Hello!

I've got this one and I think it's very nice.

Good luck with it - and what paint scheme do you have in mind for this one?

Have a nice day

Paweł

With all the old tankers on this forum, you should have lots of help if you need it.

OMG, Hobby Town is a long ways from the strip. I wouldn't want to do that except in the winter, maybe.

Good luck with the build.

Apologies to all the old tankers for calling you old. You're just mature.

It's an amazingly detailed kit. The suspension gimick is nice if you want a dynamic looking pose on a base, but otherwise it would've been nice if there was a (removable for movement) pin or something for static display.

The spring loaded breach for the main gun is also a neat addition, but because it's metal the paint and primer tend to scrape off.

One last thing to note with the kit is the bustle; it's fragile as all get out. The one I built for M60Tanker is already broken in several places and it's been on a shelf out of reach till I can repaint it in the proper colors for the 35th AD.

The overdone cast texture can be reduced with paint layers or sanded down. 

It's still an amazing kit however. Aside from the scratch built goodies I added it's all a stock kit. 

Love to see what you do with it, Russ.

Pawel, it might be in an IDF sand scheme.

M1, I'm counting on it. It's going to be OOB, and from what I understand, it's pretty accurate. All I have to do is follow the instructions.

M. Brindos

It's an amazingly detailed kit. The suspension gimick is nice if you want a dynamic looking pose on a base, but otherwise it would've been nice if there was a (removable for movement) pin or something for static display.

The spring loaded breach for the main gun is also a neat addition, but because it's metal the paint and primer tend to scrape off.

One last thing to note with the kit is the bustle; it's fragile as all get out. The one I built for M60Tanker is already broken in several places and it's been on a shelf out of reach till I can repaint it in the proper colors for the 35th AD.

The overdone cast texture can be reduced with paint layers or sanded down. 

It's still an amazing kit however. Aside from the scratch built goodies I added it's all a stock kit. 

Love to see what you do with it, Russ.

 

Mike, the detail is insane, you're right. My priority is to not goof it up. I'm sanding the texture where it's obvious, and will soften the rest of it with weathering, or that's the plan now.....

I'll be bypassing the spring loaded gun tube.

I bought one when it first came out, but since it wasn't "one of my tanks", I haven't gotten around to it yet. I did get the M60A3TTS kit, but haven't gotten around to it either.

The M60 series tank kits have come a long way since the original Tamiya M60A1 and M60A2 or their subsequent M60A3TTS/M60A1 RISE/Passive retools.

I did get the Dragon M60 in IDF fittings, but have not tackled it. Same with the two Dragon M48 variants I got. Man, I am just behind the times.

Rob Gronovius

I bought one when it first came out, but since it wasn't "one of my tanks", I haven't gotten around to it yet. I did get the M60A3TTS kit, but haven't gotten around to it either.

The M60 series tank kits have come a long way since the original Tamiya M60A1 and M60A2 or their subsequent M60A3TTS/M60A1 RISE/Passive retools.

I did get the Dragon M60 in IDF fittings, but have not tackled it. Same with the two Dragon M48 variants I got. Man, I am just behind the times.

 

Rob, I chuckled. I have the other AFV Club kit too, haven't started it, and grabbed the Dragon M60, but used just the turret with the Takom CH60 hull to build the M60 slick I did a while ago. I still have a boat-load of Tamiya and ESCI kits, and of course "plan" to use those for builds as well, but we all know what happens to plans.

My goal on this AFV Club kit is to not get confounded and shelve it. The parts count is staggering, comparatively speaking.

AFV Club are good kits if as said they're a little overly complex. 

Gamera

AFV Club are good kits if as said they're a little overly complex. 

 

I would call it a lot overly complex. I'm spending as much time on the floor searching for parts that are too small to see without an optivisor as I am actually modeling, very frustrating. I may pull a Tamiya kit out for therapy.

That being said, I have the front hull buttoned up and the central hull partitioned off, only to give an impression of something other than emptiness when looking through open turret hatches.

IMG_4371 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_4372 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

This thing is a slow, slow build.

That's why I scratch built all those greeblies in mine. Lots of emptiness in there. 

The TC's cupola is pretty sparse as well.

So yeah, it's a slow build indeed. But don't worry, Pawel is making the interior for it. Something I really wish I had!

Are you trying to paint the interior driver compartment green? Tank interiors are gloss white.

Mike, And Pawel too, interiors give me the shakes, more power to both ofyou.

Rob, no, just heavily washed in green, what's visible has been recently dry brushed in off-white.

So, addendum: (or maybe adumdum?)

I was doing the engine cover, un-texturing, and broke some little doodad on the sprue, so gave up and started robbing the -A3 kit, which was nearly complete except for tracks and drive sprockets. Once I did that, I realized I had a metric ton of spare parts, maybe enough to do another project that's been in a box for a while, just waiting for, yes, parts. I also had lots of Takom parts, left over from another "project", so in a fit of inspiration (madness?) I pulled it out. "It" is another M60-something, ESCI hull, lots of Italeri and Academy Magach parts, and even more miscelaneous resin bits. I figured that as I added parts to the AFV Club hull, I could "copy" it on my ESCI hull, something I've done before. It also got me closer to my happy place. So, the AFV Club hull so far:

IMG_4428 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

And my collection as it is now, and with the rest of the running gear test-fitted:

IMG_4429 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_4430 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Looking around, I have a LOT of partial kits, more spare parts than I can possibly use on this hull. Anyway, I'll leave these together until they begin to go their separate ways.

Nice work there Doctor Tankenstein... 

*Well, you are taking a bunch of kits and sewing them together into one... 

Huh, huh, Tankenstein - that's a good one! Now I have to resist not to use it regularly! :D

Good luck with your M60s and have a nice day

Paweł

I wholeheartedly agree with Pawel. That was a great one Gamera. That even made my wife laugh and she thinks you're a bunch of masochists for continuing to attempt to build these things with such tiny parts that it almost makes you crazy. 

"Tankenstein" made me laugh, but hey, it kinda fits.

Actually not my invention. When people kick up the old threads there was someone using the handle 'Tankenstein' on one of them. It stuck with me! 

Well, I'll wear it until the original owner takes it back.

So, while I'm here, I've gotten the ESCI hull caught up with the AFV Club (hereafter known as AFVC) assembly. ESCI did a very nice texture originally, so I've used MrSurfacer only to blend on the cast paieces, adding some on the engine deck. I found towing lugs and front fender extensions in the reesin box, so used those, and some more AFVC parts on the rear hull. I made up some extra towing lugs for the rear, so that means this hull will be early 1980's or newer. I have a bunch of Legends stuff somewhere, but have already hogged out the turret ring to fit an AFVC turret. Hmmm.....

IMG_4433 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_4431 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

More as I figure it out.....

Gonna have to update the tail lights on the ESCI hull, oops.

Engine decks:

IMG_4515 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I wasn't planning on doing as much as I am on the ESCI hull, but oh well. The separate pull handles look so good....  and I have several pics of Magach6C's with the old, non-reinforced tail light housings, so I'll be leaving those around.

Also: the fenders  on the AFVC kit are so thin, they may be actual scale thickness, except on the outer edges. Very nice parts, with LOTS of push pin marks on the undersides.

Looking fantastic already, Russ.

Love what you're doing with the ESCI Hull.

Thanks Mike. You know, I had a thought last night, a question actually, and if it's occurred to anyone else that's been looking at this, thanks for not asking it. The question is: "Russ, (that's me) why didn't you use some of your considerable stash of M60 parts to make up a whole AFV Club kit, instead of using most of an almost complete AFV Club kit to build something that will have parts from EVERY manufacturer that makes an M60 kit?"

I'd best not ponder that too long.

So, here's the two together, fender braces all on:

IMG_4627 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

And the answer ot the question above, the Esci hull (now affectionately known as Gimel) showing the reason I model.

IMG_4628 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

The AFVC braces are closer to scale thickness than etch, I think, so I'm going with them on both, adding the missing mounts on Gimel from stock, and lots of sliced hex rod for bolt heads.

All the white stuff on Gimel is detail added to try and make it as accurate as the AFVC kit (now identifying as Alef). I just love this stuff, and it's making the process on Alef a bit more enjoyable as well.

Looks good! Glad you haven't primed them yet so we can still see the different shades of plastic from the different kits you used. 

Thaks G. "Tank of many colors"?

More stupid but fun details on Gimel, copied from Aleph where applicable. The AFVC kit is really detailed. I can see the two in-hex adjuster bolts on the driver's hatch rest, crazy.

IMG_4664 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_4663 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_4660 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_4661 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

No bilge pump outlet for the IDF, and a couple of other small differences so far, but I'm getting close to where the two will become separate builds.

I almost started carving off the fender mounted stowage boxes on Gimel, intending to use AFVC parts, but am thinking seriously about holding off on that. I also have some Dragon parts in a box somewhere, maybe giving me an opportunity to get anouther color plastic on Gimel.

Maybe you should see how many different colors of plastic and resin you can get on it and then leave it that way! ;)

M1GarandFan

Maybe you should see how many different colors of plastic and resin you can get on it and then leave it that way! ;)

 

Lol, I like it!!! 

In all seriousness she's coming along nicely! 

Thanks G.

I had some quality time with both today, finishing the air filters, AFVC side loaders for both. Oddly, the IDF removed the top loaders the -A3's were equipped with and replaced them with side loaders, so I duplicated that. I also subbed in some Dragon fender sections in Gimel since ESCI kind of missed the mark there. Now I have Dragon parts on Gimel as well. I also copied some under fender detail, again using Aleph as a guide. Tool box lids are all AFVC, hinge detail on Gimel added from stock.

IMG_4665 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_4667 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_4666 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

More later.

She looks really good. Almost a shame to cover everything with paint but you'll still have the photos!

Thanks G.

Not much, just the gun travel locks and the two tank/infantry phones, lucky me the AFVC kit had both types of phones (I guess more properly "intercoms") so since I needed one of each, bingo.

IMG_4875 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I just realized something: I'm building Aleph (technically) out of the box, something I can't remember doing since I was a kid, and that's been a LONG time ago.

So, a tale of two turrets: Aleph's is started, first step after assembling the pretty nice breech is to insert it and close the turret halves. I figured out the turret halves can be closed withouth the mantlet , which I think prevents some juggling, so that's what I did. Then it's MrSurfacer to the rescue, more of that hugely overdone texture.

I also started the gun tube for Gimel, an all-palstic multi-part affair but with very good detail. Hulls are as far as they will go in the same direction, Gimel to get ERA, Aleph pretty much done.

IMG_4876 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

RBaer

More stupid but fun details on Gimel, copied from Aleph where applicable. The AFVC kit is really detailed. I can see the two in-hex adjuster bolts on the driver's hatch rest, crazy.

IMG_4663 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

FYI, those curved pieces of metal, called sand shields, that run from the fender to the taillights were often missing. I didn't even know they existed when we had to turn in our A3s and had to add 14 sets of them to the "Report of Item Decrepancy", basically the what's missing from out tanks list, when I got to Pirmasens, Germany where the POMCUS site was.

Cool, maybe that's why Tamiya left them out of all their kits! I always kind of wondered how well they'd hold up....

Lookin' fine! Really like the look of the cast surface on the turret. 

Thanks G. It's funny, I'm actually reducing the texture, down to what Tamiya and ESCI did in their kits. AFVC's texture has been the topic of discussion on several forums, mostly why they overdid it so badly, with the rest of the kit being insanely accurate. Hmmm......

So, the other turret (Gimel) caught up with Aleph, so far the only differrence being the gun tube, and the coax MG, but not visible after the gun is in the turret. I almost used the uncovered mantlet on Gimel, since the ERA installation involved a different, partial dust cover which I would have had to scratch, but I have enough pics of Magachs, usually "early" 6B's but probably a Gimel also, with the original dust cover in place, both with and without the mantlet ERA mounted, so here it is:

IMG_5105 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

A beef: the bellows part of the dust cover has a mold seam that's a real pain to remove. I've still got to do the one on Gimel, and it makes me scratch my head at AFVC, at the "recoil" feature of the gun tube. It's toy-like, seems out of place on this kit.

Well, if I'm building an olive drab US tank I normally add so much paint pre-shading I'm not sure the texture is overdone or not. For a camoed tank like MERDC it might be too much... 

Again looks good! Most of the AFV Club kits I've built with the recoil feature I get too much cement in there which pretty much gums up the recoil option permently. Personally I haven't been too upset over it... 

That's why I used a different mantlet cover on my build. That seam was a PITA to remove.

The recoil feature is a neat gimmick, but othwise useless for such a detailed model. 

Your next complaint will be the spindly, fragile bustle rack. It's not hard to assemble, it's just fagile as all get out. 

Hmmm, bustle racks are probably going to be the last things that go on these turrets, and you're right Mike, they look pretty flimsy, but I squeaked through a Dragon rack for the M60 slick I did a while ago, so I'm feeling brave...   almost.

G, these are both going to be in IDF sand, two different "vintages", but still sand, so I need them pretty close to smooth.

Speaking of, here they both are after a couple hours of adding detail parts, only one part shot into Neverneverland today. Notice the Tamiya lower searchlight mounts on Gimel's mantlet.

IMG_5106 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I can't prove it, but I don't think the Israelis received any M60A3 TTS tanks. Most of the tanks were early model ( side loading air filters) or M60A1 AOS tanks. That's why you see alot of the side filters. Three things can out of the 73 war, one the M73 coax was crap. There was a simple fix, but it was doomed. Two, don't run the stab system 24 hours a day. It raises the temp of the hydrolic fluid pass the flash point. Why the tank got the monicor of " tommy cooker". Three, the orginal top loading air filter boxes were made of aluminum and were easly punctured by air bursts, causing the engine to choke out on the dust. On the bright side, you could mark it a as Egyptian.

I've got a coupe of references (Desert Eagle books on  the Magach 6's) that specify how many -A3TTS tanks the IDF received, and how and when they saw action. According to Michael Mass, they got 205, in the late 70's, as part of the "Brown deals". They got the full Blazer outfit, Urdan cupola and side loading air filters, but retained the original turret bustle racks, making them easy to spot. They also kept the T-142 tracks. I'm referencing Desert Eagle book #25, pages 70 and 71,  They're referred to in one of the other books as well, not in front of me at the moment. I may be incorrect in using the fully covered mantlet, but other than that, I feel pretty good about the accuracy of what I'm building.

Interesting point: I've also got pics of -A1's having a 30 cal and mount added to the side of the commander's cupola, during the YKW. Apparently the Israelis weren't fond of the 50 in the cupola either. I'll be doing that on the Aleph. There's a few pics of that setup in the same book referenced above.

I'd read about the turret hydraulic fluid having a very low flash point, something the IDF "fixed" after the YKW by using a different fluid, something not so prone to ignition after a penetration.

Thanks for the input, always good!

Basket hell:

IMG_5161 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

The tan parts: robbed from a Tamiya kit, trimmed to fit. Those AFVC parts are flimsy, but I guess that's fair, sonsidering they're pretty close to scale size. Mike, you're right, these things are delicate.

Looks good! I hate bustle racks, I've ended up cheating by throwing tarps over some that didn't come out right.

Yes. But they look good though!

There was a good reason I warned you, Russ. Those bits can break if you look at them funny. Lol

They do look amazing though.

Thanks y'all.

I've also added tarps to cover my clumsy work on bustle racks, and I expect both of these will have enough stowage, mabye tarps too, but I'm really trying to copy a couple of pics, especially with Aleph, and my goal is minimal stowage, unusual for both me and the IDF, lol.

That's probably the plan for when I repair the bustle on my copy as well. Toss some stowage in it and partially cover it up to hide the mistakes.

Those baskets are almost too fine.

Aleph is ready for primer, turret and commander's cupola are done.

IMG_5558 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

A better pic of the cupola:

IMG_5559 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Pictured are the ony "modifications" I've made to this kit, the added 30 cal and the searchlight mount on the turret rear. Differently for me, I'll add stowage after primer, maybe even after the base coat.

If you have the searchlight mount on there then you'll need to remove a portion of the basket. 

Sorry to be the informer of that news. 

Mike- I looked and looked at all the reference pics I have and couildn't find any that showed that, even though I know it's logical.....  I do have pics of the mount on there with a full basket, even though the searchlight won't go on the storage mount with the full basket. I admit to being vexed.

She's coming along very nicely! 

P

RBaer

Mike- I looked and looked at all the reference pics I have and couildn't find any that showed that, even though I know it's logical.....  I do have pics of the mount on there with a full basket, even though the searchlight won't go on the storage mount with the full basket. I admit to being vexed.

 

Perhaps M-60Tanker can dig that up for you. He has access to references we dont.

I've seen a few pictures and I know that a section of the basket is modified to allow the seachlight to be stowed in that location.

Logic does dictate that a section has to be removed for that Searchlight to fit. I'm confused to why pictures are not easily found.

Me too. Oh well, it's in dark green now, I'll probably leave it alone. All my pics of IDF M60A1's show the mount with a full basket. Very interesting.

That just means they never carried them back there. It would've been impossible lol.

M. Brindos

If you have the searchlight mount on there then you'll need to remove a portion of the basket. 

Sorry to be the informer of that news. 

 

Rob Gronovius

 

 

 

That portion of the bustle rack is removable to allow the storage of the searchlight. So if there is a mount, and the searchlight is on the mantlet, that portion of the bustle rack would be in place.

Rob Gronovius

 

 

M. Brindos

If you have the searchlight mount on there then you'll need to remove a portion of the basket. 

Sorry to be the informer of that news. 

 

 

 

 

That portion of the bustle rack is removable to allow the storage of the searchlight. So if there is a mount, and the searchlight is on the mantlet, that portion of the bustle rack would be in place.

 

 

Even better.

So, here's a pic of the Gimel, hull ERA on. I used mostly Academy bits (puke green), with some old Verlinden parts (baby poo orange) up top. I think I'm down to ESCI pieces for the turret, not my favorits so unless I can scare up another Academy kit, that's the plan.

IMG_5565 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Again she looks good! Sorry to hear about dropping the turret- been there, done that, got the T-shirt... (sigh). 

Theat's modeling.

So, some other bits while I decide on the turret armor and wait to get paint for Aleph. I did the smoke launchers, and since no kit I have has good ones, I made covers from cheap masking tape and used Academy parts:

IMG_5849 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Then I realized the air filter housings should have armored covers that bolted closed, I shaved the latch handles off and modded the cover and added the oil can storage box:

IMG_5851 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

And the other side, along with some little bracket that I have pics of but never with anything in it:

IMG_5850 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I'm finding that after a couple of hours at this my eyes are crossing a little....

Wow that is a very intensive detail build, look really good , I can see not how many in acuracies my Gimel kit has.

Theuns

Thanks, and don't sweat the Academy kit, you did a good job. I built the same kit a couple of years ago, had a blast, and now have the Meng kit in the stash, whick makes all of them look simplified. My effort with the Academy kit of the "Batash":

IMG_1275 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

It's close to out of the box, with the Friul "Batash" tracks. It was fun, but I will build the Meng kit.

She's moving along nicely! 

Thanks G. I decided to go ahead and use the remnants of plastic turret ERA I had in the stash, got mostly done, and realized I would be short a few pieces, so in a huff I pulled out the box of Verlinden stuff, took a look at it and realized it was good stuff, so off I went. Prepping it is not bad, just gotta watch the dust, and I'm happy enough with it I'm going to replace all the plastic blocks with Verlinedn resin, if I have enough... er, I'm glad I have two sets of the stuff, since a lot of the pieces are chipped and broken, probably from lots of handling. This stuff is old.

So, right side, the back three blocks are Verlinden, the rest plastic, both ESCI and Academy:

IMG_5946 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

And the left side, only the front three pieces being plastic, the rest Verlinden:

IMG_5945 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Only problem: I have a burst blister on the end of my right index finger from holding those blocks as I sand a good millimeter of plug off the back of each one, kind of like the blisters my wife gets when she picks her guitar up after a few weeks and plays for an hour or so.

The right side, re-done with more of the larger blocks (modules?) replaced with Verlinden parts, and the top parts on too, more Verlinden.

IMG_6130 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

And just cuz I could, one Dragon part, in gray.

Looks good! Looking forward to seeing some paint slapped on. 

Me too....

I ginned up the armored box the IDF put the small searchlights in, mounted it up todayjust for something different....

IMG_6249 (1) by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I've got a couple of lousy pics of this setup, so there's a fair amount of "artistic license" going on.

Searchlight with extra, IDF-specific braces added, and I yanked the two lifting eyes, dorky and un-needed. Plus, they're not in any pic I have. I added grates for cooling intake and exhaust too.

IMG_6290 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

And Aleph is in tan:

IMG_6289 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

That searchlight looks fantastic! 

Thanks!

Nice! What paint brand did you use and was it enamel or acrylic?

John 3:16 KJV

Nice! What paint brand did you use and was it enamel or acrylic?

 

Krylon "camo" tan, rattle can enamel. I like it, it's about $6 for a big can, goes on smooth, covers great and dries tight. The only drawback is the very limited selection of colors, but that's what washes and pastels are for, right?  I can paint a half-dozen or more tank models with one can, whereas a can of Tamiya spray is about $10, and I can paint maybe two tanks with one can. Win-win in my book.

Cool! Thanks! I’ve got a M48A2 Patton that‘s gonna be IDF; and I painted it Testors tan. Too much of a pink undertone for me.  :)

Do you know if it’s Khaki or Sand? I see that Krylon has camoflage Khaki and Sand colors. Thx. :)

Sorry it took so long to answer here, had a show yesterday. It's Krylon #4291, khaki. This color:

IMG_6291 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

About the same color as the neighbor's dog.

And oddly enough, I snagged a Monogram M48 yesterday, the idea being to use it as part of a Magach2, probably next.

So did you take your neighbor's dog in and ask the clerk if he could colour match him???

No worries; and thanks, Russel! I couldn’t find the Krylon Camo colors at the stores I went to, but I was able to get a can of Rustoleum Camouflage Khaki.

If you’d like, you can probably join the IDF GB I’m currently in with the Magach 2!  Mine‘s actually the Monogram kit, as well; but I touched it up in some ways. (The side railings on the turret are scratchbuilt, for one thing.)

G, I thought about taking a picture of him and doing it that way....

J KJV, I haven't done a Group Build in several years, I'm tapped just keeping up with this, but I'll take a look. The last one I participated in was an "Orphans" subject, anything that was in service with someone other than the original user, and I did (hold your braeth) an IDF Sherman.

You must really like the IDF subjects!  

I confess, I do, especially former US hardware in IDF service.

Okay, markings from DEF are on Aleph, not much but this is what I have examples of:

IMG_6563 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

And I did the brackets for the crew personal weapons on the turret roof of Gimel, using scrap PE:

IMG_6562 - Copy by Russel Baer, on Flickr

And just for fun and since I did a lousy paint job on it, I started stripping a Magach7 I did a couple of years ago, intent unknown right now, but I'll probably use the hull for a "what if", and the turret for a Magach6:

IMG_6564 - Copy by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Next is clear on Aleph, then some panel line highlighting, and finish up the turret on Gimel. I have enough parts accumulated to do a Magach2, and some nifty AM from DEF as well, so that may be coming soon, unless my modeler's ADD kicks in.

You're making great progress on them. Both are really looking good! Curious to see what you do with the scrapped kit. 

Thanks.

The scrapped hull is already on my mind, partly because I enjoy re-doing older efforts, and partly because I have a couple of nifty ideas, close to the M60hull w/ Merkava1 turret combo I did a few years ago. Parts are being gathered.....

I the meanwhile, I got a good start on the turret side rails on Gimel:

IMG_6565 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Nice work! :)

That is really starting to look something serious, Russ. This thing is shaping up.

Aleph is looking nice!

Thanks!

Other rail done:

IMG_6566 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I'm thinking I'll paint before stowage on this one, give it a whirl....

Looks good! 

Thanks G. I'm down to staring at it, trying to figure out if there's anything else I need to do before paint. That's one thing about these mix-and-match models, there's no "I'm done with the last page of the instructions, time to paint" or even better, "No parts left in the box, let's paint" moments. It's a brain drain sometimes.

Brackets for the crew tarp and stretcher, made from scrap:

IMG_6571 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Pretty close to primer time, I think....

Dang it, Russ. You got me wanting to build my own Frankentank. I haven't been this motivated to add scratchbuilt goodies to an armour subject since my M-48.

I may have something to work with next week. 

It's all your fault lol.

M. Brindos

Dang it, Russ. You got me wanting to build my own Frankentank. I haven't been this motivated to add scratchbuilt goodies to an armour subject since my M-48.

I may have something to work with next week. 

It's all your fault lol.

I've heard that before,

Careful Mike, once you start scratching stuff and mixing it up, you're hooked.

 

Lookin' like the cat's MEOW all the way Russ!!

RBaer

 

 

M. Brindos

Dang it, Russ. You got me wanting to build my own Frankentank. I haven't been this motivated to add scratchbuilt goodies to an armour subject since my M-48.

I may have something to work with next week. 

It's all your fault lol.

I've heard that before,

Careful Mike, once you start scratching stuff and mixing it up, you're hooked.

 

 

 

 

 

I've already done a bit of that and I loved it. But I have yet to go full hog on a total custom tank. 

Like I've said before, I have a ton of spare upgrade sets at my disposal.

I know I'm going to have fun!

'Stang, thanks!

Mike, I have come to really enjoy having a finished build that's unique, and knowing that there' a lot in each build that I did. The AFV Club model that's part of this blog is the closest to OOB I've done since I was a pre-teen, and I am well past that now.

We had good painting weather yesterday, warm and no wind, so I shot color on Gimel, finally.

IMG_7207 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

These two will NOT end up as shelf queens!

She looks good!!! 

Looking forward to seeing her with her road wheels and tracks on. 

Soon I hope!

I can't wait to see a wash pop that detail out! 

Me too. I'm going to try something new to me, Tamiya panel line wash, see what happens....

Too much work, no modeling time, except for a few minutes snatched here and there. I started detail painting on both, and lightening the base coat on Aleph to be more in line with '70s era IDF sand. Gimel will be darker.

Apeph, after a very diluted wash using Vallejo mud and alcohol, then "scrubbed" using a Q-tip and water:

IMG_7714 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_7713 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I get a good lightening, and am able to do some tonal variation, depending on how much wash I remove.

And Gimel, no wash but some detail painting, no markings yet:

IMG_7716 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_7715 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I'm still up in the air on stowage on both of them, but each will get some.

Oh they're lovely so far, Russ. 

Do you plan on crewing them, or will these just be for the display case?

I'm working on my own Gimel because of this. I've got a little modification started, of course, but I'm not sure just how detailed I'll go yet. Thank you for the inspiration!

The Israeli sand looks really good!!!

I can tell I'm gonna be lurking in your threads and stealing/borrowing ideas for my builds. Your work is great. Very motiviating.

BK

Mike: BLOG! Please? And figs are a very strong possibility, especially for Aleph. Part of my morivation for building the tank in the pic is the pose (?) of the TC in the pic.

G: T'anks! IDF colors are really interesting to me, especially when I hear someone say "that's not right".

BK: Thank you, and thanks!

There isn't much to show yet, Russ. 

So far I've started modifying the cupola and I'm scratch building some skirts. 

No real progress yet.

Edit:

The gun tube was in one of the spares boxes. No idea where it came from but it's longer than the kit gun tube by 8mm and has better details.

I like where you're going already Mike.

I just snagged an old Academy Merk3 kit, and I can safely say that it won't be built as a Merk3....    

I've added a stowage box to the back of the turret, bisecting the bustle rack. That made assembling the bustle rack all that much more challenging. 

I think I might begin a build thread soon lol. Thanks for letting me hyjack your thread for a minute there, Russ.

I'm very much looking forward to the next step you've got to show us. 

Mike: That looks cool! Would like to see a build thread on her! 

Mike, keep up the build thread, looks good so far.

I'm leaving tomorrow, got a week in Barcelona, but will be hungry when I get back, should have some progress of my own soon after.

Gee whiz Wally, it's been a long time since I posted on this thread, but Aleph is almost done. Yes, the upper right basket rail is bent, I'm afraid if I try and fix it, it'll break, again. Next time I'll use brass wire for those parts for sure. So just a few details and parts and this one will be finished, and I can finish Gimel too.

Pics as it sits now:

IMG_8186 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_8185 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_8184 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

More later!

Again, good looking tank , Russ! The M60A1 was my tank, I have a real soft spot for them.

Ray

She looks great! Looking forward to seeing her all finished up. 

Thanks G, very close now.....   I'm also going to use a new thread to finish Gimel, should have done that long ago, but I was lazy.

Down to tow cables, tow shackles and glossing the cupola view ports and I'm done'

IMG_8193 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_8192 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_8191 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_8189 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_8188 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

On to Gimel next, or very soon.....

Oh that looks good!!!

Thanks G. I got the tow cables ready yesterday, should finish this one as soon as I get a day off.

That is beautiful, Russ. 

Love the weathering and how it ties it all together.

Thanks Mike. I was very careful to not overdo this one, all the pics I have show relatively c"clean" tanks, jsut a bit dusty.

So I was thinking about the tow cables, and I'll be dipped if I didn't make them for an M48, too short. Gotta go digging through the spares boxes.....

Lousy pic, but the 6C is coming along nicely. I want to bring it to ModelFiesta this weekend, so I'm jamming.....

IMG_8605 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Weathering is VERY restrained, stowage will be limited as well.

Lookin' good, good luck with getting her done in time! And hope you come home with some sort of award for her! 

Gamera

Lookin' good, good luck with getting her done in time! And hope you come home with some sort of award for her! 

 

I will second that!

Good luck, Russ!

Thanks y'all. Same angle, better light, stowage done:

IMG_8920 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Other side:

IMG_8921 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

It's close enough now to go.

That is badass.

I absolutely love that searchlight.

Yeah, that looks sharp! 

T'anks y'all! It's finished now, but packed up to go to San Antonio tomorrow. I'll get some "finished" pics after. Stowage came out good, nothing fancy.

Gimel, all done:

IMG_8927 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_8925 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_8926 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_8924 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Onward to the next project, a Magach 3 and something else. :)

Well......you already know my thoughts on this one Russ. Wow!!!

Thanks!

Ohhhhh, now that looks sharp!!! 

Thank you G.