Seems a bit small to push a tank! 
3 Likes
It does a bit; I had thought of enlarging it, but then, this thing weighed only 25 tonnes so perhaps it might suffice. I can always adapt as I go - which is always the attraction of a bit of What-Iffery.
1 Like
Well, this is a tank, not a boat, and besides, on the drawing these are the shape and dimensions. I had made it with a much more interesting design and with an entrance covered with a beautiful grille. But unfortunately, in the longitudinal section it is visible too clearly.
1 Like
In our phase 2 we have put the IR projector above the cannon. Because where you put it it will be underwater, and it is electric. Also, it should be bigger.
Let’s say 18", 18” Crouse-Hinds searchlight to be more precise. This one in the photo is in 1/72 scale.
This seems like a much better idea, can I plagiarize it and add it to the instructions? 
4 Likes
The thing about fitting the searchlight is that I don’t have to worry about any elevating mechanism; I can just affix it alongside (or above - I haven’t decided yet) the main armament, and just have a couple of power leads etc entering the turret.
It should make it look notably different, but then I’m modelling it as how a prototype might have evolved a couple of years down the line. In a way, I’m spoiling the purity of the model.
1 Like
Do as you please! I just thought it might be how a couple of modifications would evolve as say, a prototype or two were tested. The crews using it would report on this and that as they found it and implement solutions in due course.
I’m sure I’m overthinking this, but I enjoy this aspect of “What might have been” as I did with my Trumpeter Object 450/T-74 project a little while ago.
3 Likes
This is one of the most fun and enjoyable aspects of modeling, especially when it comes to paper or “what if” tanks…We offer this searchlight as a separate set in 1/72 (it was used on the M47 and early M48). We may adapt it and offer it in 1/35 as well. Let’s say around the middle of next week.
2 Likes
Well, with any luck mine should be nearly completed (I’m awaiting a few additions) by then. As I said earlier. I think the trick (for plausibility that is) is to present the abnormal as normal, so a plain, German road will form the base (I envisage the vehicle being on trials in USAREUR in, say, 1959).
3 Likes
It’s a tank?! 
1 Like
I must admit Dan, I’m sure that when I exhibit this - hopefully April - it’ll blow people away!
3 Likes
All it needs is to scribe some narrow panel lines along the sides, and you can tell people “This is where the wings fold out of”
4 Likes
I think it will!
2 Likes
While I’m waiting for a few components I thought I’d start on the crew; I plan to have only 3 visible. If I portray the Gunner his open hatch will be in the way of the Commander, even though I plan a cupola for the latter.
I’m utilising the Dragon WW2 Tank Crew set and think I can modify them sufficiently for my purposes without breaking into other sets. I will use a Hornet Head set and modify the tank helmets as necessary.
First off, the Loader/Operator, with my attempts at portraying the 1951 Combat Jacket, all still to be blended-in and smoothed over a bit.
As a Cold War modeller there seems to be no option other than to have to endlessly convert figures; it does become a bit of a bind sometimes(!)
4 Likes
One note about the crew helmets; post war they often had a boom microphone mounted on them, like this photo of our favorite movie tanker Elvis in “G.I. Blues”:
Ken
3 Likes
Well ahead of you there Ken! They did indeed and I have the same reference pic!
The boom mike is easy enough as I’ve produced them in the past. I fold a piece of fusewire over a knife blade (blunt one preferred), squeeze together, add a blob of Mt Dissolved Putty or even superglue, add extra cabling to taste. That’s the plan.
Interestingly enough, the helmets also seemed to have been modified and the number of holes reduced or disappeared altogether.
I understand an interim helmet was purchased - (for units serving in Europe) from a German manufacturer, with a slightly different profile and fewer holes:
Perhaps useful for those contemplating building M48A1s, and M103s.
This pic from the Checkpoint Charlie in 1961 stand-off shows all 3 types - including the later bonedome (T56-6?) type:
I bet if you ever depicted such a mix on a model you’d be marked down(!)
6 Likes
Could the outlet for the water jet have been oval in cross section?
The same height as in the cross section diagram but wider?
1 Like
Does a searchlight absolutely need to elevate?
The projectile trajectory isn’t flat so the gun needs to elevate to reach a distant target
but light travels in a straight line so the sight line for the searchlight doesn’t need to elevate
all that much.
The above is moot:
I (well , Google did but I issued the serach instructions) found this:
https://tanks-encyclopedia.com/coldwar/us/chrysler-tv-8/
"The gun would not be able to be pivoted for elevation like with traditional tanks. Instead, it would rely on two large hydraulic cylinders on the inside of the turret ring to elevate and depress the entire turret. Unfortunately, due to the lack of data and information about this vehicle, the exact maximum elevation or depression angles are unknown but, due to the shape of the turret, it can be assumed that it would have had similar elevation and depression angles. "
The whole turret is the elevating mechanism for the search light …
1 Like
That’s exactly what I’m referring to - the turret oscillates (like the AMX 13 etc) as opposed to the gun doing it’s own thing, so I don’t need to faff around with a complicated mount or anything, just fix the light to the turret as near as to the gun that makes sense. I mean, a simple welded “shelf” I should think if ever the real thing came to fruition. A couple of power leads - lead wire or similar - job done and it should look suitably interesting - that is - in addition to looking like nothing else that’s ever been built(!)
1 Like
If they followed Israeli experience they’d have one or two tanks pinpointing targets with the lights, and the rest of the unit doing the firing. That way the need to elevate the gun wouldn’t matter…
2 Likes