Magach (pardon me) 6B Gal Batash

[rbaer]

I have (had) two in the stash, both bought cheap since the big interference issue between the wonky bottom of the turret bustle and engine deck were made know. I pulled one out and sure enough, it's a problem with the new lower half of the turret, the part with the bottom of the side armor modules are molded integrally with. Hold that thought. I also have a half-dozen or so Esci/Iatleri M60A1/A3 and Magach kits in the same place, and I kind of wanted to use one of those hulls anyway, since the Academy hull is not the greatest. So.... I tried the Academy lower turret piece on the Italeri hull, and it didn't rub nearly so bad, but it still rubbed hard. So I did this:
IMG_0583 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
That's the bottom of the Academy turret with the side armor cut off and the top pieces glued to them. And then:
IMG_0585 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
Here is the Academy upper turret half with the Italeri lower turret glued to it, which was actually a fair fit. Oddly enough, there was still some interference between the bottom of the bustle and the engine deck, some a few minutes with some 100 grit sandpaper fixed that. The resulting gaps between the Academy and Italeri turret halves were filled with Aves Apoxie Sculpt, my favorite 2-part putty. A little more work with some strip stock and Tamiya putty got me here, ready to add the turret side armor:
IMG_0586 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
Then it was off to the races with the hull, using the Italeri hull halves, Academy swing arms and road wheels, final drives adapted from a Tamiya Pershing, some Verlinden tow shackles, Tamiya M26 return rollers, strip and rod stock and some putty.
IMG_0592 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_0587 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_0593 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
I like building the old M60 kits, and since I still have a truck load of them in the stash, thought I'd do this one, a really ugly tank that I don't yet have in the case. I plan on leaving most of the skirts off, part of why I'm doing extra work on the suspension. I also have a new idea on the anti-skid. Stay tuned.....

[Leon]

That's some nice kit bashing Russ! Looking forward to seeing this progress.

[TRM]

Some great bashing Russ! Fine job on straitening out the turret!

[rbaer]

Thanks guys. I've had the itch to do a couple of Magachs lately, using all the AM and parts kits I've been amassing over the years, and now that AFV Club and Takom have some very nice kits in the stream, I decided it was time. I might possibly start another hull for a "regular" 6B Gal or a 6B as well, while I have all the parts out, or maybe use the AFV Club M60A1 kit I have to do one, not sure yet. Lately I've been pretty good about only having one kit at a time in progress, but that may change.
Bash on Garth!

[rbaer]

Well, I started another hull yesterday, not sure what I'll do with it, but I really need to thin the parts stash down to usable stuff only. I spent a lot of time with sprue cutters, getting rid of bits I'll never use, such as broken turret basket rails, sub-standard parts from old kits, etc. I went from five boxes of parts and junk to four boxes of parts, and can thin it some more today. IT's kind of liberating actually.
If anyone has a need for various M60 parts, holler, I've got a BUNCH.

[deafpanzer]

COOL! Count me in... bringing some beer of course!

[rbaer]

Schweet!
So, here's a pic or two of the other hull I started yesterday, using another Italeri hull, Academy suspension bits, some AM, and small bits from Tamiya, Academy and Italeri. I have some old LoModel stuff laying around too, gonna drag that out and see if there are any bits I can cram on. The actual variant is To Be Determined (TBD), but at the moment I'm leaning towards an early Magach6B, maybe a training mule with the "teacher's chair" and a Nochri attachment, aluminum wheels and T-142 track. I'm working on two different final drive setups, one to use each type of sprocket required, so they will be mounted later. I also have a very nice sprocket/drive housing setup from the AFV Club M60H kit, for the T-142 tracks, that may get used. I have options. I'll do a separate thread on this one once I decide which way it's going, but for now I'll keep it here.
IMG_0600 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_0599 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
And back the the Batash: a shot of one of the turret armor modules test fitted to the turret:
IMG_0598 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
The other side will be a little more tough, as there are no location brackets on the turret itself, only the one tab at the very rear/bottom. Apparently the starboard module is designed to hinge upwards, allowing access to the engine deck with the turret 90 degrees. Academy used these hinges as a fine locator for the armor module.
And now, back to the stash to see if I have dug out all the parts kits I have. Ya never know.....

[TRM]

Fine work as usual Russ! Bringing back some memories of banging my head on the return rollers and track links while painting under a 1:1 Slick 60 this past summer...LOL Good times! Keep up the good work brotha'!

[rbaer]

Ooooo, the real thing! I have a few pics from the stuff parked out in front of the USS Alabama in Mobile, and a few more from one parked at a VFW post in East Texas, but nothing like getting to slather paint on one.

[TRM]

There is certainly a cool factor to being able to get dirty on full size toys! The USABOT Co. I belong to has refurbished 6 in the past two years...M60's, M48, Easy-8 and one M5 Stuart. Unbelievably rewarding! And yes, everyone working on them is like little kids sitting in front of their first Revell kit!

Not to hijack your thread, but I know you can appreciate!

[rbaer]

I appreciate.
I'm glad I got a bunch of modeling in over the last few days as I'm all wrapped up in training for the new job. It's computer based, and believe me, every time I get a break, I go straight to the bench, but I really have to exhibit some serious self control, as once I get tucked into a model, the hours can just disappear.
Argh, italics....

[TRM]

Being self-consumed into something you enjoy is not always a bad thing! LOL It does make for a nice break from the monitors!

[rbaer]

Yeah, I was brain-dead last night, doing training, setting up company email, remote email, training.....
Heading to a nice RV park for the weekend, have to bring the laptop and do more training. Argh. Cool job though, I'm looking forward to getting started, and I get a week in sunny Cincinnati in January. I wonder if there are any hobby shops there. Hmmm....

[deafpanzer]

Cinco?!?!? It is only two hours away from Indy... just saying! I have been to one of their hobby shops and I thought it was nice but little overpriced. It is called Broadwalk Hobby Shop... nice selections for sure! I worry where you can park your RV because you will need to park on the street.

Here's the link... www.facebook.com/pages/Boardwalk-Hobby-Shop/117238351669181

Good luck and safe travel! Hope you know how cold it can be here in January? LOL
Andy

[rbaer]

I'll be flying in on the company dime, probably won't have a car. Thinking though about staying over a couple of days and having my wife join me. I'll know better once my reservations are made if I can extend a couple of days. As it is, I fly in to Dayton Sunday, train all way night.
I like to pick up something when I travel, over-priced or not, then once it's built I have a "momento" of a particular trip. I have a KV bought in Seattle, a couple of conversions picked up at Bobe's in Pensacola, an M-51 bought in Vancouver..... you get the idea, but it's been something I've been doing for a while. Some people buy spoons, or shot glasses. I buy models.

[deafpanzer]

You are just like me... I like to visit local hobby shops while I am on the road but lately I have been going to either military museums or gun shops. LOL

[rbaer]

Well, hanging out in lovely OKC at the moment, on to KC in the AM, where I hope to hit a nice little hobby shop as I drive to the airport to pick up my lovely. What a day.

[joelsmith]

Russ, it is chilly and windy here in the metro KC area, but no rain or snow anticipated. Talk more soon, Joel.

[rbaer]

We made it back, all goodies intact. I bought a bunch of supplies at Hobby Haven (expensive kits!) and at the urging of my wife (!) a Dragon M60 at the HobbyTown on North Oak. Yee haw!
So I haven't been completely idle, hacking away at the M60 farm, even starting another hull. Hmmm.....
IMG_0601 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
The big basket on what will be a -6B-Gal is Legends. I put it on an Academy turret cuz I thought it might fit better than on an Italeri turret, but it still took lots of carving and some Aves putty to make it work. I'm also ding the IDF-specific mantlet cover. The third hull will probably get lots of Dragon parts (Dragon's M60 hull is off, being adapted from their M48 hull, and since I have all these spare Italeri/Esci/Revell kits, why not? The Batash hull is almost ready for the extra armor and belly pan. Bad news is I actually start field work next week, may cut into modeling time.
Happy New Year, and I hope everyone had a great Christmas!

[Leon]

Nice progress Russ!

[rbaer]

Wow, long time no post. I have done some modeling, not a lot but some. I decided to concentrate on just the two Magachs (not saying the 3rd hull won't end up as one too) and move along a bit. I want to wait until I can grab one of the Takom MH-60 kits before I go any further on the 3rd one. Anyway, pics of the two still moving, most of the work on the manlets.
IMG_0758 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_0759 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
I'm going to do the Batsh "in action", so the basket needs to be empty, so I used the fairly nice kit part. The other will be a reserve tank, in training, with more stuff to come out of the stash.

[deafpanzer]

Looking good! I am still undecided which I like better. LOL

[rbaer]

The -Batash has a Star Wars kind of look, but the big basket on the regular -Gal is pretty cool too, all that overhang makes it look a bit unbalanced, and the loaded bustle rack gives it a Clampetts feel, something I like. I'm trying to find some T-142 tracks for the 'Gal, I want to use some AM stuff I have in the stash and make a reserve/training tank with the "teacher's chair" and mine roller attachment, but on the old US tracks and aluminum wheels.

[rbaer]

Okay. I've started the anti'slip on the Batash, and done a little more work on the 'Gal turret. First though, here's a pic of my anti-skid material, kudos and accolades, maybe even Brownie points to the first poster to name what it is:
IMG_1074 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
Below is the 'Gal turret with the mantlet pretty much finished up, and a Legends gunner's sight on. The mantlet has a lot of Aves putty behind it, as I sanded so much off of it in the process of "removing" the kit's molded on dust cover I actually could see through the plastic. The IDF-specific retaining fasteners are Evergreen.
IMG_1075 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
And here the anti-slip applied on the Batash turret. Top surfaces are the material mixed with acrylic and brushed on, while the side I've has some of the material sprinkled onto the brushed-on mixture as well. I think I like that better, it's more consistent.
IMG_1073 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
IMG_1072 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
The anti-skid areas will need a clear or primer coat so seal them up, but appear to be reasonably sturdy so far, and should stand up to my rather robust weathering techniques.
I should add that the armor modules on the real Batash are all made up of smaller, separate pieces, and while Academy have molded some separation lines in between the blocks that make up each area module, they are too shallow. So I have deepened them with the back-side of a #11 blade and a razor saw.I actually thought about cutting them completely apart, but sanity intruded.

[thug626]

I am really liking what you've done here. The anti-skid areas look the part.

[Deleted]

Chinchilla dust?

G

[Leon]

Nice work on the anti-skid Russ!

[rbaer]

Not sand. The secret is out. It's my own shaven facial hair, cleaned out of my trusty Norelco.
And here's a pic of the Batash turret, all haired up, just needing a trim and touch-up before adding more bits:
IMG_1191 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
And the 'Gal hull with the Legends Nochri attachment almost half-way done:
IMG_1190 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
The white plastic parts are replacements for Legends bits I launched into a recirculating orbit with my tweezers.

[deafpanzer]

LOL! They do look like my sink after shaving. Anti-skid looks great!

[rbaer]

Thanks Andy. All I have to do is pull out the occasional long hair, and wonder where it came from....
So, pics so far, the Batash with the floor of the turret basket cut out and some PE from the Legends -Gal conversion installed. It was a pretty good fit, and since I've used a full basket on the -Gal and using an empty basket on the Batash, it was a good way to get rid of the horrid Academy basket floor.
IMG_1812 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
And hopefully the finished turret anti-skid:
IMG_1191 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
I've added some to a few thin areas, easily done with the "hair" method, just add a little paint/hair mixture to any thin areas, sprinkle on a bit of hair and blow.
That sounds wrong....
And the 'Gal with the mine roller attachment (Nochri) all finished:
IMG_1811 by Russel Baer, on Flickr
More later!