what is the difference between an M26 Pershing at the end of WWII
and an M26a1 Korean war

The A1 was equipped with the M3A1 gun, which used a bore excavator and simplified muzzle break compare to the M3.

Hi Frank
The M26A1 has the M3A1 90mm gun with bore evacuator & a single baffle muzzle brake - the M26 has the M3 90mm- no bore evacuator. They also have different Gun Travel locks - the M26A1 has it mounted in the middle of the engine deck, the M26 one is mounted beside the exhaust at the back of the tank. The M26A1 is also likely to have the later, larger hull mounted blower fan between the driver & co-driver, and a single set of periscopes for them. The early tanks has 2 - one on the hatch & another close to the blower hump.

Mal

If you scroll down this topic, we have had a discussion regarding the differences:

https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/244948&page=1

I do not like using others work to showcase details because so much can be omitted or just plain covered up like the gun barrel lock but on the other hand museum pieces can be misleading too, unless you find a good example of one like Toadman's photos here on the A1

http://www.toadmanstankpictures.com/m26a1pershing.htm

which I used extensively to build my M26A1 Pershing in 1/16.





Jeff