M 48 A3 from Dragon

[tobias5555]

I´ve got the brand new Dragon M 48 A3. Great kit. The parts looking very good and even the tracks are great. But Dragon miss the dust cover for the main gun.
On the box you can see it, but it´s not in the box. I want to build the "Wild One 4" Version, so you Need the cover. On 90 % of the M 48 were the cover, so I had to order the Legend update kit.
The plan was to build it ootb, but this is not possible. I wonder why Dragon had miss that importent part:

[macmcconnell]

I am in for this T looks great pity about that cover

Mac

[tobias5555]

Thanks Mac. Yes it´s a pity with the cover, but I´ll try to do my best with the Legend set.

[Tobi]

Cool! I have the old Tamiya kit lingering around in my stash.

Will watch with interest to see if I ultimately gonna discard it in favour of the Dragon kit.

Tobi

[tobias5555]

But you should hold the dust cover from the old Tamiya kit.

[tobias5555]

Update

[Tojo72]

Looks good,will be following.

[tobias5555]

Good to hear that.

[wbill76]

Off to a good start Tobias, will be following with interest! That's strange about the dust cover...but there've been similar 'head-scratcher' moments from Dragon on various kits from time to time too so it's a good thing you've got the Legend alternative available.

[Deleted]

bit of a glaring error not providing a dust cover me thinks, you would have thought Dragon would get it right

[paulh]

Hi Tobias- tagging along.
Steve Zaloga posted a build up of the mantlet cover over on ML if thats of any use to you?

Steve Zaloga's dust cover

[rbaer]

I'm also curious about why Dragon omitted the dust cover, but that isn't going to stop me from building this one. I'll be watching here as well.
One thing I can tell from the pics, the separate engine deck and hull design will make it very easy for Dragon to do an Elvis tank. The aright there is worth the price of admission. I wonder if Legends will get the conversion out before Dragon does the kit?

[tobias5555]

Thanks for the link, but I´m not such a good modeller to build this cover. I´m waiting for the Legend set.

[tobias5555]

I found out, that the lights are wrong to, 99 % of all M48 had it in an other style.

[Leon]

Nice start on the M48 Tobias.Count me in.

[tobias5555]

The rest of the kit is very good.

[tobias5555]

Update with the Legend update kit:

[Leon]

Looking good Tobias .Nice work on the dust cover.

[dupes]

Dang, didn't this kit JUST come out? Speedy Gonzales!

[tobias5555]

Thanks guys.

[deafpanzer]

LOL! Echo Dupes comment... you are quick! And it is looking great! Nice save using Legend AM set for dust cover... shame that Dragon screwed again. No surprise there...

[Tojo72]

Nice progress,I just ordered the Legend Set,Can you elaborate some on fitting it !

Thank,Anthony

[wbill76]

Building this one up fast tobias! The Legend part definitely adds to the build.

[tobias5555]

Thanks guys.
The Fitting of the Legend set is not easy. You have to remove a lot of plastic from the turret. The Problem is that this set was made for the Tamiya M48. I had to fill and sand a lot.

[joelsmith]

Tobias, you might want to consider removing the .50 cal from the cupola, and, mounting it on the top of the cupola. Most photos I have seen have it that way. When I asked my "Adopted" Dad (A former Armor Officer), the said the M85 version of the .50 was prone to jamming. and was a Bit** to load in a hurry. He also said that the external mount made it easier to shoot at snipers, RPG gunners, etc. Hope this helps you, Joel

[tobias5555]

Thanks for the 0.50 mg idea. But I'm honest, I like it with the mg in the coupola. I know most M48 got it in an other way, but luckely not my version: wild one 4

[sturmbird]

Somewhere lost forever (I guess anyway) on a hard drive that will not work with Windows 7 is a photo of an M48 with 2 rings under the cupola! Many units also welded a post and mounted a second machine gun ontop of the turret.

The Dragon kit is an M48a3 mod.B. While most in Vietnam were A models. The 69th Armor and the 11th CAV were supposed to have used the Mod. B, and have heard the the 3/4 CAV used some of them as well. I'm certainly wanting the rumor that the 3/4 CAV using them to be true. Marines used the Mod. A track, and most of the other CAV units used the Mod. A as well.
gary

[rbaer]

It looks like Dragon did a very good job on the compensating idler, something no-one else has done, on the M48 or -60. I WILL buy one of these. The hull details, texture, separate fenders, all look great. Compare all this to a Tamiya kit and then ponder.
It's like Bill said in another thread, and forgive me for paraphrasing here, "If a kit were perfect, we as modelers may as well hang up our #11 blades and glue" or very close to that....
After the initial rush of excitement has died down, these kits should be pretty reasonably priced, partially (I think) because everyone seems hung up on their "faults". Better for me.
Question: I noticed the driver figgie in the open hatch. Is he a Dragon goodie or aftermarket?

[tobias5555]

Thanks for your words.
The Driver is from an older Academy figure kit, but he´ll look good in the hatch.

[tobias5555]

Good to know that you´ll watching.