I think I have the 2 different types of headlights figured out. I've read that the "modern" lights on the "M48A3 Mod B" are rebuilt M48A2s which had that style.

What I am confused on are the light guards on the track's tail lights. Is there any correlation between the square tail light guards and the headlight guards? Did the "new" style head lights mean the track also had the square tail light guards?

Thanks,
Dave

Dave,
I have not seen a Mod Bs that had the M48A2's three support rollers, which is a key identification feature of the M48A2 series tanks. The Mod B's were either upgraded M48A3s or rebuilt M48A1s. There is some confusion in some references where M48A2Cs (yes, they did serve in Viet Nam, especially in the early days of 1st Brigade, 5th Infantry Division (Mech)’s deployment) are mislabeled as Mod Bs because of the “modern” headlight clusters. A close look at those pictures will show that the subjects possess distinct identification features for the A2s such as welded headlight guards that are flat on top with rounded corners, no air cleaner boxes on the fenders, smaller gunner's sight on the turret, in some cases, the older canvas mantlet cover that did not have the concertina shaped bellows around the main gun.

Some of the Mod B features that I use when I look at a picture are:
1. Fenders with reinforced with the embossed “x” on the front and rear, additional supports added to the front of the fenders, no reinforcing support present on the front of the fenders (the old mount is used for the base of the headlight guards)
2. Reinforced, square taillight guards and grill doors with reinforcing bars on the tops, sides and bottom of the doors
3. Headlight style (the cluster, vice individual light fixtures) as well as the headlight guards, which are multi part, thicker, and more arched on the top than those found on the M48A2 series tanks
4. Air Cleaner latches: Mod Bs did not have a latch, instead the air cleaner door was secured with two bolts

I don’t use the G305 riser for the M1 cupola as a definitive ID feature of a Mod B as the risers were installed on M48A3s that were already in theater by unit maintenance personnel – take a look at the Tamiya kit. It has the riser and none of the other Mod B features.

So, to sum things up, I would not correlate specifically headlights only to a model of tank in Viet Nam pictures. I would advocate looking at additional features to make your determination.

Let me know if you have any other questions

John

John, GREAT information! Thanks!

I have been scrutinizing all the in-country pics I can find. I want to make an accurate track from the old Tamiya kit (Since I have had it for about 10 years and don't want to trash it just because of the new Dragon kit). Unfortunately, I have not seen any pics of a vehicle with the square rear lights AND be able to see the front headlights at the same time...can't see THROUGH the tank! haha
I have quite a bit done on the hull, getting ready to "raise" the suspension next. I scratch built the square light guards and the modified engine doors. I'm just not sure if I should put the front lights on it from an old Sgt York DIVAD kit, or use the ones from the M48 (with scratch built guards).
Thanks again!
Dave

Dave,
I did the same thing back in 2008, with converting a Tamiya kit into a Mod B, to include replacing all of the fenders and outrigger supports. for the headlights, I used a set of Grief cast headlights but the ones from the SGT York would work. For the headlight guards, I built a form out of wood and heat formed Evergreen strip. Having just looked at the model, I noticed that the guards are not arched enough but oh well...

I have pics of several M48A3s still remaining as well as several M48A5s, which for the most part were upgraded/rebuilt Mod Bs.

Good luck

I think I'll do the light guards in brass. I know the Dragon kit is much better, but I have too many older Tamiya and Dragon and Italeri kits in my garage to just forget about them, right?

One of the things I like about building armor is that I feel we have alot more freedom in the finished product than an aircraft. It seems when I build a jet I am always building a specific jet, but when I do armor I am able to include alot more "I think it looked like this" or "I want to put THIS on my kit also" I know that many of my tanks are a mixture of plausible features.

For example, I found a pic of an M48 with an M60 mounted on a pintle attached to the rear bustle rack, and many pics of M48s with a secondary .50 cal in front of the loader's hatch. Was there ever a track that had BOTH? I have no idea....but mine will!!

Thanks,
Dave

The M48 is a tank, not a track. No self-respecting Man of Steel and sex appeal would call his hog a track.
Outta here, Mike sends . . .

Noted