Hey, hey. Can this…
…become one of these…
…by leaving off the flood light box thingy and smoke thingys and painting it a light sand color?
1 Like
In theory yes, the sheet says M48A2.
Not up to speed on the smaller details of those options and/or parts in the box.
3 Likes
Well, if you haven’t got the kit yet get the correct one.
M48 A2/A2C, Revell 03206 (2014) It builds (and has markings) for IDF. IDF ones were stock US M48A2Cs. (They drove them off the C-5, slapped some paint on them and sent them to the desert. Did not have time to get fancy.) A2s had a tensioner between the last road wheel and drive sprocket. The German ones, besides IR/ White searchlight and smoke grenade launchers, had different lighting and stowage baskets (had box to store search light.) Scroll on the link and you will be able to see differences. Also, heres a reference (from Isreal) on the colors you need. IDF Modelling - Which colour for your IDF vehicle ? …
For reference: Kp M48A2CG with RoG #03236, Kp M48A2CG2 , Heimatschutzbrigade 54, Pz.Btl. 543, Bundeswehr. Hermeskeil, Germany. 1989.
Earlier M48A2 with tensioner.
Edit
3 Likes
Okay. No it is. Thanks.
@sluff That is an impressive fleet of M48s. Thank you for the information and color guide link. Having just compared the M48A2 and M48A2CG instructions, I now see what you mean. Since I already own the latter model, I guess it will have to be a West German M48.
@Tank_1812 It turns out the Revell M48A2 and M48A2CG each have one unique part tree. As sluff wrote, the M48A2 kit has the right parts and one decal scheme for an Israeli tank. I bought the wrong model for the job. It’s been that kind of day.
3 Likes
The German version kit does not include one sprue you will need to get an A2C (Sprue H)
But you can do a Hellenic Army M48a2CG if you do not want to do a German vehicle
5 Likes
Please Explain further… what are the parts that do not allow the swap?
1 Like
The searchlight box on the bustle rack is a fitting not seen on the IDF A2’s. So unless the kit comes with the original full bustle rack, that will need to be fixed. And of course the IR searchlight itself, mounting brackets, and smoke grenade launchers need to be left off.
2 Likes
I just checked the instructions on Scalemates, and it doesn’t: it has a left and a right half for the rack, to go on either side of the searchlight stowage box. As @gdeath13 says above, kit No. 03287 is missing a sprue with some extra parts, which is in kit No. 03206, and if you look at the sprue picture he posted, it shows part 104 as the missing centre section of the rack.
3 Likes
Here are my notes so far:
As I wrote previously, the Revell M48A2 and M48A2CG each have one unique part tree. All other part trees are shared.
The unique M48A2 part tree includes two extra rollers and arms. Some vehicles (decal options) in the kit use those rollers and arms. Some do not. Notably, the Israeli vehicle does NOT use these parts. Instead, the mounting points for the arms, just behind the last road wheel station, are blanked off with a small, round cover.
The unique M48A2CG part tree includes a bunch of parts for a German machine, such as a searchlight, bustle rack with an integrated box, and smoke launchers.
The M48A2 model does not come with a search light of any kind. The M48A2CG has a German style search light.
All Israeli vehicles on the Star Decals sheet lack the extra roller and arm. Therefore, the M48A2CG model is fine in that regard.
All Israeli vehicles on the Star Decals sheet, and the Israeli vehicle in the M48A2 model, lack any form of search light. Therefore, not having a searchlight is not an issue.
As sluff notes, the bustle racks and light clusters on an M48A2 and M48A2CG are different. With appropriate references, or access to the unique part tree in the M48A2, it should be fairly easy scratch build the missing parts. For example, fixing the bustle rack would require some rod stock of the correct diameter.
The Revell M48A2 model is long out of production. The only M48A2 I see in shops is the ancient Revell Monogram model. (If I recall correctly, 19bravo classifies this model as decent. I probably built one as a kid. I definitely built a Tamiya M48A3.)
…
@gtdeath13 Thank you. I really like the tank in your last picture.
1 Like
RE: the different sprue for the A2C… Check on Evilbay ,“1/35 M48 parts”. Might be a “spare” on there. (I deal with a guy … beaddreamllc … that specializes in sprues. ) Might fix the problem. Or build what you have as Bundeswehr and get the A2/A2C and A2CG2 kits and have the full family. ( I have the Tamiya A3 and an Academy A5K (WIP) too.) RoG’s Leo 1s are the same quality level as the M48s.
M48A2 and M48A3, . 3d Platoon, B Company, 1st Tank Battalion, USMC. Camp Pendleton, Ca. 1972.
4 Likes
I checked eBay last night and just now. No joy. The M48A2 was issued in 2014 so that is no surprise.
After sleeping on it, I decided to do as you suggest and build a West German M48A2CG. Your models convinced me that another green machine is fine. (I am slowly building up a collection of American tanks and spraying a whole lot of Olive Drab.) If I decide to build a Greek machine, I will purchase another model.
Maybe Revell will release the M48A2 again. Maybe Takom will release a M48A2 with some Israeli markings.
For now, I can build a Merkava.
2 Likes
Dragon has released a 1/35 M48A2 in IDF boxing.
I used that kit to make an Elvis tank, since their US markings M48A1 was so hard to find at the time.
3 Likes
If you are going “green” Bundeswehr, correct color is RAL6014 gelboliv. It is more yellow than US. Heres the A2 and A2CG side by side. I used Testors gelboliv on mine. I know Mig has the color. For US M48s (Army) I use Hataka B065 OD or AK4213. (Tamiya JGSDF OD works good too) USMC M48s would be AK4013. (you can see difference between Army and USMC colors on the A2-A3 side by side. AK makes a US Army/ USMC Green paint set. ) If you are going for the Bundeswehr (NATO) tri-color (I dont think the A2CGs were in service when i came in in the mid 80s) , AK makes a 3 paint set with the colors. They are a bit different than the US ones.
3 Likes
You can always get the legend upgrade set for the kit and thus get all the parts you need
The stowage in the photos is a combination of the Def magach 3 conversion set and the Legend Magach 3 stowage. If you want a stowage set yhis one fits the revell kit perfectly.
4 Likes
Probably cost more than just buying the A2’A2C kit.
4 Likes
Of course. Around 1.5 times the kit
4 Likes
The only major missing item in the M48A2GC kit is the middle section of the turret rack. Having built the straight Revell kit with the rack I found the fit was bad enough that it was easier to cut out ALL the bars, drill holes in the uprights, and thread in some Evergreen plastic rod. So it would be easy to convert the kit to IDF by just leaving off the German-specific parts and rebuilding the rack…
5 Likes
He will need to scratchbuild one upright. But it is nothing major. I agree it can be built OOB as a Magach 2 but not as a Six Days War vehicle, all Magach 2 had a makeshift searchlight mount by that time and the cable connector on the turret roof.
3 Likes
OR you could pack what’s there of the bustle rack with crates and cover it all with a tarp - tada! Not only done, but also some nice stowage there!
6 Likes
@Stikpusher Ah ha! Thanks! That model is readily available on eBay.
It turns out the Dragon Magach 1/2 and Revell M48A2CG have the same headlight arrangement (or very close).
@sluff Thank you for the color information. Almost all my paints are Vallejo. Some time back, I purchased the Vallejo equivalent of Yellow Olive for two projects. Hopefully, it is close.
Thank you for sharing your story about the Israeli tanker. It makes a lot of sense. Gray primer is an excellent foundation for other colors. Using a toothy gray paint to intentionally capture local dirt to serve as an overcoat color is very clever. If I recall correctly, I purchased whatever color was in use by the Israelis circa 1982 for a Takom Merkava I.
@gtdeath13 Nicos, the appearance of your very detailed and well built model in another discussion is what led me to consider converting my Revell M48A2CG into a Magach 2. 
I am still unclear about what M48/Magach features appeared when and where because online sources contradict one another.
I will look for information about the search light mount and connector. If I recall correctly, that came up in another discussion.
@barkingdigger Thank you for that confirmation.
@Pawel That is a good fall back plan if the rack rebuild is kinda borked.
2 Likes