Dragon M48A3 Build Update 16.12.13:

[Hinksy]

Hi guys,

I know you don't normally see me over in this section very often but I'm a big fan of German Armour Modelling and when I have dabbled with WWII Shermies and Pershings and the like I've not been thrilled - for some reason they don't have that unique character of the German WWII armour, be it a Pz. I A or a Tiger I.

However, I've always liked the Vietnam American armour. It was my interest in the 'Nam conflict that got me into Modern Military History, particularly WWII and 'Nam, and eventually this interest led me on the inevitable path of becoming a modeller

I've only tried building one 'Nam AFV which was Academy's ONTOS. I really disliked the kit and never finished it but had vowed to pick up the Tamiya M48 but before that could happen Dragon released this little beauty which I knew was going to be my next build following my just completed Dragon Pz.III M.

www.modelarmour.com/index.php?option=com_content&id=3239:dragon-m48a3-modb&Itemid=60

So, I have the kit from emodels iirc  (a good start), Legend's Mantlet Cover and Xenon Searchlight kit which is like Goldust in the UK at the present (see photo below - why Dragon excluded this is just bizarre) and have Legends M48A3 Stowage set on order.  These are from Lucky Model,

I'm building the box art M48 'Wild One 4' with the Tiger face decal. I'm not sure yet but I may paint that Tiger on freehand and not use the decal?





Apart from the Cover and an it's all going to be an OOB build except for scale PE mesh for the turret basket base and the 2.2m antennae I've bought for her - the antennae is not 100% accurate as it's an antennae for the Swedish CV90 but the antennae base is an excellent match. The Tracks are live of course so the suplied DS Tracks will be fine.

I might be using a figure this time (or part of one) as I still have the driver figure head and Torso from the ONTOS with helmet etc. He won't be very visible but it will help the build and won't be a nightmare to paint.

I've purchased the recommended Vallejo Model Colour 'Violet Brown' which sounds odd but looks great and when sprayed over a black primer base will darken perfectly (in theory)!

A great book:



'Wild one 4' was attached to the 919th engineers:






I hope you'll join me along the way - I'll probably be needing some help from you US Armour guys!

The build starts tomorrow!

Ben

[ceresvesta]

Hoooooo I like those m48 ! And with youre skills it will be great to follow.
Count me in Ben.
Phil.

[Leon]

Count me in Ben,looking forward to seeing this started.

[Hinksy]

Hi guys,

I'm trying a new method of Blogging a build today. I'm going to say where I'm at, show the instruction sheet and how things turn out giving a commentary of things that cause problems or instruction errors I find so I can help my fellow Brothers in their builds, as opposed to doing a load of work then just showing some photos:

The build:

First off - here's the Mantlet kit and instructions: Alan at my Model Group is VERY experienced and after I described it over the phone he's offered to help me do it at his house. I'll do it it but he'll be there as a 'safety net'. I wouldn't fancy committing to fitting it on my own. The instructions ask you to remove a large portion from the front of the turret which I'm not thrilled about so he might find a way to fit the cover without the chopping!

Here's one modellers way of doing things:

www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=9500



Righto, this session I'm building stages 1 through 5 which will take a comfortable 3 hours imo and will leave me ready to start work on the Suspension arms and Road wheels and running gear next Saturday:

Photos:

First off the return rollers and drive sprockets are assembled. The road wheels x 14 are called out here but I might be painting them on the sprue so they can wait!



Next up is the lower half of the main hull which sees various bits dropped on - it's busy but simple:



Then the top half - which calls out the drivers hatch (which I'm leaving off for the minute incase I use the torso figure) and the Periscope parts. I'm leaving them too as I think they'll be better fitted at the end - plus I'm not sure on lens colour at present!



Here I've fitted the turret base and the Turret housing which is perfect! It's a big old lump - the cast texture is IMMACULATE!









Progress:

I was hoping to get section 5 complete but I don't rush my builds so sections 1 through 4 are complete:



Next week I start on Section 5 - I know I've fitted the drive sprockets and front suspension arms but they aren't glued yet and are just snap-fitted:



The Academy ONTOS Figure which I'm seriously thinking about using:



Here's the replacement Antennae, decal sheet, the lovely DS tracks and the scale mesh for the turret basket:



My Comments:

What a cracking kit! I swear this is building up like a Tamiya kit - it makes a real treat from fiddly Panzer III PE! The only issue that I've encountered is part G29 that makes up part of the turret basket assembly is snapped on one of the basket arms. It's only a very thin piece of plastic that won't be noticed and will be covered in stowage anyway. Either way, if you buy this kit I cecommend removing this sprue from the box until it's needed.

Really pleased with how this is going - this is going to be one excellent tank and a kit that should frequent every armour modellers stash. Just why didn't they include that damn Mantlet Cover! An unforgivable oversight imo.

Have a good week everyone,

Take care,

Ben

EDIT: I've just seen the posts that some of you guys have put up whilst I've been building. I've had my post open the whole time during assembly so didn't see these replies - thanks fellas!

[Leon]

Nice start on the 48 Ben.Looking forward to seeing your next update.

[ceresvesta]

In love already

[wbill76]

Making good progress Ben! Take your time with that mantlet cover set and you'll do just fine. Have to try this type of surgical replacement sooner or later, no time like the present.

[sturmbird]

question?

Did the M48 use the same track and drive sprockets that the M60 used? I can't find a static M48 within a hundred miles of me, but have M60's parked all over the place!
gary

[Deleted]

Yes Gary they did. The M48A5 was essentially an M60 A nothing. The hull/turret/engine changed after that, but the basic running gear did not.

G

[sturmbird]

Oct 7, 2013 1:08:32 GMT -5 @agentg said:

Yes Gary they did. The M48A5 was essentially an M60 A nothing. The hull/turret/engine changed after that, but the basic running gear did not.

G

many if not all M48's had the "ported sprockets" to help keep mud out of them. Somebody sells them, but think they are for an M60 kit.
gary

[Deleted]

US armour used in 'Nam is always an interesting build to watch so I'll tag along here if I may 

[Deano]

Good progress here Im liking this one !

Deano

[robbo]

Lovely tanks these, I'm watching mate

[Deleted]

Pullin up a chair and watching this one!

[Hinksy]

Thanks guys,

This kit is killer! The hull assembles with Tamiya simplicity but with that Dragon feel to it.

The hull will be a simple build - the turret will be a challenge where the Mantlet is concerned but apart from that it should be pretty simple (fingers x'd).

It's a pretty big old lump actually - a lot bigger than I expected! The turret is huge!

As previously mentioned I'm a German AFV fan but have a passion for history of the 'Nam conflict. I might need some help when we get further into the build with detail advise etc.

Thanks for tagging along guys - I didn't expect this much interest!

Btw, good to see so many UK modellers getting on here now.

Ben

[spud]

Hey Ben thats a Sweet looking Kit, but that Fig not so sweet. alpine have some new nam tank figs here is a link to the set but you can get them seperate,
www.alpineminiatures.com/imagepages/35162.html

if your interested get them from Steve,
www.skminiatures.co.uk/

I think having a quality fig will set this of really nicely so something to consider

[Hinksy]

Cheers Spud - they look sweeeet!

Thing is I'm no figure painter yet and a figure placed on an AFV painted by my unsteady hand would make any decent build look terrible!

Should I decicide to use him it would just be the Torso section and all that would be see of him is the top of his helmet poking out the hatch under the barrel and a top portion of face. I reckon I could manage that?

All I've done so far is skipped the part where the drivers hatch is fitted. I'll mess about with a few figures in the spares tub to get some practice then see what I can do.

Thanks for taking the time to look up the figs for me matey. Mucho appreciated

Ben

[sturmbird]

Oct 8, 2013 5:57:20 GMT -5 Hinksy said:

Thanks guys,

This kit is killer! The hull assembles with Tamiya simplicity but with that Dragon feel to it.

The hull will be a simple build - the turret will be a challenge where the Mantlet is concerned but apart from that it should be pretty simple (fingers x'd).

It's a pretty big old lump actually - a lot bigger than I expected! The turret is huge!

As previously mentioned I'm a German AFV fan but have a passion for history of the 'Nam conflict. I might need some help when we get further into the build with detail advise etc.

Thanks for tagging along guys - I didn't expect this much interest!

Btw, good to see so many UK modellers getting on here now.

Ben

you will do well!
gary

[spud]

lol ben i was like that too once then i bought an MXpression DVD on painting 1/35th scale figure, well worth the money and it will help you improve this department in no time.

[John Everett]

Monogram's old 1/32 version of this was my first tank. I'm curious how the new Dragon looks. I'm glad to know it's going together easily.

[Deleted]

She's looking really good Ben! Wanting to pull mine off the rack and get started.

[Hinksy]

Thanks guys,

Sorry there was no 'Saturday update' yesterday but I'd been working double shifts every day this week and just needed a day of chilling and DVD's yesterday.

I'll be having lunch in a minute so after that I'll get cracking on the suspension and Fenders etc.

The wheels will be painted and fitted separately and I'll be leaving the Turret well alone as the grab rails and Turret bin are VERY fragile (part of the Turret bin assembly was broken when I checked the sprues) as fitting this Legend mantlet cover will probably involve some serious manhandling as the Legend instructions would have you cut a big section out of the front of the Turret to accomodate the base part of the Resin Cover. Alan from my group is helping me do it and he reckons he can fit it without the turret surgery?

READ THE SECOND PARAGRAPH IN THE REVIEW SECTION - HE WANTS TO DO IT THIS WAY:

www.armorama.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=9500

Update later,

Ben

[Leon]

Looking forward to your next update Ben.

[Hinksy]

Hi fellas,

I'm afraid work fatigue and family commitments have really conspired against me this weekend

I've managed to find two hours this afternoon to get the rest of section 5 completed bringing me up-to-date on where I wanted to be at the end of my session last weekend.

You'll see from the photos below that section 5 covers the engine deck and rear vents. Moulding is as usual crisp and flawless and fitment is perfect.

I was really surprised that the entire back deck is made up of what can only be desribed as a 'hollow shell' - you'll have to build the kit to see what I mean.

All I can say is clean up everything really well and dry fit over and over until you commmit to glue!

So, only a small update for today but the next steps cover suspension arms and Fenders then the Turret.

Here's section 5 what I did today - notice the posts on parts D4 and D2? These make the shell:









The detail on the back vented section is immaculate - my Squadron book shows the louvres looking real beat up so I'll be knocking this part about a bit:



Sorry I haven't got more to show you but I don't want to blast through this one too quick and anyway, CSI is on now! I'm off work on Wednesday this week so intend to make some real progress.

Have a good week guys,

Ben

[rbaer]

Watching....
I have to confess, the M48 has a spot in my heart. I'll be be curious to see your take on it, Ben.

[Deleted]

Me too!

[deafpanzer]

WOW! It really has a huge rear.... bet it would be good at twerking too. I am going to add it to my wish list...

[wbill76]

Oct 13, 2013 19:00:21 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

WOW! It really has a huge rear.... bet it would be good at twerking too. I am going to add it to my wish list...

The Miley-48?

[Hinksy]

Oct 13, 2013 19:00:21 GMT -5 deafpanzer said:

WOW! It really has a huge rear.... bet it would be good at twerking too. I am going to add it to my wish list...

You'll love this one guys HOWEVER I do feel that Dragon could have omitted a few of the bigger moulded on grab handles and in their place left separate grab handles. The moulded on grab handles lie totally flat with no gap underneath. I've also noticed they didn'drill out the barrel section of the 'T' shape muzzle Brake which is blanked off so that will need drilling out. A bit of PE wouldn't have gone amiss either.

Anyway, on a plus point my SECOND Legend Mantlet kit arrived today! I ordered the one that arrived today on the 5th September! The delivery ETA for the one that arrived today was 20th September.
When 25th September came and went I ordered another (I'm impatient) thinking that there had been some issues etc. The one that I odered second on the 25th September I ordered with a tracking number and that arrived on the 5the October (10 days later)!

Looking at the kit it might prove handy to have a second Mantlet kit as break a piece of importance and that's me screwed!
If all goes to well with one kit I'll sell the second but should I have to use important parts from the second kit I'll at least have a second kit to sell.

I wonder how many of these there are in the UK? Not many I'll bet!



Cheers guys,

Ben

[Hinksy]

Oct 15, 2013 13:41:52 GMT -5 @johnnyb said:

Great work so far Ben! The detail on that monster looks great. I'm glad you let me know you were posting over here now. I was looking for this build on the other site. Gook luck with that mantlet surgery! It just has to be done. The kit would be entirely incorrect without it.

Johnny B

Hi Johnny!

Modellers Social Club (MSC) kicks ass. It's the first forum that I've found myself feeling truly 'at home' on.

It's a really good kit matey! Superb all round. Only the odd little niggle so far but she'll paint up brilliantly.

Glad to see you on here all signed up buddy - enjoy

Ben