I used the Italeri kit no 6391 M60 Blazer with DEF models turret and air cleaners. Some scratchbuilding was done too. If anyone is interested in the corrections needed for the Italeri hull to become more accurate I would be more than happy to write them down.
























Comments and suggestions are more than welcome.

Always glad to see the slick getting represented in builds! Incredible work, can't wait to see some paint on it!

Hi,
looks an excellent work. Please, write something about the improvements made on the hull.
I would be interested to know your considerations on the turret of the Italeri kit, in particular on the Urdan cupola included.
I have this kit still to build, (aside an Academy and a pair of Tamiya of many versions) and I am very interested to know if I can obtain good models from them.
Massimo

Nice work Nikos.I would be interested to hear your changes and modifications very much so.
Excellent work indeed!!.
Richard

Thank you for the comments. Really appreciate them

Italeri/Esci M60 hull corrections:

a) General Corrections:

Bolt details have to be added to the headlight guards, fender support brackets, engine grilles hinges, travel lock, engine doors at the back and rear fender supports.

The cast texture has to be added to the engine deck.

The tensioner wheel arm has to be correctly attached to the first wheel not on the hull as Italeri has made it to. Remove the mounting hole for the tensioner arm from the hull.

Fill the gaps at the front and rear sides of the hull with plastic pieces.

Fill the back of the sprocket hubs.

Mud relief holes need to be drilled to the sprockets.

You need to correct the shape of the bilge water outlet at the front of the hull or plug the hole with a flange.

Replace the bump stops of the suspension with correct shaped ones.

Fill the holes at the back of the suspension arms. There must be a piece of plastic protruding there in order to hit the bump stop.

Add the two round transmission inspection covers at the rear end of the hull.

Correct the front fender bracket attachment point at the hull.

Add the support/ rubber pads at the inside of the front fenders, behind the headlights.

The travel lock needs a small piece of plastic under its mounting point on the engine deck.

Add the pulling levers at the fire extinguishing actuator box at the front of the hull.

Correct the fender support bracket holes. (size and number).

Correct the way the heater exhaust is mounted on the support bracket and drill the exhaust.

The infantry phone is either attached on the fender (early vehicles) or on a base above the fender. You have to add the wire for the phone.

b) For a M60 slick tank just follow the link: http://www.guntruck.com/M60MBTPage1.html

The Italeri turret is decent enough, just needs some detailing and some work on the manlet cover to remove the mold sims.

The Urdan cupola of the Italeri kit is too wide in diameter and tall, as is the Academy one I used. That is why Academy provides new cupolas in their Magach 6B Gal Batash and 7C Gimmel kits. But these cupolas are a little small in diameter, by a couple of mms. In order to get a correct Urdan someone must wait for Def model to release theirs, or correct the Academy M48A5K cupola. Unfortunately I had started my build when Def spread the news of their Urdan release.

Nice M60.

Thank you.

Final photos prior to painting:

Hi,
congratulations.. beautifully done.
Kip.

Thank you.

The model has been primed and is awaiting inspection for flaws such as glue marks etc.

I used as basic colour Modelmaster 2138 and Humbrol 84 at a ratio of 1:1. The shade is too dark and too yellow, I will add light grey in order to get to the proper shade for a post 1975 vehicle.

Beautiful build Nikos, keep'em coming!

Thank you for your explanations.
You are making an excellent work on your model.

Thank you for the comments. Really appreciate them.

I corrected the colour and will use some filters and washes to darken the shade a little.

Great job.
I was wondering if you would mind briefly noting the main differences that an IDF Magach 6 has compared to standard service.
Obviously the cupola, and 3 MG but what other major elements are Israeli mods? Have been building some of the Magach range and find this is the version, with urdan cupola, to be the least documented. Hoping new dragon kit may he good starting point or even they may do this variant but in case would love a little summary.

Thanks

First off all, here are all the photos i managed to find of the Magach 6








I know that the vehicles saw service in their original configuration. So you can make a simple M60 painted in IDF colors, especially for the Yom Kippur war.

IDF additions are the armored filters (actually a welded armored box over the side loading filters), uzi mounts on the turret for the loader and the commander, cupola and machine guns.

Other details are:
- the antennas on the command vehicles, which are the same as my vehicle (2 spring bases instead of the one on the non command version)
- the heater exhaust was later removed, before ERA was added
- spare tracks on the left rear fender
- a stretcher on the front right fender
- sometimes wooden ammo crates on the back fenders etc

These are all the details I can think of at the moment.

I went on and painted the black on the tracks and wheels. Next I will be correcting the paintwork, painting the metal parts of the track with vallejo track primer and the rest of the details on the model.

The paint job is looking great!

Thank you. I am still a bit anxious how it will look after the weathering.

I continued with painting the details and correcting any oversprays.

Thanks Nikos
Tree seems to be very few photos of the urdan cupola version.
I like this variant with extra mg mounts, it just screams IDF and is a good point of difference when compared to a standard slick. Ive always liked the practical changes the IDF has made on there systems.
Thanks for the explanation. I was having no luck in working this out. I think I can proceed based on that.

You are welcome Scott.

I used Modelmaster Acrylic Gloss varnish prior to applying the decals. The moment of truth has come, will the color shade look alright after the washes and filters?

Great stuff, Nikos! Any plans to add figures and/or base?

Superb work Nikos.I think you have created an excellent model.Im enjoying reading your build up.
Excellent!!!.
Richard

Thank you. I suck at painting figures, so no crew on my builds. All my models are displayed on wooden bases with plexiglass covers. The base for this model will be very dark green.




Many thanks. I am glad to see that people like my builds.

I went on and gave the model a dark grey wash and filter. After that I sprayed a satin varnish and the model is ready for streaks, chipping and whatever comes to mind, before applying mat varnish and dust.

I finally managed to decide how to add the stowage. The next step will be to add the unit markings on canvas pieces at the bustle rack and to the sides of the turret.

Looks fantastic! Which unit/year the vehicle belongs to?