doing a Marine Corp version. It was the USMC that deployed the M53 to VN. Still have to work up the markings.
