RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

[MonsieurTox]

What a beautiful and original build. It's been a pleasure to follow this thread, cant wait to see the final details on and the paintjob !

[43rdRecceReg]

Flawless in all departments, as usual, Louis, from the cannon-work, to the camera-work. Sometimes I wish I could find a tiny flaw , but I can't That's one alluring Firefly as well, but then what else could it be? It certainly beats my effort.
Quebec? Lovely. I've always been a big fan of Kate and Anna McGarrigle, who often sang songs in Québecoise (They were born in Montreal to parents of French/Irish origins). Their 'French record' is still a favourite of mine. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kate_%26_Anna_McGarrigle. Hope you don't mind the link.

[lmcq11]

Thank you MonsieurTox !

Hello, this post is for the M2 Browning and its custom made Chaffee mount. The M24 Chaffee has an unshielded anti-aircraft Browning at the back, facing the rear on the sloped plate. On three of the ten tanks at DBP, the mount was move in front of the gunner to provide additional frontal firepower. On Conti, the position was unchanged. From the biography book that i have read, it was tempting for the crew or infantry support to use it against ground targets but as the Browning is extremely exposed, the intrepid users usually did not last long, being wounded or killed in few seconds after engagement by bullets or shrapnel.

Careful study of the pictures of the Chaffee M2 Browning mount in the WWP and Squadron Signal Walk Around books was required. Thankfully, both publications have extensive cover of the mount, a must for this build. Both books are highly recommended.

View of the complicated tripod mount from the gunner's hatch. Notice the knob to fix the rotation. The M2 cradle is standard WW2 and the Tamiya M2 from the Pershing kit is therefore a good fit.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The left side has a large bracket that can be elevated to lock the machine gun from the mount to the barrel sleeve, as shown.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

When not in use, the bracket simply rests on its own.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

As usual on my build featuring an M2 Browning, the Tamiya model coming with the Pershing and latest Sherman 1/16 kits is used, purchased separately in lots from AAF museum. It is enhanced with Aber 16L-04 brass upgrade. I've done this countless time so i will not go into any detail of the conversion again. Notice that the crank is not installed yet, i recommend leaving it to later. It is quite fragile and is usually easily broken when manipulating and depositing the machine gun during construction. No LED is installed in this one.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

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To facilitate painting, it is better not to glue the machine gun on the cradle. Instead, i recommend keeping it flexible and recreate the pins that are used to mount it on the cradle, like on the real thing. The tripod components are made in brass for more solidity.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

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As the mount is installed on a sloped top plate, a jig was created to create and position the parts with all the proper angles (not easy), temporarily held with superglue, and then soldered in place when the proper shapes have been determined. It is critical that the middle tube section holding the cradle be absolutely vertical considering the angle of the turret top. I am junior at soldering small brass items and i had quite a bit of difficulty. The first leg is easily soldered, but when trying to solder the 2 others, the heat on the brass tube would melt the legs previously done. It gets ugly real fast, frustrating but i eventually managed. And then i had to do it twice when i noticed that the central tube i selected was externally to small. Internally, it matched the Tamiya cradle rod that slide into the tube, but the tube was not thick enough to match the outside of the cradle, i should have noticed that before. I had to add an overlay tube for the proper inner and outer diameter. Then the metal tripod is removed from the jig.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The important locking bracket is made partly functional, in brass with M1 bolt.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The tripod mount is installed.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The machine gun is put on the mount. All good. The Aber ammo is not installed yet. Notice the storage mount on the side of the turret. The cradle can be positioned there, and the Machine gun itself can be put on brackets above it, protected by the small shield at the front of it.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

Being highly visible and interesting, i always make sure my Brownings are well detailed. Notice the pins on the side of the cradle, ensuring the machine gun can be removed from the cradle for the remaining of the build, painted separately from the cradle and re-installed at the total end of the build.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

Continuing on following post.

[lmcq11]

A short walk around of the machine gun and mount.

The machine gun lock at the sleeve is not functional. The top part was simply positioned for the picture. After painting, the machine gun will be permanently locked in place like it should, unless when being fired. I noticed the French had a large tarp often covering the M2 end to end.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The model as it stands today.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

Currently going around the vehicle and adding all the missing details.

Regards, Louis

[lmcq11]

Hi,

This post is for the headlights. I have decided to build these with the material on inventory.

Seen here are the headlights and guards configuration on the M24 Chaffee at DBP. Notice the crew wearing steel helmets.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

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The M24 headlights and guards are exactly the same as on the M5A1 Stuart, seen here built with Mato headlights with LEDs. Of course, it was tempting to cannibalized the spare Stuart kit on inventory just to pick up the guards... but that would have been a desperate attempt. The guards can be easily done in brass with some patience and limited skills.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

I purchase Mato metal Sherman headlights from China in lots for use in many builds, so i still had a couple on inventory. What is real annoying with these is the fact that the back is non existent.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

So, i am given them a back cover. A plasticard plate is glued and will be rounded and refined to match the metal part.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

Headlights are installed.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The guards are made in thick 2mm wide brass strips, cut, folded and soldered, they are very solid. I took the shapes and dimensions from the Stuart tank, and Chaffee references, adapted to the slope of the M24 glacis. It took about 2 hours to do this using two pairs of pliers and a soldering iron, that's it. And i have to say that my soldering skills are improving with practice, and starting to enjoy it.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

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The left guard is installed, and looking good. The horn is from a Tamiya Sherman sprue, the one that comes with the Sherman tools, also purchased from AAF museum.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

And the LEDs are connected.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

Continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

The right headlight and guard are installed

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The model looks much better with headlights and guards.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The model as it stands today.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

Next step, detailing the rear of the vehicle.

Regards, Louis

[Herr Dr. Professor]

What remarkable work! At first I saw the lights and siren and eagerly wondered from what supplier they came. Then I saw the photos of the .50 cal. Ghasp! That deserves a display case in itself. I have to go check out the AAF museum shop site: I haven't check it for probably two years.

[jhamm]

Hello Louis,
the next masterpiece from your hands!

[lmcq11]

Thank you Herr Dr Professor and Jhamm for your encouragements.

The following 2 posts are for the rear of the vehicle.

View of the back plate of one of the M24 Chaffee at Dien Bien phu, mixture of early and late components. They have the early style basket instead of the simpler Sherman type shelf put on later models. Notice the two mysterious square plates on each side under the basket. According to the reference book author David Doyle, these are mounting points for a flotation device, installed on later models. I am still not convinced of that for many reasons. Take note of the camo scheme, which is of some concern as to its beauty.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

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View of a Dien Bien Phu Chaffee decades after the battle. The basket is surprisingly still there. Notice the large tow hook at the bottom.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

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Rear view of Conti confirms that it also has the two large square plates at the back, and the basket which is loaded with 75mm ammo containers.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

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View of the flotation device for M24 Chaffee that David Doyle is probably referring to. I only found one picture of it in the old book "M24 Chaffee in Action" from Squadron Signal. According to them, the flotation device was briefly tested at Aberdeen but was not successful, the tank was unstable and the device never went into production. So, i am really wondering why attachment points were installed on late production Chaffee model vehicles for a flotation device that never passed testing and did not go beyond the single prototype.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The same book indicates that the front attachment points are for a dozer blade. The few pictures showing dozer blades on Chaffee are mostly prototypes. They do not show the mounting arrangement in order to get confirmation. And the book does not explain what are the square plates at the back either.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

Equally bizarre is the fact that the Conti has the square plates at the back, but not the attachments at the front. Why would a tank be given only the rear attachment points for a flotation device ? Unless the factory itself did not know their purposes either, and no one advised that the flotation device was cancelled. Something does not make sense.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

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Most late models and other than Conti, all the other nine Chaffee at Dien Bien Phu had the front attachment points, as shown below. Anyway, i have given up trying to explain these.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The rear basket is done in brass strips, with aluminum grills of the pattern seen in reference.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

Basket is installed, as well at the square plates below it, tow hook at the bottom, and the shackles that are from the AFV-Model offering for the M-26 Pershing, perfect match.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The tow hook is an old Mato plastic Sherman M4A1 hook from the basement scrapyard, cut and modified with the scalpel and with added plasticard strips to try to mimic the one seen on the Chaffee, and given a new base.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

Close up on one of the square plate and metal shackle.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

Shackles are installed at the front as well.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The rear lights are Mato Sherman lights, with the Sherman mount being removed to only keep the round section.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The armor around the rear lights is done in plasticard tubes.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

Ready to be mounted on the rear plate.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The rear lights are mounted and the back of the vehicle is almost completed, only missing a few fragile items that will be added soon.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

Close up on the armored cover for the rear lights.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

The model as it stands today, really close to the finish line. Next step is to finalize all the electronics wiring and do some more testing. After that, a final walk around will be done to add any missing latch, bolt, pin or else that i can see.

RC 1/16 M-24 Chaffee light tank- Dien Bien Phu 1954 - Build

Regards, Louis