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

[lmcq11]

Hi, thank you for your encouragements. This is a simple build, quite relaxing and easy. Just what i needed after the Centurion.

I just might have to pick up a pair of those tracks. Of course, the tracks on the real tank would have had rubber chevron's, correct?

The real M48 tracks have rubber chevron, but for an M26, full metal tracks are good.

Starting the turret, it went better than expected.

The basic turret ring of the model is well adaptable for rotation, it just need to be installed with a rotation unit.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

An inexpensive Heng Long turret rotation wheel is adapted to fit in with the model brackets that holds the turret in place. A spacer in white plasticard provides the proper height to match the rotation unit motor. Nothing fancy.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The bottom of the turret is emptied so that the gun elevation and recoil unit can operate. The Heng Long rotation motor is installed at the back between the two hull attachment supports that need just a little trim to fit in.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The bottom of the turret is installed for testing.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The canvas on the gun of the M48 is similar to the M60 and Sho't Kal Centurion, with an accordeon type cover with rings for the joint with the mantlet.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The gun accordeon canvas coming with the model is solid, so it needs to be replaced by a flexible one so that the recoil can work realistically.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The plastic accordeon is trimmed from the gun using the Dremel and nail files, keeping the tip as an anchor for the new canvas cover.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The gun is solid plastic so in order for the gun flash to be installed with wires all the way to the tip, the gun needs to be made hollow. A long drill bit is used and I managed to make it go out perfectly centered at the other end, a 10 minutes operation done in steps to ensure the gun is not ruined by mistake.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

A Clark recoil unit is installed within the models gun elevation parts, with a good solid fit. Metal tubes are inserted into the gun up to a certain point for re-enforcement and for the connection with the recoil unit.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Similar to the Centurion build, the accordeon canvas is made from a flexible Gas siphon plastic pump tube, the size is perfect. The gun module can then be put on the turret.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

continuing on following post

[lmcq11]

Detailed view of the Clark recoil unit fit into the model's gun elevation part. Notice the small hole created on top of the clark recoil unit. This is to install a screw that connect the clark recoil cylinder to the metal tube of the gun and it locks the gun in place, and is removable for maintenance.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The gun module then just snaps in place on the turret support. I am still awaiting for a new Clark TK-40 control unit so that I can test the recoil with the right servo. As the accordeon canvas has to be pulled with some force, a stronger servo need to be used instead of the light servo coming with the clark unit.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Overview of the core of the turret and gun installed.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

It will be extremely pleasant to rebuild this turret with fine details. I am planning to make the commander's cupola RC operated with rotation and MG gun elevation, with sound and flash. The Clark TK40 control board has option for two machine guns, similar to the TK60. The other MG will be the coax with sound and flash. Of course, the Xenon searchlight will also lit up so this will be a cool tank to operate.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Regards, Louis

[Ad Lav]

Very smart Louis

[lmcq11]

Hi,
this is the commander's cupola.

This is the M48A3 commander's cupola with G305 riser with all around periscopes as used in Vietnam. The cupola is a small turret on its own, fully enclosed with an M2 Browning machine gun, with turret rotation and gun elevation.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Many tank crews in Vietnam moved their M2 machine gun out of the cupola and installed it on top of the turret on makeshift mounts. Tank commanders must have had a very good reason to leave the relative safety of their cupola to fight outside and totally exposing themselves 12 feet above ground in order to shoot a machine gun. Its known that the cupola size was restricting movement and the heat of Vietnam must have been a factor. When you think that M113 crews installed ACAV kits for their commander's and crew to reduce casualties, such arrangement on the M48A3 seems counter productive. As such position would not look very good on a model, i opted to show the browning in factory designed position, allowing to RC features.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

View from the rear of the cupola. The casting and finish is rough. Notice the bulged hatch providing extra room for the commander's head.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

This is the unmodified 21st Century cupola. The overall dimensions and shape is ok, but is lacking in detail. Notice the simplified and sorry looking M2 machine gun, it needs replacement

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The rear hatch does not look good. Notice how the hatch connection to the cupola differs from the picture further above. This needs to be fixed, other small differences can be tolerated.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The cupola can be broken apart for rebuilding. A locking ring is cut from a larger part inside the turret that keeps the cupola in place.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

A new M2 Browning machine gun with flash is created using the Aber M2 brass replacement parts for the Tamiya M2. The solid brass barrel is cut and replaced by a hollow brass tube of the same size, able to accept a fiber optic cable. On the larger Aber barrel section tip, a hole is slowly made with a drill bit to fit the new barrel, and further inside at a smaller size to run the fiber optics through.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

A brass M2 Browning machine gun with gun flash capability is rebuilt and installed on the cupola mantlet.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

A micro servo is installed inside the cupola to provide machine gun elevation. The home made connection to the mantlet is obviously tricky to do and needs lots of adjustments.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

View of the electronics inside the turret. There are 4 servos in total, managing main gun recoil, main gun elevation, cupola rotation and cupola M2 MG elevation. The main gun, the coax 30 Browning and the commander's M2 Browning each have gun flash.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

continuing on following post

[c.rainford73]

Brilliant engineering Louis outstanding design

[lmcq11]

Another view of the turret interior. The simple servo arm attached to the rotating cupola provides about 40 degrees of rotation, 10 degrees to the left and 30 degrees to the right, enough to shower the frontal area of the tank with the M2 machine gun, and provide secondary action in addition to the main 90mm gun and coax .30 Browning machine gun. Cupola rotation and machine gun elevation will be provided by channels linked to VRA and VRB knobs on the emitter, and not connected to the TK40 control board, except for flash and sound. Videos will come later to show the completed turret in action.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

A medium size stronger servo replaced the small one provided with the Clark recoil unit. Notice the fiber optic cable for the coax machine gun.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

And this is the new M48A3 commander's cupola, with cupola rotation, machine gun elevation, flash and sound. The gun barrel of the Browning was made a bit shorter to account for the 1/18 scale of the tank.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

The turret holes were plugged in preparation for the turret detailing and rebuilding of all the guards, rear basket, handles and features.

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

1/18 RC M-48A3 Patton build

Regards, Louis

[MITCH]

Yahoo! Amazing work

[43rdRecceReg]

It's a privilege to have you on the Forum, Louis. You spoil us with yet another Meisterwerk in progress,
which- like all the others- will be a must to follow

[Raminator]

Fantastic stuff Louis, I really appreciate and admire the fact that you go the extra mile to get everything functional. Great work getting the full range of movement on the cupola MG mount, that's something really special.

[Von Mooflesaaa]

Outstanding build, a pure joy to watch. Taking many tips from your build.