How does it fit to the original kit turret? Dragon turret is several mms too narrow at the gun trunnion points and the cover only partially covers this area. If the Legend mantlet cover is designed to fit the kit turret, it would still be too narrow.

All in good time. Yes, the turret trunnions require modification for the resin mantlet to fit.

When you look at the kit mantlet in comparison with the new resin mantlet the width difference is a factor that has to be addressed on the turret.

As a result of the small size of the kit mantlet the turret gun trunnions (gun mounts) need to be increased in width.

Legend Productions provides some guidance with respect to trimming down the existing trunnion area and at the same time widening it to accept the resin mantlet.

That being said this is not simply a trim and swap kind of task. You will need to widen the trunnions, integrate them into the turret, blend the additions, and mount the mantlet.

I started with removing the casting lugs on the inner side of the mantlet. With clipping, cutting, sanding, and grinding using a Dremel too I attempted to hollow out the inside as much as possible to create a smooth fit to the front of the turret.

I thought this was going to be a straight forward task but it proved a bit challenging in order to get the correct look to the trunnions in combination with attaching the mantlet.

Legend Productions provides visual instructions of the trimmed down turret and the addition of plastic fillets to widen the turret.

Here is an image from the Legend Productions M103A2 mantlet set instructions...



I trimmed down the trunnion area and sealed up the turret. You won't be needing any of the parts provided to create the moveable mantlet. The resin parts will be glued in place solidly.

Turret face modifications...







Hollowed out resin mantlet...

Coming along nicely

While the Legend resin mantlet set is really nicely moulded and detailed getting the turret widened correctly caused me grief over an extended period of time. It has nothing to do with the Dragon or Legend parts but instead my approach to trying to widen the trunnion area quickly and simply.

I started with an application of two part Tamiya putty. This added the increased width I needed but I flawed in a couple of areas. In retrospect I should have landmarked the trunnion indents on either side of the turret when adding the putty. Not doing this led to a guessing game as the mantlet was fitted. As well, I found with the putty it was difficult to obtain a true 90 degree side angle for the trunnions that then led back to a gentle curve into the turret.

Here is the first application of putty. In hindsight I should have followed the legend instructions and adding fillets with styrene. This would have allowed more control and easier sanding of proper angles. Live and learn!







At the same time I sanded and sealed up the turret. As I felt that some of the external components on the turret needed to be adjusted and the surface texture needed to be enhanced I simply sanded off all mounting points that Dragon had embossed on the turret sides and rear.

Finally catching up to this, great project Jason.

Ryan

As I continue to work on the turret modifications to fit the Legend Productions resin mantlet I prepared the kit barrel for use with the new parts.

As I stated earlier the kit barrel is too short. To remedy this with an easy solution available and affordable to most modellers I replaced the actual barrel with a portion of styrene tube.

To attach the tube I cut the barrel in two places. The first cut was made where the barrel meets the conical shaped collar.



The second cut was made behind the bore evacuator. The ends of all parts were cleaned up and the new barrel attached to the remaining kit parts.

With the new barrel in hand it could be glued to the accordion dust cover which then in turn could be attached seamlessly to the resin mantlet after it was attached to the turret.

The downside to this process is that the barrel is not tapered in any form thus reducing accuracy.



As the turret takes shape I will show this kit modified barrel attached to the mantlet.

I was going to say "where the hell was this when i was doing mine", but in hindsight i'm glad i went forward and just sculpted my own canvas cover. Not nearly as good as the detail on the legends piece, but i didn't have to saw that beautiful RB Models barrel. I doubt the resin piece would've fit the widened trunnions on mine and Pawel's turrets anyway.

You don't have to saw / cut the RB Models barrel in order to use it. It just takes a bit of extra work. I will show this as my build continues.

The mantlet cover is not correct for Pawel's M103A1 build. The version produced by Legend Productions was only used on the M103A2.

realize that. i was speaking in general terms. The A1 didn't have the "accordion" gun tube cover, but rather a loose bag like the M48A1. sure, you could drill out the accordion, but the taper of that section of the RB barrel would make that difficult for many including myself.

The accordion dust cover portion in the Legend set was designed for the Dragon kit barrel. It is too small to accept the RB Models barrel whether the metal barrel is cut or the accordion dust cover part is drilled out due to the tapered size of the RB Models barrel.

Legend did not have the RB Models barrel when they mastered the mantlet or the accordion dust cover parts. If they had I suspect that parts would have been created for both the Dragon barrel and the RB Models barrel.

The RB Models barrel can be mounted in the mantlet easily but the accordion dust cover has to be scratch built to add it to the RB Models barrel and Legend Productions mantlet combination.

Is it the perfect solution? No, but using either the kit barrel or the RB Models barrel provides all levels of modellers with options during a build.

My first attempt (and second and third) at properly widening the trunnions in order to fit the resin mantlet were not successful. This was a trial and error issue created by me for not preplanning and sticking to basics of construction.

After I had added the putty I sanded it and added a couple of coats of Mr Surfacer 1000 to smooth out edges and blend it to the turret. The angles created by the putty were not correct and I simply amplified the issue by sanding and adding more filler.

If I had to do this again I would have done the following:

1. Drilled out the holes in the kit turret that indicate the location of the trunnions. These are nicely defined on the turret part.

2. Insert a small section of styrene tube the same size of the trunnion holes to mark and create a reference point for adding a styrene fillet to widen the mantlet area.

3. Add a styrene fillet to increase the width. Keep this at 90 degrees on both sides of the mantlet area.

4. Add putty or filler to even out the surface and create the turret face angle.

5. Trim down the styrene trunnion tubes so they are flush with the sides.

6. You would have to test fit and adjust the resin mantlet to ensure the positioning is correct with respect the trunnion locations.

7. Add a solid piece inside the styrene tube to create the indent in the trunnion holes.

There could be multiple ways to approach the widening of the trunnions / mantlet area so pick and choose your options and method.

Here are a couple of images of my failed attempt to increase the width of the trunnion / mantlet area.

Hopefully my mistakes will lead to your success in the future.

After multiple battles to get a reasonably angled widened trunnion I attached the Legend Productions mantlet.

I used multiple layers of Mr. Surfacer to even out the surface and blend the angles into the turret face. Is it perfect, no. I carried over the Mr Surfacer to the rest of the turret to provide a consistent rough surface texture.

I drilled out the trunnion holes on either side of the mantlet. I had to use the Mk.1 eyeball to place the holes and again if I had to do it again I would have ensured the kit trunnions were landmarked.











Legend Productions provides tiny PE mantlet clamps and resin bolts to finish off the mantlet.

Here is an image from the Legend Productions instructions showing the placement of the PE and resin parts.

I'll suggest to Lee that this be done in the same style as the cover for the AFV Club Shot Kal. Incorporate the cover with a whole new frontal turret piece. Cut the front of the turret off and simply add new piece. As it is, is it still somewhat inaccurate as you can see the outline of the original bolted on trunnion piece.
That said, I really can't get interested in this kit until someone else produces a better one. Whoops.

That is an option for sure and worthy of the suggestion.

I think taking it a step further and creating another accordion dust cover specifically with the RB Models barrel in mind in addition to the current one for the kit barrel would provide an additional option for modellers.

OK, time to fire it up a notch. Regardless of the kit accuracy issues it can be built into a reasonable model of the M103A2 in my opinion.

I added the PE mantlet clamps provided by Legend Productions in their mantlet set and then carried on with attaching the modified barrel and accordion dust cover combo.

When I attached the barrel to the accordion dust cover I had toyed with the idea of adding a slightly larger diameter styrene gun tube. The result of my test fitting was a slightly chipped forward collar on the right side that you'll be able to see in some of the images.

If you chose to use the Legend set the accordion dust cover is not perfectly symmetrical. It does have a top and bottom with a slight sag toward the bottom. This feature can be seen in reference images. By spinning the part on the mantlet you can easily determined the bottom. Coincidentally the bottom is also where the resin pour lug is attached.

The main gun definitely adds to the dynamic look of the massive tank.

To finish off the mantlet area I removed the rudimentary triangular lifting handles with the nicely detailed PE versions from the Voyager M103A1 set. Drilling out and countersinking the bolts on the top of the mantlet was the final touch of detail.

Using this option for the main gun will improve the look from the kit provided barrel and mantlet. It's not perfect, but who is?

A few more images of displaying the modified barrel attached to the replacement resin mantlet and accordion dust cover.







Next up will be the RB Models barrel fitted to the resin mantlet.

I forgot to add, in spite of the limitations of the base kit, you've done a hell of a job getting that piece to fit. It looks great. Legend has certainly stepped up their game again.

Here are images of the RB Models metal barrel mounted on the resin Legend Productions mantlet.

The resin accordion dust cover cannot be used with the metal barrel as the resin part is not big enough to permit it being drilled out for the barrel.

The barrel can be mounted flush with the mantlet by drilling out the mantlet opening. This is not to enlarge the visible opening but instead to create and even opening on the resin inside the mantlet. I used a Dremel tool on low speed to enlarge the interior opening until the barrel slid in flush against the face of the mantlet.

CA glue was used to secure the barrel to the mantlet.

You will have to decide how you are going to tackle the accordion dust cover. If you are going to use a series of cut out circles then make sure you do not glue on the bore evacuator and muzzle on the end of the barrel.

As the build continues I'll attempt to replicate the accordion dust cover.

The RB Models barrel is excellent and at around $10.00 USD it is great investment.

Flexible portion of drinking straw? Just wondering out loud...

Whoa, those sure do look a lot better than the thin slices of rod stock that I used on my current project!

I have considered that as an option and found some extra big "bendy" straws. I show that as the build progresses.

As the turret build continues I added the various railings and stowage brackets.

Before adding the railings and brackets I attached the four large lifting eyes so that I could use them as landmark references for the other parts. I will add weld seams to the lifting eyes as the build continues.

Overall the kit parts are sufficient. There are multiple seams to remove and this is easy enough to do with a sharp #11 blade. The other detail added to the parts was to drill out the ends with a small bit in a pin vise drill. You don't have to drill deep but just enough to create the illusion of the tubes being hollow.

As I had coated the turret with Mr. Surfacer I used multiple references to get the placements as correct as I could. With the overall turret dimensions incorrect this proved very difficult and I had to come to a common middle ground with the part placements.

The Dragon kit provides metal water cans moulded with the jerry can racks. Voyager Models provides replacement PE jerry can racks and straps in their detail set and so I used them on the turret.

The searchlight mount on the right rear of the turret is somewhat basic but it works.









There are still more details to add to the turret and the next installment will cover off the tow cable.

Love how far you go into every detail. Wish they made those hatch springs and theid mounting plates for Sherman tanks because I can't see myself fiddling with that small of a wire to make them myself.

Thanks for the compliment. Voyager Model does make a few sets for Shermans that include the pre-formed hatch springs.