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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
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M48A3 vs M48A3 MOD. B
Spades
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California, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 - 10:42 AM UTC
OK.

So Dragon is releasing the M48A3 to go along with the M48 MOD.B released last year.

My question is, whats the difference between the two ?

Thanks for your replies ahead of tiem.
DerGeist
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Posted: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 - 10:49 AM UTC
The mod B has the vision block riser on the commanders turret and and reinforced square mud guards.


Erik
HeavyArty
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Posted: Wednesday, May 28, 2014 - 11:16 AM UTC
There are a few more differences. From my M48A3 Mod B build review:

The Mod B tanks differed from the earlier M48A3s by having armor framing running along the tops of the engine exhaust louvers, armor boxes surrounding the taillights, and an adapter ring incorporating vision blocks which raised the commander's cupola by about 5". This, combined with a redesign of the cupola door, provided more room for the tank commander. M48A3 Mod B tanks also received driver's controls and gauges from the M60A1 tank, the fuel lines were relocated, and the suspension was modified by the addition of knock-out holes for the torsion bars and the redesign of the track return roller mud shields. Detachable headlights were mounted, and the fender telephone intercom was mounted in a higher position. Infrared fire control equipment was installed in the upgraded tanks as well. A bracket was also fitted to the left hand, rear of the turret to secure the searchlight to when it was not in use. Lastly, the fenders were reinforced to handle the harsh jungle foliage.
Spades
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Posted: Thursday, May 29, 2014 - 05:31 AM UTC
wow. Thats a pretty great reply. Thanks
zapper
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Posted: Thursday, May 29, 2014 - 10:57 PM UTC
Might add that the riser were added to many (most?) A3's as well. Funny, Dragon being Dragon, they didn't care to find out the differences between the two so the new kit still have the Mod B engine bay doors.

On the plus side, they did include a mantle cover in DS plastic and the search light.

Cheers,
/E
Tankrider
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Posted: Friday, May 30, 2014 - 01:47 AM UTC

Quoted Text

There are a few more differences. From my M48A3 Mod B build review:

The Mod B tanks differed from the earlier M48A3s by having armor framing running along the tops of the engine exhaust louvers, armor boxes surrounding the taillights, and an adapter ring incorporating vision blocks which raised the commander's cupola by about 5". This, combined with a redesign of the cupola door, provided more room for the tank commander. M48A3 Mod B tanks also received driver's controls and gauges from the M60A1 tank, the fuel lines were relocated, and the suspension was modified by the addition of knock-out holes for the torsion bars and the redesign of the track return roller mud shields. Detachable headlights were mounted, and the fender telephone intercom was mounted in a higher position. Infrared fire control equipment was installed in the upgraded tanks as well. A bracket was also fitted to the left hand, rear of the turret to secure the searchlight to when it was not in use. Lastly, the fenders were reinforced to handle the harsh jungle foliage.



Gino,
Where did you get this info from as there are items listed that I know predated the Mod B upgrades, primarily the addition of the G305 cupola riser and the bulged hatch on the M1 Cupola. My experience with the Knox/Benning M48A3 Mod B was that the tank had the same drivers controls and such as the rest of the M48 family.

DML's latest rendition of the M48A3 will build into an USMC or Army M48A3 once the kit's grill doors are "unreinforced" by removing those bars on the top and center of the doors. We should have had new grill doors but who knows that is in the mind of the Dragon designers when they cut the new molds for this version... After inspecting the M48 parts that came with the M103A1 kit, my impressions are that the new parts that are being added to make the M48A3 were quite nice: earlier M48A3 fenders, searchlight details, headlight clusters, etc... Hopefully DML has done some better research into their decals, so some accurate bumper numbers come with the kit vice the "unidentified unit, 1966" stuff that was in the Mod B

My $0.02

John
Petition2God
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Posted: Friday, May 30, 2014 - 03:21 AM UTC
This is a great news regardless.
According to Wikipedia, here's what I've found:

Because all M48A3 tanks were conversions from earlier models, many characteristics varied among individual examples of this type. M48A3 tanks could have either 3 or 5 support rollers on each side and might have either the early or later type headlight assemblies.
[makes it possible to mix and match]

M48A3 Mod. B has additional armor on the exhausts and tail lights, and a raised commander's cupola.

James Lee
iowabrit
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Posted: Friday, May 30, 2014 - 03:40 AM UTC
Mine should be in my hot little hands tomorrow
HeavyArty
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Posted: Friday, May 30, 2014 - 05:38 AM UTC

Quoted Text



Gino,
Where did you get this info from as there are items listed that I know predated the Mod B upgrades, primarily the addition of the G305 cupola riser and the bulged hatch on the M1 Cupola. My experience with the Knox/Benning M48A3 Mod B was that the tank had the same drivers controls and such as the rest of the M48 family.



From various pubs on the B Mod. These were listed as what was applied at the factory to "new" B Mod tanks. I'm sure some of these features were added to in-service tanks as MWO as well.
jwest21
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Posted: Friday, May 30, 2014 - 10:17 AM UTC
Mine came today. Do you have a pic as to what needs removed on the doors? FYI, Dragon shows the vision risers on all the included color options. 4 of the 5 options are also featured on the Mecmodels sheet.
zapper
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Posted: Friday, May 30, 2014 - 09:04 PM UTC
The two ribs on top, the two shorter at the bottom, and the one between the doors:

A3 Mod B:


A3:


Cheers,
/E
Vodnik
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Posted: Friday, May 30, 2014 - 09:35 PM UTC

Quoted Text

searchlight details


Which unfortunately are underscale and inaccurate in a few places... Despite the fact that Dragon was informed about these problems several months before the M103A1 kit release...
jwest21
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Posted: Saturday, May 31, 2014 - 04:37 AM UTC
thanks Erik!
Removed by original poster on 06/01/14 - 16:21:53 (GMT).
uhu251
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Posted: Sunday, June 01, 2014 - 04:23 AM UTC
Erik,
The bottom photo is I believe an A2 not an A3. Although they are very similar ‘the A3’s wading trunk attachment on the right grill door is different from a A2. The rest of it would be about the same as the early A3’s though
trakpin
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Posted: Monday, June 23, 2014 - 10:28 AM UTC
just got mine today and are those ribs on the engine access doors supposed to be on the non-mod B version? if not then dragon screwed up cuz I got'em. any other differences not already mentioned? also, the ds tracks fit tam's M48A3 very nicely
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