Saw the 1/18 Century 21 M48A3 at our last tank meet as one of the member bought his out for a show and tell, and I was quite surprised by the size of it. Upon closer inspection and also some measuring, it actually fits the Heng Long Pershing lower quite well, and is off by about 2 mm on each side. Not a bolt counter myself and this is definitely close enough for a project as the Pershing lower is a perfect mod to do the M47/M48/M60 lower and here is the result. Replaced the solid plastic barrel with a similar size brass tube, keeping the original fume extractor and muzzle brake, put in a servo recoil, HL elevation and rotation unit, replaced the spotlight with LED and use the single cable as wiring. On the chassis side I have to raised the whole gear set up and move back to create the M48 look, modded the front and back end to fit the Pershing lower and also create the M48 lower shape. Plastic tracks and plastic gear but runs like a dream.
1/18 Century 21 M48A3 RC'ed
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1/18 Century 21 M48A3 RC'ed
Hi all,
Saw the 1/18 Century 21 M48A3 at our last tank meet as one of the member bought his out for a show and tell, and I was quite surprised by the size of it. Upon closer inspection and also some measuring, it actually fits the Heng Long Pershing lower quite well, and is off by about 2 mm on each side. Not a bolt counter myself and this is definitely close enough for a project as the Pershing lower is a perfect mod to do the M47/M48/M60 lower and here is the result. Replaced the solid plastic barrel with a similar size brass tube, keeping the original fume extractor and muzzle brake, put in a servo recoil, HL elevation and rotation unit, replaced the spotlight with LED and use the single cable as wiring. On the chassis side I have to raised the whole gear set up and move back to create the M48 look, modded the front and back end to fit the Pershing lower and also create the M48 lower shape. Plastic tracks and plastic gear but runs like a dream.
MichaelC.
Saw the 1/18 Century 21 M48A3 at our last tank meet as one of the member bought his out for a show and tell, and I was quite surprised by the size of it. Upon closer inspection and also some measuring, it actually fits the Heng Long Pershing lower quite well, and is off by about 2 mm on each side. Not a bolt counter myself and this is definitely close enough for a project as the Pershing lower is a perfect mod to do the M47/M48/M60 lower and here is the result. Replaced the solid plastic barrel with a similar size brass tube, keeping the original fume extractor and muzzle brake, put in a servo recoil, HL elevation and rotation unit, replaced the spotlight with LED and use the single cable as wiring. On the chassis side I have to raised the whole gear set up and move back to create the M48 look, modded the front and back end to fit the Pershing lower and also create the M48 lower shape. Plastic tracks and plastic gear but runs like a dream.
MichaelC.
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PainlessWolf
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Re: 1/18 Century 21 M48A3 RC'ed
Michael,
Once again, a One of a Kind! Looks great and is doable for the rest of us craving some post war American armor. Thank you, sir, just got dropped onto my list of To-Do(s) ;o)
regards,
Painless
Once again, a One of a Kind! Looks great and is doable for the rest of us craving some post war American armor. Thank you, sir, just got dropped onto my list of To-Do(s) ;o)
regards,
Painless
...Here for the Dawn...
Re: 1/18 Century 21 M48A3 RC'ed
That's great! Very nice build!
Re: 1/18 Century 21 M48A3 RC'ed
Thanks guys. After I am done with it will try to sell it to the Vietnam War Era enthusiasts here locally. This is apparently the most prominent version served during the war.
Re: 1/18 Century 21 M48A3 RC'ed
Fantastic build mate.... love it..
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palepainter
- Sergeant
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- Location: Lafayette, CO
Re: 1/18 Century 21 M48A3 RC'ed
Awesome Michael. Great timing. What did you use from the Pershing lower? I am confused by the photos. Is the top sequence of images the stock Century m48 ? Following along.
Disregard, as I see now.
Needs me glasses.
Disregard, as I see now.
Needs me glasses.-
palepainter
- Sergeant
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- Location: Lafayette, CO
Re: 1/18 Century 21 M48A3 RC'ed
Curious if a Hentec tensioner could be adapted to fit on one of these in the front with this mod for the Century M48 top?
Re: 1/18 Century 21 M48A3 RC'ed
pale, I take it as compliment that you thought the first pictures were stocked, no glasses notwithstanding......
I keep everything on the lower (tracks, road wheels, sprockets and idlers) and cut off quite a bit at the front and a little bit less at the back. Also swing the Pershing last transfer gear mount upside down so that I can raise the gears/motor set to the same height as the return roller to simulate the M48 suspension. Unfortunately I have to create an extra back plate as the M48 backend is not enough to support the gear height so I steal some bits and pieces to make it look more interesting other than a straight piece of styrene. The back lights are mounted on this extra piece to get the height.
I keep everything on the lower (tracks, road wheels, sprockets and idlers) and cut off quite a bit at the front and a little bit less at the back. Also swing the Pershing last transfer gear mount upside down so that I can raise the gears/motor set to the same height as the return roller to simulate the M48 suspension. Unfortunately I have to create an extra back plate as the M48 backend is not enough to support the gear height so I steal some bits and pieces to make it look more interesting other than a straight piece of styrene. The back lights are mounted on this extra piece to get the height.
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palepainter
- Sergeant
- Posts: 564
- Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2013 4:04 am
- Location: Lafayette, CO
Re: 1/18 Century 21 M48A3 RC'ed
Well it is an amazing modification. Sure beats the hell out of any other options out there to work on an M48. Your mod is seamless and look forward to seeing how you make your adjustments. Bravo!!!
Re: 1/18 Century 21 M48A3 RC'ed
pale, the Heng Long Pershing front idlers is actually linked to the first road wheel via suspension arms and not mounted separately on to the hull, so I doubt that you can fit a Hentec tensioner on it. In fact that's the only reason why this mod to M48 work, if there was a mount point on the hull of the Pershing for the idlers than you would not be able to keep the boat shape bottom of the M48.palepainter wrote:Curious if a Hentec tensioner could be adapted to fit on one of these in the front with this mod for the Century M48 top?
