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Post by rbaer on Oct 15, 2019 17:15:10 GMT -5
No idea yet where this will end up, but in order to keep myself interested in a couple of ongoing projects, I started messing around with this: IMG_6564 - Copy by Russel Baer, on Flickr What it is/was is an Academy Magach7 that I did a couple of years ago and just didn't like. I totally ruined the paint, and kind of pushed it to the back of my display case. Recently I needed a part off it, and from there I went nuts, stripping all the extra armor. I'll use the turret on something else (probably) but the hull is getting some love. After cleaning it up as much as possible, I started going through my spares boxes and thinking, "what have I got here?". Well, I've got a lot of stuff. So off I went, adding some better shocks, detailing and correcting the idler/tensioner linkage, re-scribing the engine deck, replacing the rear covers and lightly modifying some Abrams road wheels to fit. Lots of cleanup to do still, but I'm having fun. So far: IMG_6569 by Russel Baer, on Flickr IMG_6568 by Russel Baer, on Flickr I figured since the Tamiya/Academy swing arms were only a rough approximation of the real thing, just go with it and have fun. I'll be adding M60-ish things gradually, still not sure what turret I'll use. I've already done a Merkava1 turret on an M60 hull, so brain storming now....
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Post by Tobi on Oct 16, 2019 3:55:15 GMT -5
Russ, sometimes I come to think your stash might contain nothing else than a plethora of M60's
I always like the work you do on the lower hulls, an area often neglected by some modelers
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Post by mustang1989 on Oct 16, 2019 7:21:06 GMT -5
Folks just gotta admire the extra attention that you're giving this one. Lookin' good so far Russ.
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joelsmith
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Member since: July 2012
There no winners in war, only survivors.
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Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
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Post by joelsmith on Oct 17, 2019 5:19:36 GMT -5
Typical IDF action, take what you have, add updated parts, and you have a new tank. Nicely done Russ!
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Post by rbaer on Oct 17, 2019 11:56:58 GMT -5
Thanks all. I started a turret last night, should get pics up later today, I hope. I just love this kind of stuff, not worrying about if I have a proper shovel or tow hooks, it's very refreshing. And, part of the reason I model tanks is a fascination with tracked systems, drivetrains, suspension, stuff like that. Oddly enough, my career years were almost exclusively automotive. Imagine that. Even now, semi-retired, I'm doing part time automotive related work. And the IDF: what can I say. They did/do the same thing with tanks I did with off-road Jeeps and Toyotas and such: combine lots of parts to end up with something still useful and functional. And Tobi, yes, I admit to having a large M60 type stash, close in size to the Sherman stash I have. There are currently four or five "others" in there, more than a few earmarked for future IDF "what-ifs". Yup, I'm in deep.
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Post by rbaer on Oct 17, 2019 19:08:12 GMT -5
More parts kits goodness: ESCI turret, Academy basket, Dragon filter housings and misc small parts. IMG_6570 by Russel Baer, on Flickr Thinking about what kind of additional turret armor to use now.
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Post by rbaer on Oct 21, 2019 18:13:58 GMT -5
Mmmm, some more bits added to the lower hull, mantlet on and IDF-specific cover in progress. IMG_6572 by Russel Baer, on Flickr Final drives are done, sprockets I'll be using are ready, and all the bump stops are changed out for volute spring stops from a Dragon M48, just for fun. IMG_6573 by Russel Baer, on Flickr Above, the mantlet w/ cover started, tow lugs and fender brackets. On the right front of the turret I've started the access port for the Gal FCS, and IDF addition. Also added is the "Gal" main sight, from my extra 6B Gal batash kit. At this point, I'm thinking something along the lines of Magach6"D" Gal, an evolutionary progression from an actual 6B Gal. Maybe.
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Post by rbaer on Oct 23, 2019 8:31:53 GMT -5
I forgot to note, I added a piece of additional armor on the side of the turret ring, one each side, on the hull. I was reading in one of my reference books about that being a vulnerable area, so I figured it might be something the IDF would address. I would have raised the top of them a bit, a la KV-1, but the mantlet wouldn't clear.
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Post by rbaer on Oct 23, 2019 13:32:54 GMT -5
Mantlet cover details coming along, need to think about additional armor: IMG_6670 by Russel Baer, on Flickr And some engine deck details too: IMG_6671 by Russel Baer, on Flickr I've got a 105mm gun tube stuck in the mantlet just to see what it looks like, but I'm thinking 120mm gun, no reason not to: it's actually been done, and it's logical.
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Post by mustang1989 on Oct 24, 2019 10:10:27 GMT -5
Lookin' good with all the details so far. Looking forward to seeing more out of this one.
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Post by rbaer on Oct 24, 2019 16:52:15 GMT -5
T'anks. So, here's something you don't hear every day: Opinions wanted! Which of the three gun tubes fit this thing best. All are 120mm, just different bellows and dust covers, one is set up for a muzzle reference sensor, two are not but could be. Numbered, 1, 2 or 3. IMG_6673 by Russel Baer, on Flickr IMG_6674 by Russel Baer, on Flickr IMG_6675 by Russel Baer, on Flickr Come forth and opinionate! (Is that a word?)
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joelsmith
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Member since: July 2012
There no winners in war, only survivors.
Posts: 1,404
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
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Post by joelsmith on Oct 25, 2019 23:06:17 GMT -5
Instead of having a wimpy FN MAG at the hatches, put a minigun at each hatch for "crowd control". ;<)
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Post by rbaer on Oct 28, 2019 13:04:08 GMT -5
There ya go. No such thing as "underkill", right? I did a Merkava1 turret on another M60 hull a few years ago, used a droid and a CROWS, neat looking but busy. Minigun though, that's neat.
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joelsmith
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Member since: July 2012
There no winners in war, only survivors.
Posts: 1,404
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
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Post by joelsmith on Oct 28, 2019 15:36:23 GMT -5
Combat is like the Hot Rodders Creed; "Some is good, More is better, Too much is just enough"!
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Post by rbaer on Oct 28, 2019 17:14:19 GMT -5
All right all right all right! While I ponder imponderables, I stuck the Leo tube in, after adding a small collar to the mantlet, partly for just plain visual interest, and partly since it's something that may have been needed to strengthen the mantlet a bit, heavier tube and all: IMG_6677 by Russel Baer, on Flickr And another flash, a skate ring for the loader's MG, pirated out of a Takom Brave Tiger kit: IMG_6678 by Russel Baer, on Flickr Still thinking "Same thing, just more modern". Supplemental armor is most likely going to be composed of the USMC ERA tiles from the Tamiya and Academy kits. I have a LOT of it. The challenge will be rearranging and mounting it in a way that says "IDF".
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joelsmith
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Member since: July 2012
There no winners in war, only survivors.
Posts: 1,404
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
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Post by joelsmith on Oct 28, 2019 21:35:22 GMT -5
Why not the RDF, the "Russel Defense Force" ;<P
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Post by rbaer on Oct 30, 2019 17:13:44 GMT -5
I could abbreviate it as: RDF, Retread Defense Factory...... On that note, I've got the TC's cupola moving along. It's a Trump Abrams part on a riser I made from the base of the regular old M60A1 cupola and some strip and stock, with the gray part up top being the hatch ring from a Merkava3, which is wheree the rest of the thing will come from.... IMG_6740 by Russel Baer, on Flickr Funny what happens when one realizes there are a couple of boxes of spare Markava parts in the stash too. I'm thinking about doing something else with the loader's hatch too.....
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joelsmith
Full Member
Member since: July 2012
There no winners in war, only survivors.
Posts: 1,404
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
Jul 5, 2012 22:33:58 GMT -5
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Post by joelsmith on Oct 31, 2019 14:43:53 GMT -5
You keep this up and the Israelis are gonna sue you for Patent Infringement! ;<P
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Post by rbaer on Oct 31, 2019 18:21:15 GMT -5
I better get a lawyer..... So while I was there, why not fo the loader's hatch too? IMG_6744 by Russel Baer, on Flickr Continuity is good. I would have loved to have been able to make the loader's hatch operational, but it's just too fragile. Bummer, 'cuz the detail inside is really good. Oh well. And.... while I ponder things best left un-pondered, I've been playing with another hull: IMG_6745 by Russel Baer, on Flickr My last ESCI hull, with the Academy turret, goal is to make a slick M60, YKW period.
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Post by mustang1989 on Oct 31, 2019 21:49:07 GMT -5
You'd better hire the Davis Law Firm...."Just dial the 4's----444-4444!!! That's 444-4444 to schedule your appointment today!!!!". Crazy commercial. Sorry...…... I had to do it.
Progress is looking fantastic so far. You sure know how to put these things together.
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Post by rbaer on Nov 1, 2019 17:07:40 GMT -5
I'm just fiddle-farting around, but it's fun. So, speaking of fun, I've got the range finders on, just for grins one on each side. The extensions are to clear the extra turret armor on the Magach7 and 6B Gal batash, perfect for what I'm going to be doing. In real life, only the right side is used, but hey, it's my model. I also started the mortar, using a hunk of a Merkava turret and Shapeways parts. The cage isn't mounted until I do a dust cover. It's that thing in front of the loader's hatch. And lastly, the relocated antenna pots, welds done with stretched sprue. Pic is with both hatches posed open. IMG_6746 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
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Post by rbaer on Nov 5, 2019 19:29:35 GMT -5
Now I've got a jigsaw puzzle going on. I took all the Tamiya ERA modules from the two kits I have and glued them all to a piece of thin styrene (actually an old For Sale sign, good stuff) since I plan a larger standoff distance then the kit they're out of, and the backs will be visible: IMG_6809 by Russel Baer, on Flickr Then they were all trimmed and the gaps between all the individual blocks re-scribed and the edges cleaned up, and I started fitting them to the turret, using the Tamiya kit parts so far. IMG_6810 by Russel Baer, on Flickr I didn't really see a way to change the appearance of the hull modules very much, so they're on pretty much like in the Tamiya kit. I may do some things there later.
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Post by mustang1989 on Nov 5, 2019 22:21:44 GMT -5
Nicely done!!
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Post by rbaer on Nov 6, 2019 8:51:15 GMT -5
Thanks Joe. Smoke launchers and the nose and mantlet modules are next, should be interesting.
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Post by Leon on Nov 6, 2019 17:02:36 GMT -5
Nice work on the modules Russ!
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Post by rbaer on Nov 7, 2019 17:41:04 GMT -5
Thanks Leon. Here's a pic from the top, shows the mounts on one side, other side not yet started' IMG_6813 by Russel Baer, on Flickr Right side, pretty much finished, showing smoke discharger, parts from a Meng Merk3: IMG_6812 by Russel Baer, on Flickr And the left, very close except for mounts: IMG_6811 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
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Post by mustang1989 on Nov 7, 2019 17:46:38 GMT -5
Talk about friggin' kit bashin'!! Shaping up nicely.....
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Post by rbaer on Nov 8, 2019 17:02:13 GMT -5
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Post by mustang1989 on Nov 12, 2019 15:24:21 GMT -5
Man you have just got to be about ready to be slingin' paint on this one. Hell this aint even got that on it yet and it's already intense.
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Post by rbaer on Nov 13, 2019 18:30:08 GMT -5
Got a little more to do yet.....
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