[rubbing hands together] excellent.

Hello Russ!

I like your Patton builds, I'll watch this one! Good luck with it and have a ncie day

Paweł

This should be fun to watch.  I have a similar box of Patton parts that I plan on turning into a Magach 3 at some point as well.  One thing though.  I believe all Magach 3s had the 105mm L7 barrel.  This was one of the standard Magach 3 upgrades.  The 90mm barrels were only left on Magach 2s, which were straight M48A2/A3s with M1 cupola and 90mm guns.

Magach 3: Modernized M48A1/A2C/A3. The modifications included British 105 mm L7 cannon, low profile commander's cupola, upgraded communication suite, a 750 hp diesel engine Continental AVDS-1790-2A with Allison CD-850-6 transmission

Gino, you are correct, I may have to do a little re-thinking here. Maybe another kit needs to be cracked open......

Interesting build to watch!

Russ, I have several 105 gun tubes. If you need one, PM me.

M60_ tanker

Russ, I have several 105 gun tubes. If you need one, PM me.

 

Thanks, I have a box full.....   but, I've done something else.

IMG_9147 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I went ahead and grafted in the engine covers from the Monogram M48A2C, and that's what I'm gonna make. I wanted to keep the 90mm gun and do one from the 6 Day War, so I'll just have to do another one later.

Lots of filling of holes and slots on the hull front, but it's coming along. I'll be using some AM bits and better parts from other kits up here, so all these huge locating holes need to go away....

IMG_9148 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

And then there's the lower hull. I've added lots of bolts to the swing arm/suspension mounts, mainly for visual interest rather than trying to correct these- I want to finish this model, and some things are better left alone. The motorization holes are plugged, and I've got the final drive housings on (Dragon parts) along with Tamiya drive sprockets, mus holes added by me. I filled a few places on the rear plate, some not since the parts to go there will have weld beads as filler.

IMG_9149 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Next session should be the mounting of the suspension. I've normally built these kits with all the swing arms adjusted 2-3mm "up", seems to give the right look. I have lots of Dragon M48 detail bits too, should be fun.

Heck yeah!

I gotta find time for mine soon!

Ohhhhhhh cool!!! 

T'anks y'all!

Mike: yup.

Swing arms and idler mounts are on, just trying to make them resemble the real thing without spending the rest of the year on this model.

IMG_9580 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

All I did on the swing arms was round the edges, but I think it works.

I think it looks just fine, Russ. You have the suspension lowered, right?

Thanks Mike, and yes, 2mm in front, a tick less than that in the rear.

No expert here but she looks good! 

T'anks!

Okay, suspension is finished, lots of sliced hex rod. I used the kit bump stops, couldn't find enough of those nice Dragon parts to do the whole thing until after I finished, then found more than enough. (slap forehead here).

Russ images 3.4.20 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

And for grins, wheels fitted:

russ images 3.4.20.2 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Threre's very little clearance for the top run of the tracks, something I expect Tamiya didn't fret since their tracks are thin, but the DS tracks I'll be using barely fit between the base of the turret ring and the tops of the return rollers.

Looks good to me! Not like you'll be able to see that much once you have the tracks and fenders etc on there. 

Absolutely LOVE all of that detail!

Well thanks gents.

I managed to get the main parts of the fenders on last week, and even started the turret, using a Dragon turret and DEF mantlet w/cover, which I modded to resemble the IDF cover using Aves 2-part putty, something I'm using a lot of on this model. I "think" it's a home-brewed cover, my reasoning being the few pics I have of these tanks as received from Germany showing the mantlet covers either torn up or missing. I've also started on the original cupola hatch, removing the head-clearance bump, more Aves putty.....

Offly enough, there's been lots of discussion about the height of the Tamiya turret, (being too "squashed") so I thought I've compare the Dragon turret to one,  and sooprise, sooprise, they're so close as to be the same to the naked eye.

Anyway, so far:

IMG_9773 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Dunno- looks like a M48 turret to me. But my eyes are squashed and I don't see that well... 

Still she looks good to me, what I can see of her! 

Looks like it is coming together well.  It's interesting how well all the pieces from differnt kits fit together. 

On the turret, it depends on who you talk to, but most agree that the Tamiya turret height is dead on correct, as is the Dragon one.  I think the discrepancy comes from the Tamiya hull being too tall (about 3mm) due to them using a display tank w/out an engine to base their measurements on.  With the higher than should be hull, the turret "looks" squashed, but is not.

To me too, G. But wait, there's more! A number of years ago, for fun I guess, I added 1.5 mm "shims" between the two halves of a Tamiya turret and blended it all in, even mounted up a turned aluminum 90mm gun and built up the mantlet cover w/ Aves, then stopped. Gotta use it somehow, somewhere.....

Gino, I think you nailed it about why the Tamiya turret looks out of proportion, although the discussions over the years, on various forums,  have been interesting.

'Nuff said, here's fenders:

IMG_9775 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_9776 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Brackets are in progress, but I think the difficult part is done. Next, a pic of the modified T/C's hatch cover, next to what I started with:

IMG_9774 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

It's painted to check for flaws, I still need to add the two periscopes at the back, on either side of the hinge, and clean up and do a little detail on the inside.

Again that looks good! 

And cool idea on the turret!! 

T'anks!

More on the hull, need to find out what else was stowed on the right side with the track tools, and scare up a sledge for the left, but the hard stuffare is, on to the turret next.

IMG_0142 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_0143 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Still coming along nicely!

Plugging right along, I am. Bench day today, hull finished and in primer:

IMG_0145 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

And the turret basket done, some Dragon parts, some steel wire and some scrap brass, and I'm happy.

IMG_0144 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

After those two AFV Club kits, I was not in the mood for a flimsy basket hanging out in the breeze.

Again, that's some sharp work. I love the turret basket!