United Kingdom
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
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Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 05:24 PM UTC
Hey All,
I want to share some pictures of my M48 A5 kit bash.
The majority of the build comes from the Dragon M48 A3 mod B kit. The tracks and urban cupola come from the Italeri M60 Blazer kit, while the Academy USMC M60 with RISE armour donated the smoke dischargers. The barrel is an RB model turned aluminium offering. I scratched the mount for the .50 cal.
I plan to do it up as a US Army A5 in Korea.
Cheers
Matthew
New York, United States
Joined: May 02, 2013
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Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 05:36 PM UTC
Correze, France
Joined: June 10, 2004
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Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 08:23 PM UTC
Nice job but if I'm correct the barrel is a British L7 gun and not the US M68 gun.
You can spot the difference with the raised lip at both ends of the bore evacuator.
Another point is the angle of the smoke dischargers, they appear to be too horizontal.
HTH
Olivier
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Napoléon
New Jersey, United States
Joined: July 25, 2006
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Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 09:32 PM UTC
You beat me to it I intend to do the same thing. I have to agree with Olivier though about the gun tube. I'll be building a National Guard M48A5 That I crewed in the 80s with 2 M60Ds on the turret top.
Did you have any trouble mounting the new mantle?
Tom
"ALLONS" 11TH ACR BLACKHORSE
"Death Before Dismount"
19K40/ Dino Rider 19F10
United Kingdom
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Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 10:24 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Nice job but if I'm correct the barrel is a British L7 gun and not the US M68 gun.
You can spot the difference with the raised lip at both ends of the bore evacuator.
Another point is the angle of the smoke dischargers, they appear to be too horizontal.
HTH
Olivier
Hmmm. This means that RB model is selling its M68 105mm gun under the wrong name...http://www.rbmodel.com/picture.php?dir=35B100... So it's actually the UK 105 mm gun... So the fix would be to shave off the lip?... That's kinda tough as they're metal.
Thanks for pointing out the smoke dischargers are too horizontal. I'll get on it..
Cheers
Matthew
New Jersey, United States
Joined: July 25, 2006
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Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 10:59 PM UTC
I think filing and sanding might be a better option. found a good picture of the evacuators.
http://primeportal.net/images/m60a3mh/Boresight1.jpg The picture is an M60A3 but its the same gun.
It wouldn't take too much to round the edges.
Check out prime portal for images of the A5 your cupola brace should be flat, also the cupola looks a bit high check the pictures see what you think.
Sorry I don't mean to nit pick it looks like a fine build but the Italieri cupola could be slightly off.
Tom
"ALLONS" 11TH ACR BLACKHORSE
"Death Before Dismount"
19K40/ Dino Rider 19F10
Washington, United States
Joined: August 09, 2002
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Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 11:10 PM UTC
Hmmm. This means that RB model is selling its M68 105mm gun under the wrong name...http://www.rbmodel.com/picture.php?dir=35B100... So it's actually the UK 105 mm gun... So the fix would be to shave off the lip?... That's kinda tough as they're metal.
Take a small flat file and carefully file the lip down should be easy. I have a one that is about 1/4 inch wide.
Msgt Retired USMC
M48/ M60A1/ M1A1
Semper Fi!
United Kingdom
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Posted: Friday, May 22, 2015 - 11:56 PM UTC
Hmmm. That is a real pita.
I can sort out the gun evacuator tube, and the cupola brace, but reducing the height of the cupola itself will involve some significant surgery...
I can fix the first two, but will have to think on about the third...
Thanks for all the constructive criticism, fellas.
Cheers
Matthew
United Kingdom
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2015 - 02:51 AM UTC
Several cans of beer later…
Right, sorted out the gun tube...
Pared off the urdan cupola for some serious surgery…
here is the surgery
and some more… now refitted - a good bit lower, the brace in the right place, and the slightly iffy periscopes removed and replaced with their sleek covers
and the smoke dischargers are now at a better elevation…
Off to the paint shop again!
Thanks for all the useful feedback, Olivier, Thomas, Greg. Much obliged.
Cheers
Matthew
New Jersey, United States
Joined: July 25, 2006
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2015 - 10:55 AM UTC
Matt much better. Did you check the pictures? The Italeri/Esci cupola was probably over sized. What did you do for the mantle cover?
Tom
"ALLONS" 11TH ACR BLACKHORSE
"Death Before Dismount"
19K40/ Dino Rider 19F10
United Kingdom
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2015 - 01:21 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Matt much better. Did you check the pictures? The Italeri/Esci cupola was probably over sized. What did you do for the mantle cover?
Tom
Thanks, Tom.
The mantle cover is actually the Dragon styrene one from the other M48 A3 kit. It looks good but the only problem I had was when I pushed the gun into the hole it sagged pretty badly. The only fix I could think of was to pack the back of the cover and the tube part with miliput, which worked quite well. If I were to do it again I'd probably try to source an AM resin mantlet cover if any manufacturers make one.
Cheers
Matt
United States
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2015 - 02:55 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
Matt much better. Did you check the pictures? The Italeri/Esci cupola was probably over sized. What did you do for the mantle cover?
Tom
Thanks, Tom.
The mantle cover is actually the Dragon styrene one from the other M48 A3 kit. It looks good but the only problem I had was when I pushed the gun into the hole it sagged pretty badly. The only fix I could think of was to pack the back of the cover and the tube part with miliput, which worked quite well. If I were to do it again I'd probably try to source an AM resin mantlet cover if any manufacturers make one.
Cheers
Matt
you have a few flaws in your kitbash your smoke granade launchers are too far forward they should be right about where you have those boxes for the extra smoke granades and the mount for the machine gun is incorrect and was not armed with a 50cal the m48a5 was armed with 2 m60 machine guns the one on the commanders coupola was on mount that looked like a sissors lift and mounted at the 1 o clock position
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2015 - 03:55 PM UTC
Actually the US M48A5's in Korea had 50 caliber machine guns on the TC cupola. There's a photo of a bunch of them in the Academy instruction sheet.
Your other corrections are right on Nick. The grenade launchers are too far forward and the grenade boxes need to be back where the turret crew can get to them to store their drinks. What you mean it's not a fancy drink holder?
And you need to source the loader's M60D mounts. There should be one on the side of the turret and another in front of his hatch.
"The only thing a man should take seriously is the fact that nothing should be taken seriously."
Samuel Butler, Victorian satirist
Steve Willoughby
United States
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2015 - 08:35 PM UTC
Great work!
I love the M48a5. I crewed one in NJ from 1987 til we got the M60a3.
We had 2 M60d on top instead of the .50 cal.
I agree on the smoke discharger angle looking incorrect. The smoke dischargers also look a little thick.
Anyhow, great work.
New Jersey, United States
Joined: July 25, 2006
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2015 - 09:50 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Great work!
I love the M48a5. I crewed one in NJ from 1987 til we got the M60a3.
We had 2 M60d on top instead of the .50 cal.
I agree on the smoke discharger angle looking incorrect. The smoke dischargers also look a little thick.
Anyhow, great work.
What unit where you in? I was in Bco 1/102nd Armor. I was a TC.
Tom
"ALLONS" 11TH ACR BLACKHORSE
"Death Before Dismount"
19K40/ Dino Rider 19F10
New Jersey, United States
Joined: July 25, 2006
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2015 - 09:57 PM UTC
http://www.network54.com/Forum/110741/thread/1156727024/M48A5+MERDC+paintedIf you follow the link to another web site there are pictures of M48A5s of the 2nd ID in Korea. Matt is pretty close in his placement of the grenade launchers and reload boxes.
Tom
"ALLONS" 11TH ACR BLACKHORSE
"Death Before Dismount"
19K40/ Dino Rider 19F10
United Kingdom
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
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Posted: Saturday, May 23, 2015 - 10:55 PM UTC
Quoted Text
http://www.network54.com/Forum/110741/thread/1156727024/M48A5+MERDC+painted
If you follow the link to another web site there are pictures of M48A5s of the 2nd ID in Korea. Matt is pretty close in his placement of the grenade launchers and reload boxes.
Tom
Thanks, Tom. You beat me to it. I was about to upload the same picture (the second one down), which shows just how far forward the smoke dischargers and ammo boxes where located.
Cheers
Matthew
United States
Joined: February 19, 2009
KitMaker: 1,139 posts
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Posted: Sunday, May 24, 2015 - 12:50 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Actually the US M48A5's in Korea had 50 caliber machine guns on the TC cupola. There's a photo of a bunch of them in the Academy instruction sheet.
Your other corrections are right on Nick. The grenade launchers are too far forward and the grenade boxes need to be back where the turret crew can get to them to store their drinks. What you mean it's not a fancy drink holder?
And you need to source the loader's M60D mounts. There should be one on the side of the turret and another in front of his hatch.
i have built a couple of US ARMY NATIONAL GUARD M48A5 and i dont remember the granade boxes on the kit were they mounted on the side of the air cleaners like on the M247 SGT York?
New Jersey, United States
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Posted: Sunday, May 24, 2015 - 01:56 AM UTC
Most National Guard 48s didn't have grenade launchers. The only ones I have seen with them in the US Army were in Korea. I was on 48s for over 7 years and never saw any in the North East.
Tom
"ALLONS" 11TH ACR BLACKHORSE
"Death Before Dismount"
19K40/ Dino Rider 19F10
United Kingdom
Joined: September 17, 2012
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Posted: Sunday, May 24, 2015 - 01:07 PM UTC
Here's another photo with the smoke dischargers and reload boxes to the front of the turret...
Cheers
Matthew
United Kingdom
Joined: September 17, 2012
KitMaker: 462 posts
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Posted: Sunday, June 14, 2015 - 01:17 AM UTC
An update on the M48A5 kit bash…
After malingering on the to do shelf for a month or so, I thought I’d better crack on and paint the tracks and attach the fenders, mudguards, whatever…
Here she is, looking a bit too clean…
Next to add decals and mucky her a bit. I might also add some canvas covers to the the smoke dischargers. Oh and the bit of pipe (air intake?) that rises to the right of the driver's position and connects to the right fender...
Cheers
Matthew
New Jersey, United States
Joined: July 25, 2006
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Posted: Monday, June 15, 2015 - 09:53 AM UTC
Matt are you going to add the loaders machine gun mounts ther is one in front of the loader and one on the left side of the turret. they are on the 2nd IDs tanks from the pictures I've seen, Also all the 48A5s I've seen had aluminum top loading air cleaners or armored top loading air cleaners. You used the side loaders. This refers to the location of the hatch to to remove the engine air filters for cleaning.
Tom
"ALLONS" 11TH ACR BLACKHORSE
"Death Before Dismount"
19K40/ Dino Rider 19F10
United Kingdom
Joined: September 17, 2012
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Posted: Friday, March 25, 2016 - 08:50 PM UTC
Hello,
I’ve finally finished my M48A5 (US army in Korea). It is based on the Dragon Model B M48A3, but I used the urdan cupola, and tracks from the Italeri M60 blazer kit, the smoke launchers and the top-loading air filter units come from an Academy M60 kit. The mount for the .50 cal is scratched as are the covers for the smoke launchers. The barrel is from RB model. Decals are from the Tamiya M48A3 kit.
I might add a bit of stowage to make it looked lived in.
Comments and criticism welcome.
Thanks for looking.
Cheers
Matthew
New Jersey, United States
Joined: April 20, 2009
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Posted: Saturday, March 26, 2016 - 09:07 AM UTC
Matthew,
Unless you have a good reference picture of the vehicle you are doings, aren't you missing the bustle rack on the back of the turret?
Regards,
Georg
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.
United Kingdom
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Posted: Sunday, March 27, 2016 - 02:47 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Matthew,
Unless you have a good reference picture of the vehicle you are doings, aren't you missing the bustle rack on the back of the turret?
Regards,
Georg
Thanks, Georg. Yes, you're right.
This is my reference photo.
At first sight it looks as though the turret stowage rack is not there. But then I looked closely at it and it is. It’s just hiding behind that jerry can.
I suppose it had to be there didn't it. What else would the jerry can be attached to otherwise... Ho hum...
I’ll have to scratch one tomorrow.
Cheers
Matthew
