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Takom: M47 and M47E/M
vettejack
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Florida, United States
Joined: November 23, 2012
KitMaker: 1,277 posts
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Posted: Wednesday, June 07, 2017 - 05:56 PM UTC
We love the anticipation of opening a new kit...but we also add the usual check to inventory the parts/sprues and ensure the kits are complete or have no defective parts.

With the arrival Monday, the 5th of June, from Japan, of Takom's M47 E/M, and the standard M47 G, I dug in to check out the kits.

On the M47 E/M, imagine being surprised yet extremely disappointed, that on sprue H, I found the front upper hull plate to be defective and incomplete...which appears to look like the manufacturing process ran out of plastic to fill/finish the mold. The pics obviously show this.

Now I have to begin the process with trying to replace this sprue...knowing how long it's going to take. Takom's web site has been useless for this process so far. Maybe HLJ's return policy will help...who knows. Lessons taken from this? Immediately check your M47 arrivals...I'll betcha I'm not the only one with a defective part.

As far as the 2 M47 kits themselves...well...lets just say so far that I'm NOT quite impressed along the lines of detail/accurateness . But, that's my opinion...open for discussion for another day/thread perhaps.

I'll poke along working the Italeri M47 kits on the bench in the meantime..






ivanhoe6
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Wisconsin, United States
Joined: April 05, 2007
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Posted: Wednesday, June 07, 2017 - 06:21 PM UTC
WOW!!! I've never seen such a "short shot" like this one before!!! My condolences John.
Your photos made me double check my new arrival and the molding seems to be good.
Good luck replacing your upper hull !
SEDimmick
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: March 15, 2002
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Posted: Thursday, June 08, 2017 - 12:23 AM UTC

Quoted Text

We love the anticipation of opening a new kit...but we also add the usual check to inventory the parts/sprues and ensure the kits are complete or have no defective parts.

With the arrival Monday, the 5th of June, from Japan, of Takom's M47 E/M, and the standard M47 G, I dug in to check out the kits.

On the M47 E/M, imagine being surprised yet extremely disappointed, that on sprue H, I found the front upper hull plate to be defective and incomplete...which appears to look like the manufacturing process ran out of plastic to fill/finish the mold. The pics obviously show this.

Now I have to begin the process with trying to replace this sprue...knowing how long it's going to take. Takom's web site has been useless for this process so far. Maybe HLJ's return policy will help...who knows. Lessons taken from this? Immediately check your M47 arrivals...I'll betcha I'm not the only one with a defective part.



Actually if your on Facebook, drop Takom a line and they should be able to take care of this no problem. They have pretty good customer support...they took care of the Hull issue on the Type 69 I have.
JSSVIII
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Massachusetts, United States
Joined: March 28, 2007
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Posted: Thursday, June 08, 2017 - 04:53 AM UTC
Yikes!!! I think there would have to be more plastic there for it to be only "short shot"
vettejack
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Florida, United States
Joined: November 23, 2012
KitMaker: 1,277 posts
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Posted: Thursday, June 08, 2017 - 05:45 AM UTC
[/quote]Actually if your on Facebook, drop Takom a line and they should be able to take care of this no problem. They have pretty good customer support...they took care of the Hull issue on the Type 69 I have.[/quote]

I have no social media accounts (don't believe in them), however, I am now in contact with HobbyLink Japan. That's pretty much all I can do at the moment until HLJ replies and opens the dialogue. Thanx though!
Bravo1102
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: December 08, 2003
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Posted: Thursday, June 08, 2017 - 07:54 AM UTC

Quoted Text

WOW!!! I've never seen such a "short shot" like this one before!!! My condolences John.
Your photos made me double check my new arrival and the molding seems to be good.
Good luck replacing your upper hull !

Haven't seen something like that since a USAirfix A-26 cowling from 35 plus years ago. And I built it only this year. Epoxy putty, plastic sheet and careful sculpting and shaping. (I took an art class in sculpture to build up my confidence) it can be fixed but why should it happen at all nowadays?
vettejack
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Florida, United States
Joined: November 23, 2012
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Posted: Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - 07:22 PM UTC
Just received a message from Hobby Link Japan about the short shot Sprue H in my kit of the M47 E/M, on the 13th of June.

They will take the lead and get with their importer, have the Sprue H replaced with a new one, and then mail it to me free of charge. Damn nice response if I do say so myself.

Now lets see how long it actually takes!
vettejack
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Florida, United States
Joined: November 23, 2012
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Posted: Sunday, June 18, 2017 - 08:00 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Just received a message from Hobby Link Japan about the short shot Sprue H in my kit of the M47 E/M, on the 13th of June.

They will take the lead and get with their importer, have the Sprue H replaced with a new one, and then mail it to me free of charge. Damn nice response if I do say so myself.

Now lets see how long it actually takes!


HLJ just informed me today (19 June), that the replacement sprue H for the M47 E/M has been received, packaged, and shipped. Should receive it within 2 weeks. Makes me a happy camper with their great response and customer service.
vettejack
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Florida, United States
Joined: November 23, 2012
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Posted: Wednesday, June 21, 2017 - 04:11 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Just received a message from Hobby Link Japan about the short shot Sprue H in my kit of the M47 E/M, on the 13th of June.

They will take the lead and get with their importer, have the Sprue H replaced with a new one, and then mail it to me free of charge. Damn nice response if I do say so myself.

Now lets see how long it actually takes!


HLJ just informed me today (19 June), that the replacement sprue H for the M47 E/M has been received, packaged, and shipped. Should receive it within 2 weeks. Makes me a happy camper with their great response and customer service.


Man, was I way off! The new sprue came in today, the 21st of June! HLJ 2 day aired the silly thing, costing them 2000 Yen, plus paying for the part, another 500 Yen (customs form value), for a total of 2500 Yen spent.

So, if you're listening/watching/reading HLJ...damn fine work and kudos for the response...my faith in customer service is being revived!!!
vettejack
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Joined: November 23, 2012
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Posted: Sunday, July 30, 2017 - 08:10 PM UTC
Another thought occurred to me about the tracks. The Takom M47 kits have sink marks present on the tracks...so, what can be done? If your choice is to go aftermarket in white metal, then Friul's T80 track kit, ATL-145, matches the chevron shoes with the 'U' shaped horns tracks in both Takom kits and in the Testor's kit. I have dry fitted a 10 piece section of these Friul ATL-145 track to the drive sprockets of the Takom M47 kits. They fit beautifully, just as they do on the Testors M47's I have currently on the bench.

Using these ATL-145 tracks will also do you great service if you wish to model Jordanian and/or Iranian M47's (et al) that used these tracks right along side the usual T84 track.

Be aware...DO NOT purchase Friul ATL-138 T80 tracks, thinking they might be the same track for the M47. Although both have the similar chevron patterns, the 'horns' are 'blocked' shape and WILL NOT fit between the M47 bogies.
Phil5000
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New Zealand
Joined: May 13, 2013
KitMaker: 165 posts
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Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 07:38 AM UTC
Do you think they'll bring out an M60 in the next couple of years? They seem to be working their way to it. A few WW2 tanks; Grant, Lee and the two US heavy tanks, now this one. The next logical step would be the M60.

Hopefully. Maybe.
Bravo1102
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: December 08, 2003
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Posted: Monday, July 31, 2017 - 09:02 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Do you think they'll bring out an M60 in the next couple of years? They seem to be working their way to it. A few WW2 tanks; Grant, Lee and the two US heavy tanks, now this one. The next logical step would be the M60.

Hopefully. Maybe.


The M47 and previous T29 kits share running gear. An M60 would require all new wider suspension parts. Much more likely for AFV club to do it.

Personally I would rather see a plain M48 with the drop down periscopes and flat cupola.
vettejack
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Joined: November 23, 2012
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Posted: Sunday, August 13, 2017 - 04:48 PM UTC
Another little tidbit disappointment with the kit: loaders hatch.

Solution? Might wanna replace those molded on tension springs, with the real deal from a company called:

Precision Scale Co, Inc., out of Victor, Montana, packet #31441.

Kinda a mom-pop hobby business that has multiple scale sizes to these stainless coil springs.

For application to the M47, just cut/shave away the molded on spring look-a-like and replace with real metal coil springs.

Every one of my M47's have them. Comes 12 to a pack...good enough for 6 M47's (Testors or Takom)!

And another bit of good news for replacement of the horrible 2 piece barrel: MR Modellbau now has a turned metal barrel, part number MR-35577, to replace the 90mm for both Takom M47 versions.



Click on photo to see the application!

Il_Colonnello
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Modena, Italy
Joined: March 08, 2012
KitMaker: 140 posts
Armorama: 140 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 10, 2017 - 06:10 PM UTC
Hi guys, I search all photos of the opened engine compartment of the M47 (if possible whit and without the engine) to individuate the position of the various equipments (fuel tanks, cables, pipes, supports, bulkheads, batteries, etc.).
Now I'm working on the TACOM'S model and I want to made one engine for my M47 as complete as possible into his engine compartment.
I have much photos of the engine on ground, but no images of his compartment.
There are any friends who can help me in this project?
Thanks
sgtreef
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Oklahoma, United States
Joined: March 01, 2002
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Posted: Tuesday, October 10, 2017 - 06:33 PM UTC
I have finished a build on it.
Soon to be seen here.
Just have to get the pics uploaded.
Not too bad a kit.
I did replace the tracks with AFV Club ones though.
But other then that,not to bad a few things I will point out.
Not really what I would call top of line, but a decent kit, a lot of seams need to be taken care of.

Cheers

Jeff
vettejack
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Posted: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 - 06:45 PM UTC
If you wish to model one of your M47's for service in Hellenic (Greek), Turkish or Cypriot service, there is a decal sheet that provides 16 markings variations for 15 different vehicles. This is a Greek outfit. The price for this specific set is 5.00€.

Having one in the stash, I can say I would highly recommend this sheet. Elsewhere on their web site is a downloadable history lesson on the vehicles and locations of some of the markings.

http://www.lmdecals.gr/index.php/el/
vettejack
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Joined: November 23, 2012
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Posted: Wednesday, October 24, 2018 - 01:07 AM UTC

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Looks good... not too thrilled about the indie static tracks, but since replacement workable M47 tracks are not hard to get, this might be a nice one to add to the stash


Be nice to see someone do the Spanish hex track as seen here.



(It is NOT standard T142 track but a narrow version made for M47s)


It certainly would be nice to see aftermarket T142 wannabe style track for specific use to the M47! What could be better if wanting to do, at the least, an Iranian and/or Spanish M-47, that are shown wearing those 'shoes'!

And just to add even more confusion on M47 tracks , lets throw in one with steel bar cleats displayed at the Lahore Army Museum, Pakistan!



Or applied on this M47 displayed in Karachi, Pakistan...yet another shoed with steel bar cleats!

GeraldOwens
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Florida, United States
Joined: March 30, 2006
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Posted: Wednesday, October 24, 2018 - 10:01 AM UTC

Quoted Text

My M47 arrived yesterday, a question: 4 options for muzzle brake are provided, anyone know whats the significance of each?

The earliest muzzle brake was the cone-shaped one, basically the same as the M46 brake (which was essentially an M26 muzzle brake with the outer chamber machined off and a bore evacuator added). This was seen on pre-production models of the M47.

Most common M47 muzzle brake was the cylindrical type with the circular vents.

The T-shaped brake was late, and basically the same as the early M48 brake. Not seen often in US service, but possibly on military assistance vehicles.

The Y-shaped muzzle brake appears late in M48A2 production, and may have been retrofitted to M47's, but I have never seen one installed.

I should mention in passing that, by the 1950's, the US Army favored the term "Blast Deflector," as the primary purpose was to reduce dust clouds during firing, rather than reducing recoil.
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