Well this is my first armor build in a few years. Some of you might know I have been building aircraft.
How this build came about is a friend of mine wanted to build a model of the tank his father-in-law served in during the Vietnam war. He served two tours, one as a driver then the second as commander.
First up is a luck would have it, he had a early picture of him and his mount.
I began with the Tamiya M48A3. I also am using the voyager PE set and the AFV club track links. Also I just ordered in the Verlinden M113 vehicle storage set. The reason I need this one is that I need a good M60.
I was told that as the normal in Vietnam the crew removed the M2 from the commanders cupola. This was due to the feed problems. His crew took the M2 off and put the M60 on top. This was to simplify supply as the M60 fired the same round as the coxial. Also they felt the M60 was more reliable than the M2. Also I have the Verlinden M48 storage set coming as well. Finally on the order is Archer vehicle numbers.
I began the build using the posting done by Paul Budzik. He went into detail about how to lower the M48A3 to the correct height. I also filled all the motorization openings.
I used a good amount of styrene and green putty from Squadron. I have slowly built up the bow. I felt that the Tamiya kit was to blunt.
I have shaved off the kits molded in lifting handles in preperation for the Voayager PE ones.
Here is a close up of the surgery of the drive sproket area.
Next up is the turret. I felt it needed a little extra height. The kit just looked a little to squished to me. I have read a lot of disscusions on this. So I just went with the to short side of it. I used short pieces of styrene to shim it up. I then used some strip to fill in the front of the turret and green putty to fill in the rear section. Also I filled in small section of the drive sprocket sections. As some of it will be visiable when assembled.
Off to a great start! I’m a little surprised you didn’t take the new Dragon kit - that might have saved you some work, like closing up those motorization holes. I have completed the Tamiya kit (well, the copy of it) like 15 years ago - you can see it here:
It’s a great thing to have a photo reference like you do. I don’t know, if you can discuss your build with the man who was there and done that, but if you do - it’s even more help and makes the satisfaction from building something really accurate just extraordinary.
Thanks for looking and I will be looking into your build. As for using the Tamiya kit versus the Dragon. I might have saved time and money putting all the after market, but I didn’t know if the Dragon had the earlier commanders coupla. Namely I didn’t look into it. Also my friend had this kit when he gave it to me. Also I would have replaced the tracks. I just don’t like the DS tracks.
It was a pleasure to talk and learn about tank warfare in Vietnam directly from someone who was there. So this is even a bigger pleasure to build this for him. A big difference is the M60 versus the M2. In my research I have not found a picture but will go with what he said to me.
Hey, I think I probably used the very same article for my Patton that got published in Finescale as a cover story last year! This build of yours is like deja vu’! Same stuff I did to mine! Looking nice!
Here’s the link to my build; you will probably enjoy seeing the similarities in our approach!
it’s like in that story - I didn’t know it couldn’t be done :-). Nah, I didn’t bother with the button, just pasted the url with the http in the beginning. The forum software used to automatically link it, and it still does.
Very cool! Just won one of the same kit in a raffle drawing at a show this weekend. Will be sure to check out the links when I get around to building the thing- thanks guys! And looking forward to seeing how yours comes out Kim.
Same here. I’ve got one of these in que as well. With all of the extra parts from the M-103 and now the M-60 I’m working on, I’ll be having a little fun with mine lol.
Here is the next update. I had started to add the PE that I am so addicted to. I have finally got the nose to the shape and contours that I am happy with.
I made a mistake when I listed what I am using. I had said I was using a Verlinden M48 set, I am using the Legends M48 accesories set. I liked the looks of the manlet. I did modify it though. I didn’t like the look of the barrel angled up. I cut the manlet and used Squadron green putty to reshape it.
I also moved the machine gun mount to the top of the commanders coupla. I again will be using a M60 machine gun.
This is a close up of the rear of the turret. I added a little white putty around some of the fittings. Like the vision ports. I felt that the contours were just a little to sharp on the kit.
Next up is a better view of the manlet cover and (vent pipe?) I decided to replace the kit one with a brass tube and the mounts come from the Voyager PE set.
Finally is a bottom shot of the hull. You can see that I added styrene strips to the bottom of the fenders. I attempted to recreated how the fender mounts hold the fenders up. Also you can see the brass rod that will hold the drive sprockets straight. I didn’t like the way the sprockets where sitting with the stock kit. I feel this will lead to a better looking track run. As I am going to be using the AFV club tracks.
Thanks for looking and any comments or suggestions are welcome.
Your model is looking good! You might want to spray a little primer on the hull bottom, to check the filling of the motorization holes - the thing is, sometimes the primer shrinks and the filled places are visible through the paint - I had the same thing when I was building my model. Good luck with your build and have a nice day
Thanks for the comments. Pawel, priming is in the plans. I know from experience that once I put a coat of primer on, small imperfections are very noticable.
I really, really like watching build ups of the Tamiya M48. This one is going to be a zinger, really off to a great start.
I was staring at one I have started, just sitting waiting for some MrSurfacer to set up, and thinking: “I haven’t built one in a while, and this thing is half-done already” but then reality set it. I actually have done the same thing with the turret, to get some more height, and I think it’s a righteous mod. I also squatted the front suspension because I had big plans to modify the Adademy M9 dozer kit (from their M60) into the M8 for the M48, but that died a painful death, so I now have a started M48 with a pronounced nmow-down attitude. Hmmm… Magach with a mine roller?
Well finally getting some more bench time. Training for new job has finally ended and now back to normal bed time hours.
More photo etch work has been done. I am trying something new. I used Mr. Surfacer on this build. I am trying to add a little texture to the hull and turret. Here is a shot of the turret.
Also I used the Archer cast markings.
Next up is a view of the rear deck and the back of the turret. Wow the lift rings were a pain in the rear. But I feel that the work was worth it. A lot better than the molded in details.
Here is a shot of the tail lights and rear hull. I added hidges to the exhaust grills.
Final photo is of the front of the hull. Again I used some cast markings. I don’t know for certain that there is suppose to be some there so I took artistic license. I really like how the sharp contour of the hull came out. Also showing is the PE headlight brackets.
Thank you for looking. Again any and all compliments/ complaints will be appreciated.
It is looking good. Good job updating the old Tamiya kit. One small issue though, the tail lights are on upside-down. The oval and small slit should be on top and the long slits on bottom.
WOw, that’s a really excellent piece of work you have going no so far, Kim! I think you’ve even gone an extra mile past what I remember doing to mine! Can’t wait to see you put some paint on her! [:D]
