M-48A3 Mod B Patton - US Army Vietnam - Build

[lmcq11]

Hi Everyone,

I am presenting my new project, an M48A3 in Vietnam.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Early

1/18 RC M-48A2

After the Ludwig Centurion build, I really need to do something simpler and cheaper. I mean, I cannot afford to spend 2K on builds every 3 or 4 months. My wife is also starting to ask me questions as to how much do these things costs. I say, oh, a couple of hundred bucks, and she says Wow that's expensive... If she knew but she's right. This hobby can keep you broke if you are not careful.

So, this will be a budget build and will be based on the 21st Century 1/18 static M48 that has been sitting in my office for the past 15 years. Sitting there, silent and unable to do anything. It's his turn.

I started to investigate possibilities during the summer. I have seen what others have done but I will do it my way. The plan is to completely break up the static model and use its main components as a base kit for a total rebuilding into a highly detailed RC tank. Most of the detailing will be redone or improved.

The model will have the following features;
- 21st Century Ultimate Soldier 1/18 model as a base kit for main components
- Heng Long suspension, gearbox, turret rotation
- Clark Tk-40 control board, main gun recoil unit and gun flash, coax mg sound and flash, 2nd mg flash sound and movement on cupola turret, head and tail lights
- Mato M-26 metal tracks and sprocket. Yes I know, not perfect but its the closest available.
- Scratch built detailing
- 3 tank crews
- up to 10 US Army infantry riders when in static display

The model is broken apart for the investigation. The details is rough with simplifications and sharp edges but the dimensions are quite good and all the components are there for a successful build. For the 50$ I paid for this static model, it contains parts that could cost $500 if sold as an RC kit with hull, turret, road wheels, gun, cupola, etc. So this model, although 1/18 scale, is a real bargain for the modeller like me who is used to purchase base kits.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The hull structure is sound, with good anchor points for the top of the upper hull, making it quite adaptable to RC. From what I have seen, the only structural issue is on the lower hull sides below the fenders which are not as wide and bulged as they should be, but it shall not show too much.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Road wheels and rollers are excellent, looking good and of the right size.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The static and glued suspension arms are useless and need to be replaced by Heng Long suspension arms.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Turret main components, size and shape look good. I did not notice any structural issue so far. It comes with Xenon searchlight and G305 cupola riser, great.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Turret halves are great for RC build.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

And I have loaded up on 1/18 US Army Vietnam tank crews and infantry. All the joints and toy like features will be removed and polished for cool figures with M16s, M60s and M79.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The build started a few days ago so I will show progress on following post now.

Regards, Louis

[Son of a gun-ner]

There's no stopping you Louis

After saying 200 bucks, you should have added, "but when I'm finished with them, they are worth a whole lot more"

[BarryC]

Louis, you are a lean, mean tank building machine!

Barry

[c.rainford73]

Yes indeed the tank factory never stops! I am tuned in and watching this one

[lmcq11]

Hi,

As with any build, the most complex task is to build the suspension. I purchased Heng Long suspension arms and springs from Mato Mart. It was actually cheaper to buy a whole M26 hull than individual parts so I get all the screws and pins as a bonus.

First task is to remove the suspension housing from the hull, went well

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Cracking open each road wheel, the glue was quite resistant.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The suspension axel housing are too long when used with HL arms. A lot of analysis is required before determining how much to cut them. They were shortened in steps.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The plastic housing are put back.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Metal inserts are created for the suspension housing, into which the shaft of the suspension arm will go into for a solid and tight fit.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The metal shaft housing are installed by drilling a hole of the appropriate size all the way through the plastic housing to the hull interior. Special care is needed to ensure the hole is fully horizontal. A simple jig was created for the purpose to keep the hole centered on the plastic housing.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

In similar fashion as what I have done with road wheel 3 and 4 of the M41 walker bulldog, the suspension spring is installed inside the hull and connected to the suspension arm with an axel made of brass and fitting the dimension of the HL hole. Below are the parts used, assembled on the left side, held in place with M1.6 brass bolts on both extremities of the shaft. A plastic ring was cut from the M26 hull and reused here for the external fit with the HL arm.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Shaft arrangement with the housing parts seen earlier.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Starting to install the suspension arms.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The arms are not yet anchored. Need to install the roadwheel first. I agree it is quite un-orthodox but it is very efficient and tight. There are no loose parts.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

Although not running on ball bearings, I did create a long brass roller that is locked to the HL suspension and will fit inside the hole I created on the road wheels. The original road wheel hole for the static suspension arm was way too small.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

View of the M1.6 brass bolt keeping the suspension arms on the shaft.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

After temporarily putting the road wheels in place, the suspension springs are anchored to the bottom of the hull to get to the right hull height.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

view of the suspension before permanently installing the road wheels.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Road wheels are in place. Cost of M48 suspension, $40 and about 10 hours of work, not including analysis and design. You will notice a white stopper that I needed to recreate. This is due to an earlier unfortunate suspension design that had the spring going through the stopper, bad idea.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The stoppers coming with the model are terrible; wrong shape, too big, too high.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

After many attempts at reducing their side, I aligned with the new shape on the right.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

After recreating the cast effect on the hull sides with putty, the stoppers are installed a few mm lower than they were before. Th putty was freely applied with the finger, and then sanded a bit. Once painted, it will realistically look like cast metal. It will be refined after the first primer coat. The model needs a good shower.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

The three shock absorbers on each side (2 at the front, 1 at the rear) are called friction snubbers. They are important for the side look. Here, the gearbox, sprocket and M26 tracks are installed. The snubbers are static and glued in place without touching the suspension arm.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Here you can see that the suspension shaft screw hole is now hidden by a metal washer, plasticard piece and a nut.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The front snubbers seen here on the real tank. Not easy to recreate and I will certainly not spend a week on these.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

To help me, I reused some panzer 4 stoppers that came with the sprues for a build long time ago.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Mixed with aluminum tubing, the basic shape is created.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The HL gearbox is installed on a upper plateau. The continental housing is large enough to have my suspension at the bottom, and gearbox on top.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

View of the gearbox arrangement on top of the suspension.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Vertical panels were installed for solidity under the plateau behind the suspension and at the front. Got to keep weight down on this model. I mean, the Centurion at close to 12 pounds was way overweight and hard on the suspension.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

It is a tight fit but it fit, thanks to the height of the Continental engine upper deck. Now that I know the integration worked, i ordered Mato M26 metal tracks and sprocket with a good deal on Mato Mart.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The 4 central attachment points between upper and lower hull were kept. Only the one at the rear had to be removed. The interior of the M48 is cavernous. Another plateau for the control board and battery will be created on top of the suspension in the middle and front of the tank.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

What remains of the M26 suspension donor.

Regards, Louis

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

[midlife306]

Fantastic work & the perfect inspiration to convert a static M113 I’ve got running on the printer
Cheers
Wayne


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Model Builder 4]

Great work as always Louis, with your attention to detail I can see this turning into another masterpiece

Cheers, Lee.