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M103A2 Heavy Tank

Part 8 - Searching for the Searchlight

There are plenty of reference images showing the M103A2 in service without the searchlight mounted. If this is your choice then stop here on the build. The Legend Productions mantlet depicts the searchlight mounts as they would be without the light mounted. All that would be needed are bolts on the undersides of the two forward mounts and two bolts on the front and rear of the single rear mount.

I mounted the detail enhanced Legend Productions searchlight. The only kit part I used was the mount extension for the rear attachment point. This part need to be cut down a touch in order for the searchlight and mantlet mount to match up.

My gun barrel has a slight elevation so I had to take care to make sure that the searchlight mirrored that angle. Attaching the searchlight adds even more to the massive look of the M103A2. You can definitely see the similarities between the M103A2 and the M48 and M60 series with the searchlight attached.

The Dragon kit provides nothing for adding a searchlight cable if you choose to mount the kit searchlight. The Legend Productions searchlight does provide vinyl tubing but I found it too thin. I've had good success in the past with using solder to produce cables so I stuck with that technique. The solder can be bent and shaped into curves and loops easily and stays put where you want it. Some gentle pressure will assist it in forming. You have to keep in mind that it is a power cable and not rope, so it won't simply flop down on every part of a surface.