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M103A1 HEAVY TANK

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112 replies
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  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Valrico, FL
Posted by HeavyArty on Thursday, June 19, 2014 11:02 AM

I wouldn't say the post on Armorama is "thrashing it".  The kit is very inaccurate and has a lot of issues.  The Armorama post shows those shortcoming and how you can correct them if you choose to.  It is a lot of work though.

If you just want it to look sort of like an M103, you will be satisfied.  If you are striving for an accurate representation of an M103, out of the box, this kit will not get you there.

Gino P. Quintiliani - Field Artillery - The KING of BATTLE!!!

Check out my Gallery: https://app.photobucket.com/u/HeavyArty

"People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

PVI
  • Member since
    May 2014
  • From: Wisconsin
Posted by PVI on Tuesday, June 24, 2014 7:37 PM

Now that is an impressive vehicle- can't wait to see what you've got in store for this one!

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 9:18 AM

Thanks for looking in!

I decided I didn't like the rubber band tracks so I'm replacing them with AFV workable tracks.

Terry

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 9:55 AM

Cool Terry, will you require two sets due to the M103 being a stretched M48 hull?

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Wednesday, June 25, 2014 10:24 AM

I don't think so.  There is enough for a M88 and it is stretched.  We will find out soon enough.

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Sunday, June 29, 2014 1:38 PM

Well there were enough tracks in the AFV set to do the 103 with tracks to spare.





Started outfitting the turret.

New springs for the loaders hatch.





Beginning to add welds to the turret.









More to come.

Terry

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Sunday, June 29, 2014 5:53 PM

Cool details. I'll have to use your post for when I do mine!

Looking good so far, Terry! Don't worry about those "inaccuracies" too much---it sure looks like an M103 to me!

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Sunday, June 29, 2014 7:43 PM

Nice work Terry, love the added detail and good to know there are more than enough track links- guess I worry too much!

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Sunday, June 29, 2014 8:41 PM

the doog

Cool details. I'll have to use your post for when I do mine!

Looking good so far, Terry! Don't worry about those "inaccuracies" too much---it sure looks like an M103 to me!

Don't worry I'm not and thanks.


Terry

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Sunday, June 29, 2014 8:43 PM

Gamera

Nice work Terry, love the added detail and good to know there are more than enough track links- guess I worry too much!

Just have to have a little faith.

Thanks!

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 9:37 AM

Here are the latest updates.  I have added a modified Dragon crew figure.  He will be holding a pipe and looking very serious(could even be my Dad).  I have added more welds and handles.  Next will be some casting marks.

Terry

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Dripping Springs, TX, USA
Posted by RBaer on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 11:21 AM

Looks good to me.

As far as accuracy goes, it sure looks like an M103 to me, and since they're relatively rare, it's a question of who will really know anyway.

Also, you have a PM on the way.

Apprentice rivet counter.

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Tuesday, July 1, 2014 11:35 AM

Thanks!

  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: Western North Carolina
Posted by Tojo72 on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 6:01 PM

looking good,extra details make a diff

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 8:06 PM

Tojo72

looking good,extra details make a diff

Thanks!

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • From: Toronto
Posted by Rob S. on Wednesday, July 2, 2014 8:29 PM

Great read on the tank facts gents..thanks for that. As far as the build is going...looks great. Look forward to the paint.

______________________________________________________________________________

 

On the Bench: Nothing on the go ATM

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Thursday, July 3, 2014 9:06 AM

Thanks Rob!  Paint soon.

Terry

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Friday, July 4, 2014 9:20 AM

Continuing to work on the turret.  Added some casting marks and numbers.  Built the 50 cal. and did some painting.

Terry





















  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: SW Virginia
Posted by Gamera on Friday, July 4, 2014 9:46 AM

Terry: The casting numbers look great I love the effect you're getting with the paint.

"I dream in fire but work in clay." -Arthur Machen

 

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Friday, July 4, 2014 1:32 PM

Thanks

  • Member since
    April 2014
Posted by r13b20 on Saturday, July 5, 2014 6:53 PM

Are the casting marks decals? Dry transfer? Home made? They seem to have some "substance" to them. Great detail! Bob

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Saturday, July 5, 2014 10:01 PM

All the small details that you are adding really dress up the build! Very nice! Just curious, but when the M103 was in service, would the tankers still be using WWII tanker jackets and helmets?

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Sunday, July 6, 2014 4:34 AM

r13b20

Are the casting marks decals? Dry transfer? Home made? They seem to have some "substance" to them. Great detail! Bob

They are from Archer Dry Transfers.  They are applied like decals.

Thanks!

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Sunday, July 6, 2014 4:42 AM

stikpusher

All the small details that you are adding really dress up the build! Very nice! Just curious, but when the M103 was in service, would the tankers still be using WWII tanker jackets and helmets?

The jacket may be a stretch, but the helmet yes.  The helmet was in use until about 1960 updated to have a chin mike instead of the throat mike.  My Dad said that he carried the WW II "grease" gun in 1962 and qualified on the Thompson.  Lots of WW II items still being used in the late 50's and early 60's.

Thanks!

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Fort Knox
Posted by Rob Gronovius on Sunday, July 6, 2014 10:28 AM

We still had M3 Grease Guns in 1990. It was a component of end item on M48/M60 based vehicles like the M88A1, M728 CEV and M60 AVLB into the 1990s. Still had a mount for them in a brand new M88A1 I received around 2004.

  • Member since
    April 2014
Posted by r13b20 on Sunday, July 6, 2014 3:38 PM

Our maintenance people had them as well.  Bob

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Sonora Desert
Posted by stikpusher on Sunday, July 6, 2014 5:39 PM

The good old Grease Gun is like Ma Deuce... Gonna be around for a LONG time... Rob, did that 88 have the Grease Gun or was out of the inventory by '04?

 

F is for FIRE, That burns down the whole town!

U is for URANIUM... BOMBS!

N is for NO SURVIVORS...

       - Plankton

LSM

 

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Monday, July 7, 2014 7:38 AM

Great conversation!

Markings are on and turret is ready for final weathering.  Now I can set this aside and finish up the lower part of the tank.

Terry













MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Tuesday, July 8, 2014 9:27 AM

I added the remainder of the details to the hull and did some wiring along the way.

Terry 

Wiring conduit.

Attaching the wire leads to the headlights.

Installing the headlight assembly.

Left side assembly.

Tools and other details.

MrT
  • Member since
    December 2010
Posted by MrT on Wednesday, July 9, 2014 12:18 AM

Did some paint work on the hull.  I believe the paint matches.

Terry 













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