Isn't there a natural weldseam that goes along that line though? Tis was the reason I didn't remove it prior to painting (or at least from what I recall)

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Isn't there a natural weldseam that goes along that line though? Tis was the reason I didn't remove it prior to painting (or at least from what I recall)

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The turret was cast not welded.
Here is a picture of the turret.


Olivier

There is a weld seam between the two parts of the casting, but as the photo of the museum tank shows it's lower. Though some tanks have it higher but it's not a gap like that. On some tanks it has rough machining but not a gap. I have even seen one where it was nearly machined flat. (The old Patton armor museum M47 IIRC)

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Isn't there a natural weldseam that goes along that line though? Tis was the reason I didn't remove it prior to painting (or at least from what I recall)

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The turret was cast not welded.
Here is a picture of the turret.


Olivier

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Quoted Text

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There is a weld seam between the two parts of the casting, but as the photo of the museum tank shows it's lower. Though some tanks have it higher but it's not a gap like that. On some tanks it has rough machining but not a gap. I have even seen one where it was nearly machined flat. (The old Patton armor museum M47 IIRC)

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Thanks to all the clarification guys! This helps me a lot as I have another Italeri M47 lined up after this... thinking of looking for more info on what it would take to make this into either a West German or a Jordanian Vehicle (with the desert camo). I don't want to touch the decals or the paint on the turret so I'll just put this lesson to good use on the next kit.

Unfortunately, I hit a snag while building the kit. After weathering the tracks with vallejo pigments and enamels, it disintegrated after I wrapped it around the tank again. After adding more fuel to the flames (I liberally spread super glue out of frustration on the kit), I took a leaf out of old moldelers advice and used staple wire to fix the tracks. It looks ugly, and there is damage present on the tracks but at least I won't have to purchase AM tracks nor abandon the build altogether. I'm going to put a dullcoat on it and sleep for the night. I am considering putting the side skirts on just to hide the damaged parts.

I've been working 4 M47's at the same time for the past 2 years...replacing kit shortcomings with as much aftermarket fixes that I can. In that effort, I have gone pretty much with aftermarket tracks.

Hate seeing a modeler stuck because of missing/bad parts, so, I have an extra set of kit tracks if you would like to have them. Free. Just PM me with a name and address.