dodgem37 Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 This was the first project I undertook where I started doing some detailing, scratchbuilding, and parts casting, around 1990, I guess. Everything I had done up to this point was an aircraft and strictly out of the box, and not always with satisfying results either, which I found frustrating. So I decided to take some time off from aircraft and spend my time teaching myself how to build using tanks. I figured I had to be better at tanks, I was so lousy at airplanes. It was also the first tank I had ever done. I found out I had a knack for tanks. Even I could cut a straight line. This build took over 2 years to complete. Much of the stuff is after market or taken from the parts bin. But there are a few items I tinkered with making or upgrading. I decided to focus my attention on one subject, the IDF, which I thought would help simplify my stash, which it did. But it has taken a lot of research and scratchbuilding to represent the IDF. The main reason why I don't have a large reference library on non-IDF subjects. But those WWII German airplanes, they have just snuck in there over the years. Front left. I used a dental tool to chisel away at the hull and turret to imply that they are cast items. Then I removed the burrs with steel wool. Emergency fire extinguisher handle was cast, as were all of the triangular tie down rings, and nuts and bolts. I started small with this build. The most difficult part of this build was making the .50cal mg mount. It had to be perfectly symmetrical. Rear Left. I lowered the suspension a couple of millimeter's. I cut grooves in the rubber track pads and dinged the rubber on the road wheels. Lead foil for the flag bolted to the rear deck. Rear. I wanted to protect my six, so I came up with this. Artistic license. Rear Right. Lots of work on the gun lock and zenon light. Front Right. Scratchbuilt the commanders mg scissor mount. I 'designed' the base so the main gun would, at its current elevation, be parallel to the ground. It made for a very dynamic look. Turret close-up. I located a mirror in the Urdan Cupola hatch to keep prying eyes from seeing into the empty turret. The knife is supposed to keep the folded map from flying away. The commanders mg ammo box must have fallen off. From the front. I threw some Graphic Design concepts into the build. One is direction. The turret and 3 guns go into the same direction. The commanders gun, hull, and zenon light go in an intersecting direction. The placement of stuff on the left fender reinforces the front to back direction and continues the movement forward with the in-line placement of additional track, while the circle on the right front fender terminates the movement by being a dissimilar object. The front hanging chain repeats the front hull curve. Stuff like that. From the Rear. Thinned the kit supplied bustle supports and made the bustle. Thanks for looking. Sincerely, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richdlc Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 very nice work mate. Built lots of M-48's myself (Vietnam ones) - love them! Especially gratifying to detail them like this, adding stowage, sandbags etc as well as improving the accuracy.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted October 24, 2010 Share Posted October 24, 2010 Another feast for the eyes, look forward to seeing it painted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRutman Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Excellent,just excellent! J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Kevin Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 Mark, I didn't realise you were such a heavy duty armour guy. While I can't really profess to know what I'm looking at, it looks pretty good to me! Kev Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilB Posted October 25, 2010 Share Posted October 25, 2010 I'm a bit like Kev when it comes to armour Mark, All I can say is it sure looks busy and shows off the huge amount of work you've done. Lovely stuff, Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgem37 Posted October 25, 2010 Author Share Posted October 25, 2010 Thank you, all. I appreciate your comments. Sincerely, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kagemusha Posted March 20, 2012 Share Posted March 20, 2012 (edited) Did you get any more done on this Mark, and have you seen this http://www.sabingamartin.com/sim-04.html just bought one to go with the Tamiya M51 I'll be ordering soon... Edited March 20, 2012 by Kagemusha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dodgem37 Posted March 21, 2012 Author Share Posted March 21, 2012 I have not done any work on the M48 in well over 15 years. I actually consider it to be finished, even tho it is not painted. It was my first foray into scratchbuilding and building anything other than OOtB. It has been stored in a box all of this time. Maybe I should put it in my display case? Thanks for bringing that idea to light. I'll put it in this afternoon. I did pick up a couple of his books. I would like to build a 1/25 PUMA. Sincerely, Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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