Thanks all. I started the ERA yesterday afternoon, may have some time today as well. I'm using the ERA in the Tamiya and Academy kits, mostly Tamiya as it is quite a bit better. The big challenge is to differentiate my layout from the standard USMC setup. Pics soon.

Okay: first step was to put a backing layer on all the ERA modules, since I plan a larger standoff distance:

IMG_6809 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Then I got to work, basically like doing a jigsaw puzzle, fitting and trimming, wanting to get the look of the IDF Blazer modules, but more modern. Here's the right mid and rear of the turret, front not done yet:

IMG_6810 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I also used the hull modules almost as they came, but I've got more to do there.

Some more. Right side essentially finished, left side well on the way:

IMG_6812 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Smoke dischargers are from a Meng Merk3.

Other side:

IMG_6811 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

And the top, showing the mounting parts, right done, left not yet started, waiting for the glue to set up on the interior mounts:

IMG_6813 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

That is really beginning to take some heavy duty shape, Russ. 

This is going to be one, sweet looking oddball.

Thanks Mike. Wait till you see it with the mantlet armor on, it has a definite "samurai" look, just like the USMC ERA set, just a little "different".

Yeah, looks cool. The ERA bricks always give a tank a completely different look than without them. 

"Different" is key here....

I think I'm done with the turret armor.

IMG_6814 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_6815 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_6816 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

Maybe a bit on the top of the nose, but the majority is done.

Tell me you have skirts for this! It totally needs armored skirts!

No skirts! I want all that suspension work to show.

Awwww. Dangit.

I thought about it, and even noodled on it a while, but I want to be able to see the coold stuff. Now if I was really ambitious, some slat armor would be cool.....

oooooo! Please?!

I've actually been thinking about how to do that, and I don't have enough hair left to pull out.

Not much modeling time lately, but I have managed to do some ERA modules on the turret top....

IMG_7020 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

That is looking cool, Russ.

Thanks Mike. Still considering adding a droid, but in the meantime, I played with the lower hull, adding bolt heads, some access ports (somewhat fictionalized) belly armor for the driver, and a lower front supplemental armor plate.

IMG_7021 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I'm really using up hex rod, but it'll be fun to paint.

That will be fun to paint!! 

Oh wow! The turret looks great! The bottom of the hull, well I normally just bolt the thing to the base and don't even bother to detail the underside.

Same. I don't worry about the bottom. Paint it up all dirty and forget about it lol.

But this is the extra bit that just leans into the fun category. I mean, just look at that extra detail!

That's HEAVY metal!

I'll admit I too usually leave the underside as-is, but sometimes I get a bee in my bonnet, so to speak. I have also always been a little put-off by kit manufacturers ignoring the hull undersides, am I'm quite happy to see both AFV Club and Takom finally doing these tanks justice in kit form. By the way, I've got a few Takom kits in the stash now, and I'm out of Italeri hulls, so in a way that's agood thing, since one of my "goals" was to use up all the old kits and stuff I'd gathered (hoarded?) over the last few years.

And this is when it all starts to come together for me:

IMG_7023 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_7024 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I got home this morning and had a couple of hours, but didn't feel like doing tiny turret details, so tracks it was.

Holy snit, that looks awesome!

Russ, I started my own M-60 build. I know I'm supposed to be finishing my wingy things, but I can't resist anymore. It's all you're fault, bud. Lol

Seriously, that looks so beastly with that 120! HARD CORE!!!

Yeah she looks ready for business!!!

Business of kicking  that is... 

M. Brindos

Holy snit, that looks awesome!

... 

Uh-oh, better be careful taking the name "Snit" in vain, or else you might end up suffering from "Snit's Revenge" 

Thanks guys.

Mike, I need to see a build thread, naturally.

Beware the dreaded snit!

Back from Vegas, and FYI, the HobbyTown out Sahara is seriously "de-contented" now.....   anyway, some details are on, such as a jerry can, spare tracks, gun travel lock and turret rails. What else do I need?

IMG_7205 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

IMG_7206 by Russel Baer, on Flickr

I was thinking about the big "commander's box" over the turret ventilator cover, but I'd have to move some ERA and I just don't want to. Picky, aren't I?

Russ, that looks good! All you need now is a minigun mounted to the main gun.

Ray.

Yeah, looks good! 

I dunno other than some storage for the bustle rack. 

This is really great. I'm luke warm on what ifs as a genre since many are more flights of fancy than practical. I do enjoy (real) prototypes, "almost weres", runners up and well thought out and implemented what ifs.

This really seems plausible, if you made up a good back story you could easily send people off to google to find out more about this "IDF upgrade M60 prototype". Good choice of services too, the IDF is probably the biggest 1-1 "kit basher" out there. Some of their real modified vehicles look like the result of a demented kit basher on a bender.  

Ray, I strongly considered some kind of mantlet-mounted secondary weaponry, but just couldn't incorporate it once I comitted to the ERA I used. It would have been in character, but I skated.

G, it's a possibility, unless I finish it as a "demo/prototype", not sure yet.

Aaron, thank you, that's exactly what I was trying to do, create an evolutionary design, a "Magach6D" if you will. I really like doing this kind of what-ifs, sometimes for fun (like a Sherman I did a while ago with a shortened 155mm gun tube) or the Magach6 with a Merkava1 turret I did more recently. I have more fun thinking up stuff than building OOB, always.