1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 Patton tank with ERA - Build

[Meter rat]

As I said to Mr Bix, you are another one who makes me drink.
Meter rat wrote: ↑Sat Apr 15, 2023 5:58 pm
You’re one of the people who make me get drunk. I look at a lot of work on here, sigh, shake my head at the quality and pour myself another glass of wine.

Cheers Mr Rat, I know the feeling all too well.
Thanks for shifting your excess habit onto me but I can’t take all the credit
If it helps, all my work is done under the influence to at least a 50% cut degree !!

Looks like I need a bigger box of wine for this one. But not as big as the one for the Bradley.

[lmcq11]

Hi,

Thank you everyone for your encouragements.

The following two posts are for the gun barrel and the recoil system.


Let's analyse the gun barrel situation.

I assembled all the 105mm barrel i had on inventory from previous or planned build. It is easy to compare them.

In the picture below, from the bottom up are the following;

- TONGDE barrel coming with the M-60A1 model. I think it is probably the 120mm barrel from an Abrams or Leopard II that they put on an M-60A1 model. It is way oversized but some people might not notice or care, such as the designers who probably thought no one would notice. Look at the difference with the other barrels. On the M-60A3 that has a US style thermal sleeve, it might be less obvious.

- Perfect Scale Modellbau all metal barrel coming with their Leopard 1A5 conversion kit. Nice and accurate in term of dimensions but it is missing the muzzle tip. It can be fixed with a thin aluminum tube overlayed at the tip. The lips on the fume extractor would require removal as it is not present on the US gun version. I contacted the company and they sell their 4 part metal 105mm gun separately for 35 euros. I ordered one for a future M-60A3 build. I think the US thermal sleeve style can easily be added with plasticard tubing.

- MK Modellbau L7 barrel for the conversion of the Hooben T-55 into a Ti-67. Nice but the resin fume extractor is a bit too long. This barrel has the advantage of being available for order for 32.5 Euros with reasonable shipping. The lips on the fume extractor also need removal. Available in 2 versions, for Ti-67 and Nato tanks.

- The Tamiya Leopard 1A4 barrel with thermal sleeves, leftover from the Canadian Leopard C2 MEXAS build shown here for comparison purposes. Be aware that the thermal sleeves is different between tanks and do not match the M-60A3. A USMC M-60A1 does not have thermanl sleeves.

I made a decision to purchase the MK Modellbau barrel for this M-60A1 build, but selected the version designed to fit Nato tanks, not the Ti-67 because that one is made shorter to fit the Hooben mount.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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The hole of the MK Modellbau is 8mm, so an 8mm tube is a good anchor to install on the recoil unit.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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I usually discard the BB gun launcher strait into the garbage can to replace it with a custom recoil unit. However, i decided to investigate this one. The interior reveals a good slider that could technically be used as a recoil unit if a servo can be connected to it.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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The motor and all the gears and wires were removed and the remaining parts are made ready for conversion.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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The 8mm brass tube that will become the anchor for the MK Modellbau barrel fits strait into the slider's pin with a good hold on it. No need to even put a screw.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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The slider is a bit weak by itself and was therefore reinforced with a 17.5mm aluminum tube section that fits strait in, then cut as to allow 20mm of recoil.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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A pull rod in installed on the slider at the top using an M2 hex bolt and a washer. It will connect to the servo that will be on its side.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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A slot is made on top of the newly created "recoil unit" converted from the BB launcher.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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Next pictures showing the setup for the slider. Nice glossy plastic, it slides much more smoother than 3D plastic.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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Continuing on following post.

[lmcq11]

A regular size servo (an HS-422 available at robotshop.com) is unceremoniously glued directly to the side of the recoil unit at a specific angles aligned with the pull rod, on the side which does not has the rail for the gun elevation, of course. Forget about putting a micro servo for recoil of a huge and heavy 105mm gun barrel. This is no Panzer IV. It is better to put a powerful servo to get a powerful recoil and avoid the usual breakdown of weak servos, there is room in the turret. The recoil servo is connected to the CH1 port on the control board. Configure transmitter with T+B button to and as Lee indicated to me earlier, a loop is required on the CN6 port to activate the recoil servo. Then the mount for the pivot is reinstalled as is on the tip for installation back inside the turret. It is also made to handle the 8mm tube that will be cut later at the right lengh to fit the MK Modellbau barrel.

There you go, a really cheap recoil unit ready in about 2 hours of work that fits strait back into the model without any modifications to the mounts. I have to admit i have rarely seen a recoil unit working so well too... I have provided a short video at the end of this post to show. It provides 20mm of recoil.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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I decided to reuse the motorized evevation unit for simplicity, although the elevation is provide is not too exciting, i will see later if i can improve that. I investigated the CH2 elevation servo port but it does not behave realistically. One issue to fix is the pin that fits into the elevation rail on the recoil unit, it is too short, causing the gun elevation to derail... Looks like the elevation unit is too far off by at least 2 to 3mm. This needs to be fixed by lenghtening the pin. A hole for a screw is drilled.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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Then a small tube section of about 2.5mm held by a screw is added.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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Elevation and recoil unit are back inside for testing. Positioning of the servo allow for exiting the turret ring when elevating. Work perfectly.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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Short demonstration video

phpBB [video]

I assume the MK Modellbau barrel i will receive will be similar to the one i have for the Ti-67. The smoke extractor will need some rework, such as shortening and removal of the raised edges not present on the M-60A1 gun barrel.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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Also planning to use section of a plastic fuel siphon tube to replace the static accordion section. I used one on the Centurion Sho't Kal Gimel build. The plan is to show compression when barrel is recoiling. I'll see.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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That's it for now. As i have to wait at least a couple of weeks to get the barrel, i will move to some other area.

Regards, Louis

[Panzerjaeger66]

Louis,

another superb rebuilding report you are doing! I'll follow with interest, because I've got my TD M60A3 yesterday, seeing that there will be a lot to do, to get a good "scale" build out of this "toy".

Best regards,
Freddy

[Ecam]

I always love to watch your builds! Also I think you just solved recoil with HL electronics for me.

[HERMAN BIX]

I have used the H/L BB units as recoil hardware for a while..............at least since the 6.1s came out !!

[PershingLover]

You wasted no time getting started with the new build!

It must be nice to start with a Patton base in the right scale this time, looking forward to the build.

[lmcq11]

Hi, thank you everyone for your encouragements !

You wasted no time getting started with the new build!

It must be nice to start with a Patton base in the right scale this time, looking forward to the build.

As a fan of US armor, i have been waiting for an M-60 in 1/16 for decades. I was considering the DKLM 3D printed model for quite a while but these builds end up costing 2K once shipped and the model is finished with all the electronics and extras. When i saw a couple of TONGDE M60 available in Canada for about US $200 with $26 shipping, i jumped on it because i will have fun completely stripping it apart and rebuild it to my liking. The TONGDE models are still rare and parts unavailable.

Continuing with the build


I was not happy at all with the limited elevation of the gun. I mean the gun with the provided setup has no lower depression at all and does not raise much. And the clicking sound everytime the elevation wheel reaches one of the stop on each side of the gearbox is annoying and i think it will eventually damage the elevation gears. First, I removed the stops, which allows the elevation wheel to continously roll without interuption, but that does not improve the elevation.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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To fix the elevation, i crafted a much larger elevation replacement wheel. You can compare the size of the two elevation wheels. The new wheel basically doubles the elevation capabilities and the gun now has a meaningful lower depression and can raise adequately without issues.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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Now switching to the turret exterior. This is the 1/35 Academy M-60A1 turret for reference. Notice the design and the location of the sight in front of the commander's cupola.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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A reference picture of the sight and its environment confirms the design on the USMC M-60A1 with ERA. The sight is protected by a cover that can be raised within the guard. Also notice the cast texture on the turret.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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Now we can see that the sight on the TONGDE model is totally inaccurate, at least for an M-60A1. Its shape is wrong, too high and badly located.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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Its base is also wrong, too wide, too low with bad angles and shapes. SO, the whole sight need replacement.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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I can see on the Academy 1/35 M-60A1 kit sprue that there are two sight guards provided. The sprue is definitely used for multiple M-60 variants. The one on the M-60A1 version i am building is the squared one. The rounded one is likely the one that TONGDE was trying to reproduce, but it does not fit the M-60A1 version with passive thermal sight and ERA as used by the USMC during Desert Storm. So check references for which sight to use depending on the M-60 variant you are building and the timing of M-60 modernizations.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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Before removing the sight, i noticed the designer placed one of the elevation gearbox mount directly inside the bottom of the sight.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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I cut the mount and replaced it on a plasticard strip glued to the interior of the turret.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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The sight was completely removed.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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Continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

A new sight base in 1.5mm plasticard is applied. It raises the base while providing the accurate spacing between the edge and the gun mantlet.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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A 1.5mm plasticard is also added to the back at a lower slope, correcting the angle and providing the accurate spacing between the cupola edge and the sight. A small 1mm plasticard is added to the right of the sight as seen in reference. The new sight will be mounted at the edge of the base.

Other than this area for the sight, i found the overall shape of the turret to be excellent and a good base for such build.

Notice that the turret has no casting texture, which is something a modeller can easily add, shown below.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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Before adding the cast texture, i also noticed that all the mounting holes for the equipment are misplaced or too large, and all the mounting to be simplified and wrong. For a rivet counter like me, everything will need to be redone. The mounting for the ERA is terrifying so i will see what can be realistically done.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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All the holes and most detailed features of the turret were removed before application of the cast texture. These will all be recreated at the proper location.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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The Academy 1/35 kit turret showns a nice cast texture and markings that need to be replicated on the 1/16 model.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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References also confirmed the texture of the turret. Some areas a rougher than others.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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I always do cast texture using Testors white putty. A whole tube is deposited on the turret one section at a time.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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The putty is roughly applied with a finger by robbing the putty evenly against the armor, making sure it is well bonded with the armor. The M-60 turret casting is light compared to some WW2 tanks so need to go easy on it.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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Once dried, the putty is sanded. Some corrections are needed in order to present a smooth cast finish, without going overboard.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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Continuing on following post.

[lmcq11]

To see more clearly the results and apply corrections where needed, the turret is sprayed with two coats of Tamiya enamel grey primer. It also reduces the dust. Always do the sanding outside. I can still see some scratches and other imperfections that need correction but the results is pretty good considering the original situation. The cast in some areas is too rough and will be corrected.

Keep in mind that at this time, the turret interior need to remain accessible so the two halves joints are still showing.

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1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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The new base for the sight.

1/16 RC USMC M-60A1 US tank with ERA - Build

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That's it for now. Next step, the commander's sight and other turret structural details.

Regards, Louis