I'm working on a Tamiya M48A3 Patton kit. I am trying to figure out where the .50 cal machine gun attaches to the upper gun cupola. The instructions are a little vague on this. All help appreciated. Thanks.

Tony,
On part D34 on the cupola, there is a thinned square on the inside. You are supposed to cut this thin square out, leaving a square hole. Into the hole goes notched end of part C32, the .50 cal MG pintle.

As a note, when the .50 cal was mounted externally on top of the cupola, the internal .50 cal was not used and the hole where the barrel poked out the front was sealed up.

Okay, thanks. I thought it was a one or the other deal and not both. I saw a model someone had done and they had both on there. I kinda like it better without the exposed gun. Thanks again.

As Gino said, the .50 cal was mounted on top of the cupola because of problems with the cupola type .50. Basically, not enough available to field to the tanks.

A regular .50 cal mount was welded on top of the cupola, but eventually, the turret type .50s became available and were mounted inside the cupola.

A tank would have one or the other, but not both. The location that the top mounted .50 would interfere with the elevation of the cupola .50.

greetings...
the track came w/the 50cal. to be installed in the cupola-due to lack of view and reaction the 50 was mounted on the outside-field fix.
cheers
c6o
ps.never had problems getting 50s-lot of combat loss (code H)that were not combat loss-one has to do, what one has to do...