Continuing their series of IDF vehicles and specifically after the Magach 1&2, Dragon launches now a Magach 3.

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Thanks!

Is this essentially an M 48A5?

Not really. It is just an upgunned A3. It retained the early A3 analog sighting computer, side loading air cleaners (which should be armored), round headlight cluster, etc.

M48A5s were built off of M48A3 Mod B tanks and had their upgrades (smaller headlights, armored tail lights, armored bars on the rear plate, etc.), along with an M60A1 sighting computer, top-loading air cleaner, urdan-style low-profile cupola (early ones did retain the M1 cupola), and other updated parts.

The IDF also used the British L7 105mm barrel as opposed to the US M68, which did not have a raised lip on either end of the bore evacuator.

The drawings and CAD show some errors too. Mainly in the rear plate. It (as all their M48s do) has the raised armor bars around the exhaust louvers. These are features of M48A3 Mod B and later tanks and should not be present on a tank w/round headlights and unarmored (round top) tail lights. By fixing just them, it could be a very early IDF M48A3.

The IDF quickly started updating them. The more common commander's cupolas used by the IDF were old Sherman cupolas since they did not like the enclosed gun on the M1 cupola. On later models, they developed the Urdan cupola. Also, the IDF added an armored box over the side-loading air cleaners as well.

Some pics:

idf in 1/35th scale.

Wow! How insightful.

That guys whole profile is nothing but short pointlessly obvious comments. No useful contributions at all that I can see.

Dragon failed to include low profile cupola.

That's not all they missed, read my long post above.

I was really excited to see dml take the IDF route, adding more choice of manufacturers to the modeller. i was hoping for some time that IDF subject would get the "dragon treatment) like their crazy panzer kits.
Oh well

I have the Def Model conversion for Magach 3, but not kit to convert. In your expert opinions would I be better off with this kit or the Dragon M48A3, or doesn't it matter?

This is just the Dragon M48A3 with the 105 barrel from theIr M60 kit. That means wrong barrel as well an undersized one.