United Kingdom
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 08:00 PM UTC
Hey Everybody,
I’d like to share a few pictures of my kit-bash M60. This is the very early version with the M48-shape turret. The hull and running gear and the commanders cupola were donated from the Italeri M60 Blazer kit. The turret is a slightly modified (the lift rings are in a different position) Tamiya M48A3 kit offering. The tracks come from a Dragon M48 kit. the 105 mm M68 gun is from RB model.
Still have a bit more work to do on this.
constructive comments welcome.
Cheers
Matthew
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 08:13 PM UTC
Looks like you are off to a good start, but... There is always a but. The original M60 (a.k.a. Slick 60) did not have a regular M48 turret on it. The rear of the turret was shaped differently; more squared off. You can see it below on the Chesapeake Model Designs M60A0 turret conversion.
Field Artillery --- The KING of BATTLE!!!
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell
Showcase
Colorado, United States
Joined: January 20, 2005
KitMaker: 7,219 posts
Armorama: 6,097 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 08:29 PM UTC
A strong man stands up for himself; A stronger man stands up for others.
Admit nothing. Deny everything. Make counter-accusations.
He is not Khan who calls himself Khan. Afghan proverb
Loire-Atlantique, France
Joined: October 09, 2004
KitMaker: 2,433 posts
Armorama: 2,325 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 09:36 PM UTC
Yeah the turrets are different.
Good build though and another interesting thread with good info.
Cheers,
Christophe
Removed by original poster on 03/22/15 - 17:17:34 (GMT).
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: January 18, 2003
KitMaker: 2,402 posts
Armorama: 2,377 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 10:22 PM UTC
Quoted Text
The more astute among you may wonder why I've done an M60 walk around. Please keep speculation to yourselves.
Oh good. I have the original Ordnance turret casting drawings
so I can sharpshoot the details and dimensions when the kit comes out.
KL
United Kingdom
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 11:18 PM UTC
Thanks for all the good pointers fellas. I will have to snick off the rear turret basket and build a squared off turret then. Thanks also for the pointer about the second front shock absorber. I will have to snick that off too.
A quick question, does anyone have photos of the kind of air filters the M60 had? I know they changed quite a lot from variant to variant. I suppose the question is: are the Italeri M60 Blazer correct for a Slick 60?
Cheers
Matthew
Colorado, United States
Joined: January 20, 2005
KitMaker: 7,219 posts
Armorama: 6,097 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 11:30 PM UTC
A strong man stands up for himself; A stronger man stands up for others.
Admit nothing. Deny everything. Make counter-accusations.
He is not Khan who calls himself Khan. Afghan proverb
United Kingdom
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Saturday, March 21, 2015 - 11:53 PM UTC
Well that was a quick fix. It will need sanding and shaping when the milliwatt hardens.
Fixed the extra shock absorber. Two become one.
Cheers
Matthew
Alberta, Canada
Joined: February 18, 2003
KitMaker: 1,728 posts
Armorama: 1,629 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 22, 2015 - 12:20 AM UTC
Have a look at Jim Lewis's article
here , all the info you need to make an M60!
Rob, if your 'friends' need more photos/different angles, I also have taken an extensive walk-around of the M60 at Ashland, VA.
Jim
"Fire all weapons and open a hailing frequency for my victory yodel" - Zapp Brannigan
Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 22, 2015 - 12:21 AM UTC
The turret fix looks good. Good job on it.
Field Artillery --- The KING of BATTLE!!!
"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell
Showcase
United Kingdom
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 22, 2015 - 02:47 AM UTC
Quoted Text
The turret fix looks good. Good job on it.
Thanks, Gino. And thanks for pointing the square-end turret out. Much appreciated.
Texas, United States
Joined: June 12, 2007
KitMaker: 1,866 posts
Armorama: 1,696 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 22, 2015 - 08:57 PM UTC
Texas, United States
Joined: June 12, 2007
KitMaker: 1,866 posts
Armorama: 1,696 posts
Posted: Monday, March 23, 2015 - 12:04 AM UTC
And well done on the M48 turret mod, looks good.
United Kingdom
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Monday, March 23, 2015 - 03:36 AM UTC
M60 MBT kit bash update...
Thanks Jim for the link to the M60A1 to M60 MBT conversion article. From this I glean that the front return roller on the M60A1 is further forward than on the M60 MBT. I have corrected this, but unfortunately overcompensated and now on righthand-side it is too far back. Grrrr...
Nonetheless, I think it is time to go to the paint shop.
Cheers
Matthew
United States
Joined: February 16, 2014
KitMaker: 60 posts
Armorama: 60 posts
Posted: Sunday, April 12, 2015 - 05:00 PM UTC
Hell of a job and she looks really good!!!
One question to the experts. I was a tank commander on both M60A1 and M60A3 tanks back in the early/mid 80s... On the cupola for a slick-60, should it have the single sight riser for the M85 machine gun since it had only the daylight sight for the .50?? Wasn't the longer armored riser used on the upgraded M60A1/A3 versions?? I think I remember seeing a few early M60A1 tanks at Ft. Knox being shipped off north for rebuilding/upgrades and they had the older single armored riser for the M85 .50 cal.
In the 70s, when they added an I/R sight to the T/C cupola, that when I believe they went to the larger version of the armored riser... My unit in Germany, 3/68th Armor, 8th Infantry Division, finally added the passive nightsight system to the cupola's .50 cal around the springtime in 1980, which was done locally by civilian DoD contractors from the States.
Again, a hell of a conversion project!! I just hope that they will release a new plastic kit for the "Slick-60" and the A2 "Starship" tanks!!
United Kingdom
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Monday, April 27, 2015 - 09:57 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Hell of a job and she looks really good!!!
One question to the experts. I was a tank commander on both M60A1 and M60A3 tanks back in the early/mid 80s... On the cupola for a slick-60, should it have the single sight riser for the M85 machine gun since it had only the daylight sight for the .50?? Wasn't the longer armored riser used on the upgraded M60A1/A3 versions?? I think I remember seeing a few early M60A1 tanks at Ft. Knox being shipped off north for rebuilding/upgrades and they had the older single armored riser for the M85 .50 cal.
In the 70s, when they added an I/R sight to the T/C cupola, that when I believe they went to the larger version of the armored riser... My unit in Germany, 3/68th Armor, 8th Infantry Division, finally added the passive nightsight system to the cupola's .50 cal around the springtime in 1980, which was done locally by civilian DoD contractors from the States.
Again, a hell of a conversion project!! I just hope that they will release a new plastic kit for the "Slick-60" and the A2 "Starship" tanks!!
Thanks, Ted!
Here are a few more pictures of the Slick 60 - now with some paint. Also added some generic-ish US army decals (from the ancient Tamiya M48 A3 kit).
Still lots to do. Certainly a bit of weathering but not too much. I don't think the Slick 60 ever fired a shot in anger, did it?
Cheers
Matthew
Texas, United States
Joined: June 12, 2007
KitMaker: 1,866 posts
Armorama: 1,696 posts
Posted: Monday, April 27, 2015 - 11:34 PM UTC
I like... I realize there's already paint and decals on, but your added section on the back of the turret could used some blending in with the rest of the turret.....
And the IDF used plenty of M60 slicks, un-modified and all the way through the Magach7. Like this Magach6-MEM I did last year:
I used the Legends conversion, and I still have an ancient AEF Designs turret on a soon-to-be parted out model, which I think I'll use as an example to modify an M48 turret as you did.
United Kingdom
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 09, 2015 - 04:41 PM UTC
Georgia, United States
Joined: May 09, 2014
KitMaker: 273 posts
Armorama: 270 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 09, 2015 - 06:40 PM UTC
This build has been very enjoyable and informative to follow, it turned out great!
Colorado, United States
Joined: January 20, 2005
KitMaker: 7,219 posts
Armorama: 6,097 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 09, 2015 - 08:40 PM UTC
The rear of the turret looks good. Nicely done!
A strong man stands up for himself; A stronger man stands up for others.
Admit nothing. Deny everything. Make counter-accusations.
He is not Khan who calls himself Khan. Afghan proverb
United Kingdom
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
Armorama: 417 posts
Posted: Saturday, May 09, 2015 - 11:38 PM UTC
Thanks, Robert. Thanks, Alan. I enjoyed building it.
cheers
Matthew
