Hello!

You might want to check out my build thread here:

http://cs.finescale.com/fsm/modeling_subjects/f/3/p/135370/1397431.aspx

for some ideas... Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

Matt Sawyer

Hi all. I pulled an older 1/72 scale kit from the stash recently. It is ERTL'S 1/72 M48 A5, and I was wondering if any of you had tips on detailling it (i.e. materials)?

Here's how I tackled the "double wide" road wheel problem on the Abrams kit. The same procedure will work on the Esci M48 or M60 road wheels.

http://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=features&file=view&artid=149

OKB Grigorov website sells all the correct roadwheels and tracks you might want for this kit.  The tracks even have the holes on the guide teeth. They are not expensive at all.  Just do a search for OKB Grigorov and click into the home page.

Bill Morrison

warshipguy

OKB Grigorov website sells all the correct roadwheels and tracks you might want for this kit.  The tracks even have the holes on the guide teeth. They are not expensive at all.  Just do a search for OKB Grigorov and click into the home page.

Bill Morrison

 

Thanks Bill! Do they ship to the USA?

Yes, they do. Their shipping rates are also more than reasonable.  Using the Esci M48 kits, I built the entire range of the M48 series of tanks.  I used the OKB wheels and tracks for all of them.  One thing you will have to do to add accuracy to the kits is to build the three lifting hooks on the turret; the ESCI kits don't have  them.  I also strongly recommend looking at Pawel's build of one of these kits. He did an outstanding job!

Bill

First WIP Pic: The Turret.

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That muzzle looks a little on the thick side, but that's easy enough to fix. 

That's a fine start with those copper lifting rings added. 

I used to build those old kits as they were some of my favorites. I'm really looking forward to seeing more progress on this.

Looks good to me, the brass lift rings do look great! 

And thanks for the matchstick for size reference. I swear I can't see how you guys work on stuff this small, you've got better hand-eye coordination than I. 

M. Brindos

That muzzle looks a little on the thick side, but that's easy enough to fix. 

That's a fine start with those copper lifting rings added. 

I used to build those old kits as they were some of my favorites. I'm really looking forward to seeing more progress on this.

 

Thanks! How should I fix the muzzle?

I'd just sand it down carefully. You don't want to take too much off.

They're just not that thick on the real thing. You can barely tell that there is much difference in circumference between the gun tube and the muzzle tip.

The muzzle tip is hard to see from the rest of the gun tube.

Gamera

Looks good to me, the brass lift rings do look great! 

And thanks for the matchstick for size reference. I swear I can't see how you guys work on stuff this small, you've got better hand-eye coordination than I. 

Rob Gronovius

 

 

Gamera

Looks good to me, the brass lift rings do look great! 

And thanks for the matchstick for size reference. I swear I can't see how you guys work on stuff this small, you've got better hand-eye coordination than I. 

 

 

 

My profile picture is a Matchbox 1/76 scale M3 light tank next to a quarter. 

 

 

Thanks Rob. I'm going to need a (much) stronger Opti-Visor before I mess with anything like that! 

Some more progress on the A5. Been working on the upper hull of it and added the road lights. Need to figure some sort of roll guards for them. As per recent advice for you guys, I sanded down the muzzle brake, went to far with it, but was able to salvage it with plastic putty.

I will also be looking for photos of the searchlight over the gun so I can accurately show it with a cover. I was thinking of adding a small piece of thin clear styrene to the front of it, and then covering it with facial tissue dipped in a 50/50 white glue+water mixture.

Matt: That looks really good to me, nice work! 

The facial tissue should make a good canvas cover- and if you don't like how it turns out you can always pull it off and try again. 

Hiya all! More WIP Pics of the M48 A5. Quite proud of it atm I am, and I will explain why as we go along. But first an overview pic.

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The first picture we have is of the hull. Not much here except for the headlight roll-bars that I made using .010 x .030 styrene strip.

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Next we have the "crown jewel" of this build in my opinion: The turret. I am happy with how it turned out and looks so far. As you can see, it has been equipped with its searchlight and a electrical power wire made from a strand of 18 gauge wire. And in the next picture, you can see it all put together for a test fit.

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Next will be the suspenssion, once the resin parts arrive.

FYI, we threaded the searchlight power cable through the center turret lifting eye.

So Rob, how many places on an M48 A5 can be used to open a beer bottle?

Bill

GMorrison

So Rob, how many places on an M48 A5 can be used to open a beer bottle?

 

Bill

 

Rob Gronovius

FYI, we threaded the searchlight power cable through the center turret lifting eye.

 

Oh that's interesting! Thanks for the info! I must make that correction now.

Matt: She continues to come along nicely!

Hi everyone. Well this M48A5 project has to be paused (as many of you may have guessed) because the susspension resin parts can't be shipped from Bulgaria.

warshipguy

Yes, they do. Their shipping rates are also more than reasonable.  Using the Esci M48 kits, I built the entire range of the M48 series of tanks.  I used the OKB wheels and tracks for all of them.  One thing you will have to do to add accuracy to the kits is to build the three lifting hooks on the turret; the ESCI kits don't have  them.  I also strongly recommend looking at Pawel's build of one of these kits. He did an outstanding job!

Bill

 

Been having some trouble with the suspension recently. It seems I put the wrong parts on for the A5 version:

Help!

All M48A5s were rebuilds from previous M48A3s, so they will have differences based on the production variant they began as. Some even retained the .50 cal turret with vision riser while most had the low profile cupola with M60D machine guns.

Don't forget that M48A5s had five return rollers per side.  Esci/Ertl 1/72 M48s were molded with only three per side, making them M48A2s.  I am building one as an early M48A2.

Bill 

warshipguy

Don't forget that M48A5s had five return rollers per side.  Esci/Ertl 1/72 M48s were molded with only three per side, making them M48A2s.  I am building one as an early M48A2.

Bill 

 

I see. But the tracks, rollers, road wheels and drive sprocket won't aline properly. A little fustrating I must say.

Matt,

They can if you are careful. I recommend checking out an old thread here by Pawel, 

1:72 M48A3 Vietnam DONE!

He does a remarkable job of it.  You might find some helpful advice.

Bill

Okay, thanks! :)

warshipguy

Don't forget that M48A5s had five return rollers per side.  Esci/Ertl 1/72 M48s were molded with only three per side, making them M48A2s.  I am building one as an early M48A2.

Bill 

That's not true; it depends on what the tank began as before it was remanufactured into an M48A5. Here is an old Vermont National Guard M48A5 with three return rollers:

http://www.williammaloney.com/Aviation/VermontMilitaryMuseum/M48A5PattonTank/pages/01M48A5PattonTank.htm