RichJohnson

The original M60 was developed as a continuation of the Patton line of tanks. As introduced in 1960 it utilized the same turret as the M48a2 but had a 105mm gun fitted.
TD produces their IDF version which is close for a Magatch 7 A or B with ERA not sure, but I know its not a 7C that has the massive up armor package all around the turret and side skirts.
I was able to purchase an array of components to set up my tank for the correct period. I ordered an all metal chassis which is a must, do not buy the plastic version its not worth it.
I got the early ribbed wheels, the A3 hull and the round turret along with the parts trees for the A3 and the IDF tank.
This isnt really much of a build as it was just filling all those darn holes in the turret from the ERA. But I did have to do some research to determine where some of the back dating appliances would be placed etc.
I havent gotten to the gun and recoil yet though I did take it all apart to start the gears turning in my head of how I want to do it. It will get a nice M68 from JVM3d concepts when I can get up there to pick up my order of stuff from them.
I also will replace the IDF Urdan commanders hatch with the proper M60 machine gun armored turret that I am trading from Fsttanks since he is building that awesome starship and doesnt need it.
I remove the gun barrel I wedged an exacto blade under and over the joint from the bellows to the mantlet and cut and pried it forward on the barrel.
Then I dripped water consistency liquid plastic glue on the barrel joint and got it loose and pulled the barrel out of the mantlet.
I also cut the tow hooks off the rear towing lugs before I mounted them to the hull and cut down the front lugs to match the size of the front lugs on my DKLM OKMO M60 and drilled the appropriate holes in them.
Finally I mixed my own Olive Drab paint color FS 24087. While AK and others make an OD named 34087 (flat) its actually closer to the WWII color which is probably from the 1980s update of the militarys color reorganization where they changed the olive drab color and numbers around. But 1950s/60s OD in the Army was a dark semi gloss finish and it varied between two color shades. One was more on the green side and the other was more on the brown side. So I just matched the color of 24087 I used on my Willys Army Jeep of the era. Tamiya orange and black mixed 2/1 which is 66% / 33%. If a lighter color is desired a 70/30 mix can done but 75/25 makes it lighter and closer to what you think of as WWII Od.
And finally, before the paint job, I was playing around with an idea. It would be hard to make fit and work on the TD as the rings and gears are different sizes but I think I could do it.

Crius

Hey Rich, I'm thinking it's time to pick one of these up, the metal upgrade version of the M60A3 for $279

https://www.dklmrc.com/[TD]_116_M60A3_Patton_RTR_RC_tank/p2389473_21966811.aspx

Do you know how much he wants for shipping? Is there a better deal out there right now, or would you recommend this version? If I ever get to it I'll paint it for Germany in the late 70s to early 80s, probably 1/37th at Katterbach. If I remember it right, which I probably don't, those had white interior and a mono-color paint scheme, still flat but a bit darker than regular WWII OD Green. Thanks for the help, Rich.

tiger rampage

I’m waiting to hear back from Carson he originally quoted me 199 usd for shipping to the USA for the Tongde M60 metal version he’s working on trying to get a better shipping rate.

RichJohnson

Shipping is 200 bucks dhl. Took like 5 days to get here. Its the bulk and the weight. Until some supplier buys a container full and brings them into the US shipping is going to be that high.
I also recommend getting additional plastic tracks, they run better with the plastic than the metal.

I thought Germany got rid of all their M60s once they had the Leopard 1 in full production. As far as I know Germany never got a1s. Just early M60s. I had to assemble this from parts its not a standard tank they make. The IDF tank has different wheels and different hull with obtuse headlight guards.

Crius

Well, that kills it for me. I've been watching this one and unless I can get a metal version delivered to my door for $350 or less I'll just have to live without one.

This one is up on ebay but I don't think it's metal, and would require a lot of back dating. I'm not sure what variant they had when I was at Katterbach, but it was definitely an M-60, and the ones they had at 1/37th had the big spot light over the main gun barrel.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/26625497084...Bk9SR7SJqb2NYg

Koenigstiger

Hello Rich,

where you got the nylon tracks please ?

Best greetings
Guenther

RichJohnson

I will be getting spotlight soon for mine, as well as replacing the IDF heat shielded barrel with a plain m68 gun and making it recoil. The TD controller is a close copy of a 7.1 hl unit and has some neat features. It has servo recoil and servo elevation ports however the elevation moves with the stick, it does not leave the barrel in place. The elevation is wacky but the recoil is pretty usefull. I already plugged a servo in and tested it.

The plastic tracks are available from TD. They make a plastic version of the hexagonal pad M60 track and then they make this plastic T84 chevron style track. Its not advertised anywhere you have to buy it separately through PM or email with DKLMRC.

I think the cost of this tank was under 450 US for me, it was split between paypal balance and my credit card so I didnt look really close. The plastic ones are not worth getting. Get the metal one and spend the extra cash. And I reccomend buying a spare set of plastic track. This tank is worth what it costs you. I am surprised their MSRP is so low but we are lucky it is because of the direct shipping cost.
This tank is also a really good runner. There is only one flaw that Fsttanks discovered, the rear wheels will hyperextend forward while backing over an obstacle and hit the next set of wheels but that can also cause the tortion bar clam to snap. Fsttanks had the 3d designer we have been having make parts for us design new thicker brackets and those should be ready soon. The permanent fix is to make a travel stop out of tubing. Fsttanks showed how to do this. I have not done it yet.

RichJohnson

I’ve completed the scale M68 install with 3d servo recoil and the spot light. All of which are available on my website.
I used the spare servo arm as an extended elevation arm for more travel.
A big thanks to my friend Cirius who did the leg work and testing of old ibu boards from a defunct dealer to get those of us aficionados enough to keep our modeling going.

Conan_the_Hungarian

Crius, I just ordered the M60A3 with metal upgrades from DKLM along with a bunch of parts. Shipping to Virginia was $250. Hope that helps.

Max-U52

Yes, that helps, thank you. I'll wait until someone offers them here in the states.

tiger rampage

I messaged with someone over at Nova hobbies in Canada they said they would have the whole line of Tongde tanks available to purchase in about a month. I purchased my Tongde centurion from them though eBay a couple of months back and they charged me about 40 dollars for shipping to NY.

afv aficionado

As introduced in 1960 it utilized the same turret as the M48a2 but had a 105mm gun fitted.

Hi Rich
I was surprised to see this statement. The M48 turret is similar to the M60 'Slick' turret, but definitely not the same.
The M60 turret is squarer at the rear upper.

M60 Slick turret rear

M48A5 Turret rear upper

M48A5 Turret rear upper - curved
Both photos of the M48A5 are the same vehicle, Colour change due to lighting.
I figured you must have written that in haste?.
Nice job on the M60 by the way.

Mal

RichJohnson

That looks like an original plain M48 turret you were comparing with. That has a lower shorter bustle.
The M48a2 and M48a3 had a higher slightly extended turret bustle than the original M48 had.
When the M60 came along they used the M48a2/a3 turret but installed a 105mm main gun and a new designed commanders cupola.

M48a3 tanks were a modification really of 48s and 48a2s. Some had 3 return rollers some had 5 I think. But when the M48a5 tanks were created by adding the 105mm gun much later on, they used all the m48 series so you really see a major mixed bag of them from one take to the next.

This old publication is around at a lot of hobby shops. It covers the differences and lineage.

afv aficionado

Hi Rich
That's news to me. I have that particular book, but having had a quick look, can't locate the part that says the later M48 turrets were modified in the upper bustle.
Though having said that, I've found that some changes have not been well documented, as in the case of the early M41.
Do you know of any particular walk arounds that show the change on a M48?

Mal

RichJohnson

I don’t have the book on hand but tooling around on the net I found references that the m60 turret was designed in the style of the m48a2.

Wikipeaida states the m48a2 turret was redesigned bigger with larger hatches, It’s possible I read that a few places and assumed they were the same turret, but I was pretty sure I read they were the same turret but I could be wrong, not finding a direct source to cite.