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.

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.

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!

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

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

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. LINK

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)[/quote] 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!

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.