I have a problem with Tamiya M48A3 - is the antenna correctly positioned, or is the commander’s turret hatch correctly shaped (and can it be opened that way). I have taken several photos to point what is the problem. The future antenna position is marked in red and the hatch obstructs its normal position.
Has anyone had this problem? Should it be positioned like that (i doubt as it would be the normal position of commander’s turret), or antenna should be moved further back, or the hatch can’t be opened like in Tamiya’s instructions.
Thanks!
The sprung, counterbalanced hatch door on the commander’s cupola is shown opened. The door could be secured in three positions: fully opened, closed, or about halfway open. (Picture from TM 9-7022 Operation and Organizational Maintenance: 90-mm Gun Full Tracked Combat Tank M48A2.)
I suspect that the antennae apertures when the turrets were made, were the same for all marks; I might be wrong.
Thanks @BootsDMS your build inspired me for the question. I followed Tamiya instructions https://www.scalemates.com/products/img/5/5/2/132552-19-instructions.pdf
in point 10 of the instructions they show the position of hatch which probably would be fully open. In several books i have seen photos with such openings, yet from far away… @Frenchy those were some of the photos.
So, is Tamiya incorrect (look at my first picture), should i move antennae far back?
As seen in most of the photos, the TC has the cupola turned so that the open hatch does not impact the antenna. However, remember the antenna has a flexible spring base and will bend out of the way.
on @Frenchy 's first two photos, it doesn’t appear that TC turret is turned. It would be convenient to turn TC cupola… The illustration from Frenchy’s second post shows antenna very close to hatch of TC (as i measured). Anyone actually drove this tank?
These are the locations of the TC and antenna port openings relative to the turret centerline and an intermediate line. You can figure out the center-to-center distance of the two holes.
It could be the antenna location, the TC hatch location, the cupola size, the cupola door size or some combination.
There were at least two turret castings. This one is what would be used on an M48A2 or later.
Something is still wrong with that turret, I’m afraid. It may be the whole thing, but the antenna port center should only be slightly (0.86mm in 1/35) to the rear of the blower centerline.
