RC Tank Warfare community hobby forum

Louis, this is not an easy rebuilding task and it is amazing what you did with this static model. In quality it matches (almost) your Centurion - I didn't expected that
BTW all RC M48 in 1/16 (or 1/18) are very rare all over the world.
I have no idea why, because they were very popular in real...

Cheers
Freddy

Hi,

Here is the AN/VSS-1 Xenon searchlight.

As seen in the excellent and highly recommended book "M48A3 in Vietnam" from Squadron Signal, this is a rare picture of the searchlight front without its canvas cover.
Essential for this build, the book "M48 Patton" by David Doyle has many close up pictures of the searchlight from most angles, specially the attachment to the mantlet. This is a sight that made me think twice before attempting to build the searchlight. But the method is to keep calm and do one thing at a time, telescopically.
The searchlight from 21st Century is disappointing. I thought I could reuse the body but no. it is overscale. I calculated it is about 1/15 scale, like being 5mm too wide and it shows.
There is almost nothing to salvage from the rear panel and attachment points. Details would be enough for 1/35 scale but not acceptable for a detailed model in 1/18 scale.
When I attempted to crack open the searchlight, it broke apart. But I could salvage the light bulb...
Here is the buildup of the new Xenon searchlight, with dimensions extrapolated from the 1/35 Dragon kit.
The 21st Century light bulb has a hole drilled from the bottom to mount a 5mm LED.
Contnuing on following post

The bulb is glued inside the new housing, wire going towards the back. The interior backplate of the 21st searchlight is trimmed to fit inside the new smaller one. Wires will be connected to the TK-40 front light wires
continuing with the search light build, pictures worth thousand words.
Various material were used for the attachment points. Once painted, it will look better. The searchlight is made removable like the real thing, which facilitate the completion of the build and the painting phase.
Here are the mounting points on the mantlet, pre-adjusted at the same time as the brackets were created at the back of the search light. As seen in reference pictures, they are partly covered by the canvas cover. Old attachment points were plugged.
The search light is mounted on the tank mantlet. It obviously requires planning and lots of trials (and error) process to get it right, strait and realistic. After painting, the bolts into their sockets will be locked in place with nuts, like the real thing.
After painting, a clear plasticard part will be installed on the front panel, inside its prepared emplacement.
Temporarily in place, the nuts are not installed on the bolts.
Continuing on following post

and some more pictures of the search light on the tank
Regards, Louis

Amazing work, congratulations

Louis,

Fantastic detail work and the scratch built searchlight turned out awesome!

Barry

Hi ! thank you for your support Mitch and Barry.

The construction phase is completed, here are a few posts with the details.

The Head lights

The M48A3 Mod B headlights are different than the early M48A3 version, they are similar to the M60.
Having built these once already for the V-100 Commando build, there is nothing new here. They are completely scratch built in a few steps, and equipped with 5mm white LEDs shaped to fit the allocated space. These very good and pre-wired LED light sets are sold on ebay from China for a couple of dollars and I stock up on them as they are used for all lighting purposes, including gun flash.
Aluminum tubing of different sizes is used for the stand.
No, this is not a new winter camo scheme, the glacis has been applied using a finger with a random layer of Testors putty to simulate the cast metal, better done prior to installing headlights. I found that it gives good results in replicating rough and uneven heavy cast metal.
The guards are scratch built with brass strips. I think they compare well to the first picture above. It is important to have a good reserve of brass strips of all size and thickness. There is nothing worse than missing something in a middle of a build because these typically cannot be found anywhere other than specialist hobby shops on the web. I buy all my brass from Knupfer in Germany, shipping is fast and affordable.
Warning, it takes some patience.
Continuing on following post

Finalizing the armor prior to primer

View of the cast metal on the real M48A3 turret. The pattern is uneven. Stuff like the Gunze Mr Surfacer are good but does not replicate the imperfect casting marks, grinding and welding visible on large scale tanks.
Also, the bottom turret armor is something to correct on the 21st Century model
As you can see, the frontal area has a 5mm gap that is not realistic.
Here, the turret bottom has been fixed, not perfect but much better than before.
Close up on the cast metal replication with Testors putty. After the first coat of primer, the armor will be thoroughly inspected and corrections through sanding or addition of putty can be easily done.
The plasticard strips were added in a way that the turret halves can be opened correctly.
The driver's hatch is good. Just need a hole to be plugged, and the sides to be reworked. I found the periscope to be good and not worth messing with, but the contour of the armor around them was made more angular, similar to ref pictures.
Continuing on following post.

Details areas

Schumo M26 Pershing bin handles can be purchased from Axels Modellbau. I found them a bit too long, especially on a 1/18 tank so they were reduced in length. The metal can be easily cut and manipulated. Compare the two, top and bottom ones.
Installed on all fender bins. These really add value to the bins. I did not repro the locking latch.
The parts for the SOL model jerrycan and scratch built brass holder.
Similar to the one on the M41 walker bulldog build, looking good.
The crew heater exhaust pipe. My guess is that it was not needed in Vietnam and must have been removed but did not read evidence of that.
This is the guard on top of the turret that blocks the commander from shooting the Xenon searchlight with his M2 machine gun. It must have happened if they had to put such an ugly thing on their tanks. For tanks where the M2 is relocated on top of the cupola, this apparatus should be removed.
The 21st Century rendition.
The new guard, made of tubing, brass rods, strips and bolts
Continuing on following post

The 21st Century spare road wheel can be easily cleaned up and properly mounted on the rear basket. I also added an M26 roller.
This is the loader's hatch locking mechanism. The mount is properly cast on the turret, it just need the lock itself.
New antenna mounts were ordered and have not arrived yet,
And here are last views of the model prior to priming. I started the build late August and construction is already finished. This is a fast build.
Regards, Louis