M60A3, "Reforger '83"

Oh yeah, those guys! :+1:t3:

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Discussed how to convert the set Rob is talking about and another in this thread recently.

Master Box: SHOOTOUT! Vietnam War series | Armorama™ - Site Content Discussions / Armorama - KitMaker Network

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Outstanding work on the build.

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@von_Haller , excellent work and thanks for sharing!
For the smoke discharge cover, you can make the cover using some epoxy putty or even some aluminum foil.
Some reference photos to help:


image


Interestingly, this one from Reforger 1982 has the “uncovered” dischargers. Hmmm.

Regarding the “ball” of the crosswind sensor, when I was CADding one for 3D printing, I read that the tankers usually stored the ball away bc it was easily damaged. So instead of putting up the inaccurate solid ball, you can simply depict it as one without the ball like below and as shown in the reference photos above.

Talking about breaking things during Reforger, here’s a photo with a broken Whoopie light:

More reference photos on another forum chain: M60 Tank Reference

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I use blue painters tape for the smoke grenade covers, I wrap a thin piece around, trim, then a piece for the front, trim again, and a very thin or light bead of super glue around the crease. It even has a nice, cloth like texture

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^^DITTO^^ I have done it with plain (tan) masking tape. It comes out pretty well. You can see them below.

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Darn! This one slipped by me somehow, very nice model of the -A3 von @von_Haller, I am a huge fan of the MERDC camo scheme (makes MAASTER look like elephant puke) and you’ve represented it perfectly :ok_hand:.

Cajun :crocodile:

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I’m gonna have to try that trick. :+1:t3:

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Another peeling placard.Ilike it. I’ll have to replicate it.

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DATs a nice photo.:rofl::sweat_smile::+1:

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Things often get damaged or lost during Reforger…

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That’s a beautiful tank! One of these days I hope to tackle the M-60A3 and do it half as much justice as you have. It’s one of my favorite tanks.

I do have a nit to pick on your gunner. Why did you paint his flak vest OD? Were you trying to mimic the old armor crewman’s chicken vest or an M-69 flak vest? He’s wearing a PASGT kevlar vest which would necessarily be woodland camo. The Reforger vets on here can provide more accurate information, but I think 1983 is just slightly too early for Army soldiers to be in the PASGT vests. I also don’t think tankers wore body armor in their tracks on exercise. Most of the photos I’ve seen (and posted above) show the typical heavy wet weather parka in the winter - usually combined with a poncho liner tailored into a jacket liner. In the summer it’d be straight up BDU’s or OG-507 wash 'n wear pickle suits. I’m not sure when Nomex coveralls became the norm for tankers.

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Where did you get figures with the wet weather parkas? Are those conversions from WWII German parkas?

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Just before the start of the ground phase of the 1990–91 Gulf War, in practice. If you look at Desert Shield photos, they’re almost always wearing desert BDUs, and IIRC PASGT vests, but pictures from the actual drive into Kuwait and Iraq usually show nomex coveralls with the slimline tanker’s body armour.

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When we fielded the M1A1 at Bliss about 1986, and I believe we were the first stateside unit to field them, they issued the nomex coveralls, that was the first time I ever saw them. Thats me with the guidon.

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AFAIK they were pretty rare in Europe and Saudi Arabia, though. Usually when you see photos of M1s in Europe in the 80s, the crews are wearing BDUs.

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Excellent job on that tank. What a great pic!

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The nomex tanker suits were issued when the M1A1 was fielded. This was because the combustible shell case on the 120mm ammo greatly increased the risk of fire/explosion. So as units transitioned to the new tanks, they began to get the new uniforms.
Ken

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When i was in during my 2nd tour in Germany, 81-84 with the 3rd Armor Division. When we would go on alerts or out in the field training we would always wear our MOPP (chemical suits) over our BDUs. I lived in mine during REFORGER in 83.

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Bet you had to get new BDUs after that. Those old charcoal suits were horrible.

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