Well, it’s not going to be this one – obviously Tamiya’s artwork for their 1/48 rendition way back when; shown here just to get your attention!
As a weird sort of add-on effect, I’ve got a thing going on at the moment with the M48 series; granted I’ve only just done 3 models, and two of those were German, but as a mainstay of US and German forces in the Cold War, I ended up being enthused. Yet another tangent I hear you cry: you’d be right. As I only, or rather mainly, concentrate on the vehicles and equipment of NATO’s Central Region in Europe, (and have also promised myself to represent the opposition too!), I did not think that any other versions of the M48 – that is of those used by USAREUR and the Bundeswehr - had trod the soil of Europe. I then found out belatedly that the A5 version had, on exercise in Italy, by the National Guard. So, an A5 is on its way!
However, this then led me – God this hobby – endless inspiration and distractions – to think about its successor, the M60. I have a couple of M60A1s in the collection, but thought that the plain vanilla version was somewhat overlooked; certainly I don’t think I’ve seen any on the show display tables ever. I recalled that Dragon produced a version of this tank (why oh why didn’t I get one back when it came out?), and is just about I believe, the only game in town; it is also exceedingly rare. I was aware that MR Modellbau produce a conversion kit so promptly ordered one. In the meantime however, during a brief interchange of views on Leopards, and other aspects of Cold War armour, Richard Pearce kindly offered up a DEF conversion set for such an M60. He offered it gratis and it arrived earlier this week.
Nearly all of the work involves the turret; a rather daunting amount of etch(!)
And 2 pages of instructions and one of markings options:
I needed a donor kit of course, and thought the Esci/Italeri kit might suffice; after a brief rummage in the attic, I opened the box and began to test the viability of it all. For the record DEF recommend the Tamiya A3 and Academy kits. I’d also forgotten that the Esci/Italeri kit has the Driver’s hatch moulded closed, and unless one is looking to finish a model in either a combat situation, or say, on the ranges, that was not for me. I Iike to populate my models and besides, drilling it all out and removing the hatch would be a bit of a bind. I had the Tamiya kit in the stash as well so chose that one. It is really only an update of their vintage kit from 1970, and not the best kit of the M60A1 around, but with a bit of TLC I thought it would still do the job.
So, although juggling with several other projects, I thought I’d better do Richard’s generosity justice, and also give the plain vanilla version a bit of attention, as not many others seem to do so(!) It was an important tank in USAREUR’s inventory, and had to face off the fearsome T-62, which had recently deployed into East Germany.
I’d assembled just a few extras such as a metal barrel for the M85, tow ropes, a couple of jerricans, and a crew. The decal sheet that comes with the conversion kit is pretty impressive; it has suffered the trials of storage and age but hopefully will still be viable. I was particularly taken by this one (below), and a vehicle from the same unit is shown in the Tankograd booklet on the M60 series. There are others amongst the decals that are equally colourful.
(Tankograd images for discussion purposes)
First off, as per the instructions, the lower hull and suspension; as usual, inevitably this vehicle is going to be displayed as on exercise – I gave the lower hull my mud treatment using plastic putty and flock as used by the model railway fraternity. When tackling the suspension I paint as I go, and this model, from the early 60s, reinforced by the colour pics in the Tankograd publication. will be painted in the almost black green finish, but that is some way off. Humbrol 66, which caused me no end of grief on my earlier USAREUR M48A2 project, will actually be my friend here.
Modifications to the suspension were duly carried out, the main one being the deletion of a hydraulic suspension arm at the front, and the non-installation of lifting rings along the hull side.; given that the hull is based on the original Tamiya criterion for motorisation, there were a few gaps to fill, accomplished by plastic card and putty.
I had to remove the moulded on phone box and will have to scratch a replacement, which even I, with my limited skills, should be able to accomplish. Those pesky stowage brackets, which Tamiya and others seem to perpetuate on their models’ mudguards, were also sanded off. I sprayed the interior front of the hull white, just in case some of it is visible; with a Driver figure not that much will show. There was also a moulding “dip” on the glacis which I filled with putty.
And then, on to track hell; I thought that etched foliage was punishing but I’ve no real option than to labour over the individual AFV Club tracks which came with the conversion. Two knock-out marks on every last track link. My technique in dealing with this (apart from normally, indulging in copious remedial amounts of gin) involves me sanding them down with initially a grade 120 from my Mig Ammo sanding sticks, followed by a 230; this seems to be effective enough, yet does produce quite an amount of fine back residue, so I mask up; don’t want to catch cancer do we? Hah! Immediately after this, and I can only manage about 20 at a time, I pop them in a small bowl of water, and when a batch is done, give them a wash by adding detergent. This ensures that any residue is removed. The comes the tedious assembly; a strain on both dexterity and eyesight, and I only fit the end connectors 3 at a time, but in fairness to AFV Club, their methodology of adding these is quite innovative.
Knock out marks on every track link, but obviously worth the work. I’ve still around another 50 to do; I competed one run though - that’s why most of today seems to have evaporated(!)
And that folks is where I’m at, at the moment. Track hell!
So, I will leave you with the model resting on what ultimately, will be its base:
