M60A3 Tongde/Scratch + 3D Print Build: Update 03/24/24

[Ecam]

I've laminated and carved things as well, but nothing anywhere near that impressive!

[BarryC]

Thanks Eric!

[BarryC]

Here’s a little something I started working on about 3 weeks before the heart attack.

I’ve always like the M60 and even more so while living in Zweubrucken, Germany in the mid-70s.
One morning I was awakened by a rumbling, building shaking “earthquake”? No it was a platoon of M60A3s cruising down the road in front of our apartment, so cool!

Ever since Freddy (Panzerjeager66) built one using the Ludwig M48 and a 3D Turret of his design. I had the Ludwig M48 kit and purchased the M60 Turret from Shapeways but really wanted to use the Ludwig kit for a Vietnam era M48.

So, along came Tongde and their M60. After watching Louis’s build of the M60A1 I was hooked. I picked up the Israeli version with the M48 “styled” turret. Mainly because of the price and the metal suspension system already in place.

The big kicker was the lack of the M60 Commander’s Copula. It would require scratch building. What’s a little plastic card between friends? Here is where I’m at with the copula.


Sheet plastic cut to rough, stacked and glued together.

Lots of carving, grinding and sanding to get to this.







Here are some shots of the Turret, Copula and Barrel.
The Barrel is from Richard Johnson, Adam (Adlav) turned us on to him.




TAFN,
Barry

[Ad Lav]

Lovely barrels - they are slightly more accurate than the MK offering.

Lovely build so far

[Herr Dr. Professor]

"Lovely barrels":

[BarryC]

Here’s a little something I started working on about 3 weeks before the heart attack.

I’ve always like the M60 and even more so while living in Zweibrucken, Germany in the mid-70s.
One morning I was awakened by a rumbling, building shaking “earthquake”? No it was a platoon of M60A3s cruising down the road in front of our apartment, so cool!

Ever since Freddy (Panzerjeager66) built one using the Ludwig M48 and a 3D Turret of his design. I had the Ludwig M48 kit and purchased the M60 Turret from Shapeways but really wanted to use the Ludwig kit for a Vietnam era M48.

So, along came Tongde and their M60. After watching Louis’s build of the M60A1 I was hooked. I picked up the Israeli version with the M48 “styled” turret. Mainly because of the price and the metal suspension system already in place.

The big kicker was the lack of the M60 Commander’s Copula. It would require scratch building. What’s a little plastic card between friends? Here is where I’m at with the copula.


Sheet plastic cut to rough, stacked and glued together.

Lots of carving, grinding and sanding to get to this.







Here are some shots of the Turret, Copula and Barrel.
The Barrel is from Richard Johnson, Adam (Adlav) turned us on to him.




TAFN,
Barry

[Jimster]

You’re a true sculptor. Beautiful work.

[BarryC]

Picking up from the last post.

I’m still working on the TC’s cupola, I have added the beginnings of the 50cal. mount as well as the cupola hatch. Major work on both is complete the devil will be in the final details. I have also make the Loader’s hatch at least the major parts of it and fitted it to the turret.





I have reworked the general shape and outline of the cupola itself to better space the bezels for the sight glasses still more needed. I have cut out the bezel frames and temp installed them. I really want to make the sight glasses clear and still pondering how best to do this.





I have made the recoil cover and fitted the barrel.





This is what it looks like so far.



TAFN,
Barry

[BarryC]

I am wondering why my update yesterday did not post in "Latest Post"?

Barry

[Ad Lav]

Great work so far! The recoil part looks good