Here I have assembled and installed the Turret Basket.



I assembled it according to the Kit Instructions, I think the next time when I do the M60A2 or M60A3, I'll install the frame first to the Turret then add the mesh.
The Basket framing is verry delecate, I broke some of it.This has been the hardest part of this kit so far.
Donald

Don bustle racks can be a real bear. Looking good.

Tom

Here is the Commanders Cupola.





It looks white, because the top part was molded in clear plastic.
I masked off the interior glass parts then painted the interior white. There isn't much to see on the interior.
The really tricky part was bending the perforated Pe. part for the Mg. barrel. I had to heat it up to get it to bend the right way.
You can't see much of it if you use the dust cover.
I also hinged the hatch.
I'll be working on the search light next.
Donald

Here is the Search light.



It went together without any problems.
I think next time I'll fasten the mounts to the search light first instead of the Mantlet.

I was going to replace the Water Can on the Turret side with one from Tasca, but the Tasca can wouldn't fit the Can holder.


That's all for now.
Donald

I have been working on the Wheels while the Hull & Turret are in the paint shop.
I used this stuff called Rub and Buff for the inner wear areas of the Wheels.

Yeh I know it's a little sloppy on the area closer to the hub, but you won't see this area anyway .


There is a tiny O ring that goes against the Inside Wheel, and the Outside Wheel holds it in place.

I used a Touch and Flow applicator to apply liquid glue to the joint.

the finished Wheels.


See You can't see much between the Inner and Outer Wheels.


I just got the Hull and Turret out of the paint shop.




That's all for now.
Donald

Don, what marking scheme are you going with?

Tom

I'm not sure what you would call this color scheme, it's from the instruction sheet. I am using Model Master Field Green,& Armor Sand with Tamiya Flat Black.
I don't know if this is a real one or one AFV Club made up.
I like how it looks, I don't usually try to do a coppy of a actual vehicle.
The color and pattern is probably all wrong for an actual velicle, but I like it and this kit is a lot of fun to build.
Donald

I believe thats a Fort Hood based unit prior to the MERDAC cammo coming out. It does look good.

Tom

Don, it's an outstanding model you're presenting.
Regarding the camo: it seems to me that AFV has a bad copy of the 1973 7th Army camo, sometimes called "MASSTER" camouflage. There are some pictures of M60A1 with this on the web. The coulors are sand, brown, pale green and black. A few more information you'll find on this site:
http://www.tankograd.com/cms/website.php?id=/de/MASSTER-MERDC-DUALTEX.htm

Mirko

I've been reading this thread ever since it began- WHAT A WEALTH OF INFORMATION Y0U GUYS ARE FEEDING INTO IT!! I'll be following closely until completion, as I want to build a "proper" M60A1, myself. The only REAL issue that I have with this kit so far is the "questionable" surface of the tank's outer skin...

I was going to replace the Water Can on the Turret side with one from Tasca, but the Tasca can wouldn't fit the Can holder.


I have custom made the water can holder. It is easy and you keep the best water cans

Dennis,
in regards to the "questionable surface of the outer skin", its indeed overdone for the scale-- but a little work with some sand paper on the high spots will fix that, and little liquid glue on top of that should take care of it. As an old M60 tanker, I can tell you the surface of the vehicle is not as rough as the kit is, but as I looked closely at the kit parts, AFV club really did try and replicate the casting surface. It could also be fixed with a really heavy coat of paint I suppose. There was a discussion above of drain plugs in the bore evacuator, I went over to Fort Lewis again, and looked at the M-60 on display at the museum-- there is no drain plug anywhere on the evacuator-- but again its an M60, not an A1.
VR, Russ

I did a little Googling and found the markings are for 4/69 armor battalion which was reactivated in 1972 at Mainz West Germany with the 8th Infantry Division. So forget my earlier Fort Hood comment. That fits the timeline for the kit. The question is, was MAASTER universal throughout USAREUR or were there unit by unit deviations? When I got to Fulda the 58th maintenance company had a M578 painted in MAASTER with areas of gray. I have a picture some where.

Don you picked a very appealing color scheme can't wait to see it finished.

Tom

Russ, I found a picture on Prime Portal of an M60A3 with a plug and the early thermal shroud so its not an M1 gun tube fitted to an M60. So some where between the M6o and the A3 it was added.
http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/don_busack/m60a3/images/m60a3_73_of_85.jpg

I'm poting the link since it may be a copyright issue.

Yes the surface will need some work since the back deck especially was smooth before non-skid. It was made from rolled and welded armor plate. Add spilled oil and rain and it could be a dangerous place. Had several close calls.

Tom

Don, Tom, Dennis, et. al.,
I was assigned to the 2/11 ACR in 1977, likely there at the same time Tom was in the 1/11 at Fulda. In 2/11, and many other units in USAREUR at that Time, the MERDC was pretty much standard, but there were plenty of other units that had the previous camouflage patterns, and there were all sorts of variations on the schemes. I've said this before in another posting, but my squadron commander had me running all over Germany when I was the S4 looking for a shade of "Forest Green" that was not a standard camo color so he could tell his vehicles from any other in Europe (I returned with two deuce and a half's full of forest green paint!). So, in my experience, seeing that AFV club profile camouflage scheme in Europe in 1977 would not be unusual-- I saw a lot of different variations in schemes-- its not an exact science. As to Tom's comment on the evacuator drain plug-- I don't remember them on our A1s, that doesn't mean they weren't there though-- at my advanced age I'm forgetting more each day-- that's why I had to go look at the M60 at Lewis (which does not have one)! I think its such a small thing that it really likely only matters to an AMS modeler, and if so, checking photos as Tom did is best. There a lot of folks following this posting-- I never would have imagined 40 years ago how many folks would be interested in the M60. VR, Russ

I understand Russ, I just had my 68th. Birthday a couple months agoe.
Man I just keep forgeting stuff.

Well back to the build, I have the wheels installed below.

I have the Kit Track painted, this is how I did it.

I masked off the rubber parts with Blue Tape.


Then I sprayed Model Master Gun Metal Buffing Metalizer on the metal parts,

I removed the masking when the paint was dry.


And assembled the track.

You need to take care when gluing the track together as the joint is very delicate.
I know, the Pics. don't show much difference between the rubber & metalic areas but it's there.
I have to recharge the battery for my camera.
More later.
Donald

Careful on using metalizer, I've had it react bad with the rubber band style tracks.

I haven't had any problems yet with it, even on the Dragon tracks.
Donald

I was checking my M60A3 TM. (yeah I kept it) I built models while in the Army, I have been building steadily since I was 8. The plug is mentioned as a way to clean the bore evacuator after gunnery. My thought is it was probably added for the hopefully future A3 kit. I don't recall one on my first M60A1 either.

Duhh, It would not be on the earlier M60s we used GAA(grease, automotive, and artillery) as a way to protect the evacuator and the barrel underneath from rust and to make it easier to clean. Very messily applied by hand. The TM calls for CLP (cleaner, lubricant, preservative) a modern silicone based muilti purpose cleaner that was issued in the 80s. Thus the plug was a later addition when CLP replaced all other cleaners and lubes. Scrape it off pre CLP M60s. CLP is great stuff I still use it to clean my guns.

Don its going to look great, thanks again for being the first guy to take the plunge. I spray the rubber and hand paint the metal. I used Testors gunmetal on Italieri Chaffee tracks and they fell apart.

Tom

Italian Army put in service 300 M60A1 in the '60 and none of them had the bore evacuator plug.

They were pre CLP so no need for a plug.

Tom