Well, there's no law you can't build aircraft and AFVs! Welcome to the 'dark side'! 

Many thanks for looking in.

Going to be oob for this one but you never know.

Gamera you are absolutely correct on that.  I have dipped toes in the "dark side" before but I see a bigger plunge may be on the horizon.  You never know.

Joe

I'll be checkin this build out. Interestingly, the lower hull parts and wheels  looks very similar to the Tamiya M48A3 kit .

SprueOne

I'll be checkin this build out. Interestingly, the lower hull parts and wheels  looks very similar to the Tamiya M48A3 kit .

 

The M48A5 was my first tank, and I was never happy with the Academy kit. Thankfully, Dragon came out with an M48A3 Mod B that gives a more accurate base that I can add the Academy A5 parts to.

Seems we have a few aircraf guys moving to the dark side latley. Good to see.

Rob Gronovius

They did copy a lot of the Tamiya kit. 

They also copied all the Tamiya screw-ups on it; like the ride height being too high, a bunch of motorization holes, blunted nose, turret height, etc., etc., etc....

Here is a great article that shows what can be fixed if you would like to correct some of it:  http://paulbudzik.com/tools-techniques/M48/m48-construction.html

That's why I like the Dragon Mod B, probably one of their best modern tank kits, except for the odd lack of mantlet cover and search light that they included in the straight M48A3. I got the Legends resin mantlet and searchlight to compensate.

Guys thanks for all the information on it.  For me, just trying to get my feet wet.  I think I will forgo the modifications, except for the instruction called for removal of the skirt nubs on the upper hull.  I am just going to go out of box and concentrate on a clean build and then the painting.

Joe

Time to update.

Time was spent working the details to the lower hull.  So far so good.  The wheels and the return rollers are ready to go but left off the hull to accommodate painting.  This puts me through step four in the instructions.

Next up is the upper hull.  

All comments, critique, and criticism are encouraged.

Joe

Nice work so far!  I love the Patton range, and just picked up the Tamiya version.  Granted, I was very disappointed to see the holes in the hull that will obviously need to be filled.  I will have to consider the Academy and Dragon kits for future M48 builds.

Like some of you, I just recently started into tanks, having built ship models since I was six years old (I'm 63).  They're fun!

Bill Morrison

fightnjoe

Guys thanks for all the information on it.  For me, just trying to get my feet wet.  I think I will forgo the modifications, except for the instruction called for removal of the skirt nubs on the upper hull.  I am just going to go out of box and concentrate on a clean build and then the painting.

 

 

Joe

 

I'd just keep on doing what you are doing. Fill the holes, close the seams, etc. It is still a solid kit, just has accuracy issues that modelers have adjusted or just lived with over the past 30 years.

warshipguy

Nice work so far!  I love the Patton range, and just picked up the Tamiya version.  Granted, I was very disappointed to see the holes in the hull that will obviously need to be filled.  I will have to consider the Academy and Dragon kits for future M48 builds.

Like some of you, I just recently started into tanks, having built ship models since I was six years old (I'm 63).  They're fun!

Bill Morrison

 

Right now, the Dragon M48A3 and M48A3 Mod B are the top Vietnam era kits, although the kit markings for the Mod B kit are identified as tanks that existed before the Mod B did.

Revell of Germany also does two new Patton tank kits, the West German M48A2GA2 (#03236) and the standard M48A2/A2C (#03206). The West German version only builds into their tank while the A2/A2C builds into West German, US Army and Israeli tanks. It's the one to get.

Do not confuse the Revell kit with the ancient 1956 Monogram M48A2 that is also currently available as the Revell kit with box art that has the name Love Bug on the tank turret. It was a good kit for its time, but not as nice as the current Dragon or Revell kits. It runs about $10 cheaper, but would take several times that to even bring some items up to standards of the newer kits.

Dragon also announced the M67 flame tank version of the M48A2 for release in May.
http://www.dragonusaonline.com/item_detail.aspx?ItemCode=DRA3584

Rob,

Thanks for the insights!  I appreciate them very much.

Bill

warshipguy

Rob,

Thanks for the insights!  I appreciate them very much.

Bill

 

Rob, Gino, Good info on this kit. I thought it looked familiar.

Joe, Nice gap filling work. Keep going.

Rob,

I feel the same way about submarines. My first was the USS Ethan Allen (SSBN 608). She was at the end of her career and was shortly to undergo conversion to an SSN.  I served on six different boats; she is dearest to me.

I have to admit, I am enjoying my new interest in tanks.  I'm learning a lot from gentlemen such as yourself.

Bill

Warshipguy, I know this isn't germane to the thread here, but my wife was a navy contractor for seven years and worked sonar systems on fast attacks and Poseidon boats, including the 608. She's always said the Ethan Allen was her favorite and she loved both crews, blue and gold. She always wanted to steal the portrait of Allen that was displayed somewhere in the boat, I assume in the ward room. Thanks for your service to our country!

Thanks!  I remember that portrait well; I restored it after it had been damaged.  Please tell your wife that I appreciate her service as a Navy contractor as well.

Bill

Many thanks to all who have looked in.  

Joe

A bit of a double update tonight.  I had planned on just the update for the upper hull but work on the turret proceeded very quickly.  In fact that completed the "construction" phase.  Under ten hours total.

The detail went on without issue, well other than the parts I had to take off and redo because of builder error.  No tweezer pults, no carpet monster attacks.  Easy peazy as some would say.

Pictures.

Upper hull

And then on to the turret.

Like I said pretty simple construction on this one.  Of course it was out of the box and the only things that I modified were the cables to the headlights and the rear antenna on the turret has a wire wrapped as I sanded out the previous detail.  The main gun was two pieces and there is a bit of a warp but I have gotten it better than it was.

Painting can commence.  

All comment, critique, and criticism are encouraged.

Joe

Thats coming along nicely, looks good to me.

Many thanks buddy.  

Joe

Lookin' good so far!  It sure looks better than the Monogram one, although I have seen a recent one that the builder did an exceptional job as an IDF tank.  I'm learning a lot here!

Bill

Everything looks just right so far, nice work! 

Many thanks.  Glad you are liking her.

Joe

Looking real good Joe! You're gettjng near the fun part now... painting and weathering! What are you planning for this puppy?

After spending most of my young adult life riding the M48 and M60 series tanks, you need to correct a few items.

One, you have the air filter boxes mounted backwards. The blower motor exhaust pipes face towards the front.

Two, there are no wires for the headlight mounts. They are internal.

Three, the sponson box handles are facing the wrong way. You have them in the open position.