A little background -
As the war continued, first line MBTs in the European Theater became scarce. Recovery and Repair details worked night and day to refurbish, refit and rearm main battle tanks for the field. The drain on resources and manpower became overwhelming. The balance of power began to shift, armor needed to be fielded to slow the Soviet onslaught.
A technician with a Recovery and Repair detail based in West Germany suggested the tank destroyer design. An amateur model builder and historian in more peaceful times, he remembered the effectiveness of turretless armor utilized by Germany during World War II. Designs for modified tank destroyers were approved.
As M-48s and M-60s were recovered from the field, Recovery and Repair Details would triage the chassis. Armor that could be fully refurbished with turret were giving highest priority, followed by those armor with intact chassis, but damaged turret.
On these, the turret was removed (if not already accomplished by internal explosions), and prefabricated superstructures were welded to the chassis. When time and manpower allowed, turrets were incorporated into fixed defense lines, priority however being giving to fielded armor.
The increase of armor on the field again shifted the balance of power - to a more equal footing, as neither side had the advantage, the war continued......
About the model - Academy 1/35 M-48A5. Turret ring cut from chassis, new superstructure made from sheet styrene. Kit main gun, cupola, and MG mount added to superstructure. Modified kit cupola added to rear superstructure as an ammo hatch. Fuel drum bracket on rear deck made from sheet styrene. Kit side skirts added.
p.s. forgive the image quality- only using a 2.1 meg camera, and with the holidays, work, family visits, the wife working extra shifts to protect the citizenry and property of NYC, etc,etc, I didn't have time to do 'image finessing' - but I wanted to post my entry before deadline
Some more images in a few days when I get the beastie finished
Peter
