Stikpusher Posted January 10, 2021 Report Share Posted January 10, 2021 A new year, and another new project. Continuing my builds for the So Cal AMPS GB of the Patton Tank family, I’m building a M47 this time. I’m using the Testors Italeri kit, but will modify it some by changing the turret grab rails to early configuration, and not what comes in the kit. I will be building this in the markings of the 5th Infantry Division, my first line unit in the Army, during the time that they were stationed in West Germany in the early 1950s, when my father was stationed there. So this project is hitting a few personal areas, so to speak. Anyways, last night I began by completing steps 1&2, essentially putting on most of the suspension. Now after seeing all of Mustang Joe’s gorgeous engine upgrades on all of his automotive builds, I have been inspired to upgrade this power pack area with some plumbing and wiring. I have found some good photos to use as reference. The real question is how much. We shall see... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talvarez Posted January 12, 2021 Report Share Posted January 12, 2021 Tony Alvarez here. I hope all is well. Nice start, Carlos. I look forward to seeing the engine detailing. When is the completion date for the SoCal AMPS Patton Tank Series? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted January 12, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2021 Hey Tony, good to see you here! Thanks for the encouragement on the engine detailing. Hopefully that will not slow this build down too much. I’d still like to also do a M48 as well for the GB. They haven’t given a hard date to wrap up the Patton GB on the Zoom meetings yet, but based off our last similar efforts, I’d take a guess of late July of having them finished. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talvarez Posted January 13, 2021 Report Share Posted January 13, 2021 Thanks, Carlos. I'm actually living in Phoenix now, BTW. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted January 13, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2021 Welcome to the area Tony 😉 Aren’t you over near Mesa now? Today’s update: I finished steps 3 & 4, adding the shocks, road wheels, and return rollers to the suspension. Next session will be where I start dealing with the upper hull and upgrading tne engine compartment. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
talvarez Posted January 13, 2021 Report Share Posted January 13, 2021 We must have talked before...but please bear with me, they tell me the memory is the first thing to go🤫 . I'm at the east end of Mesa in a nice little tucked away corner surrounded by parks and lots of greenery. I live within a few blocks of my favorite places (Sonic, Home Depot, Jack-in-the-Box, Harbor Freight, Popeye's, Del Taco, Filiberto's). Gas and pretty much everything is cheap. Loving it so far. I'll try to post my M48 and M60 that are in the works. Take care, Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted January 13, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2021 I think that you mentioned that you were in the area at the last AMPS Zoom meeting. I’m in Goodyear on the edge of civilization under the flight path for Luke’s outbound aircraft. Not too much around me but lots of open space. I love the cost of living here compared to So Cal. My retirement pension will go much farther out here. Im looking forward to seeing your M48 and M60 here. My M46 that I finished last month is here in the armor section if you want to check it out sometime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted January 15, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2021 So today was spent doing steps 5, 6, & 7. Although step 6, adding parts to the underside of the upper hull, and 7, finishing the fender items and attaching the engine and upper hull to the lower hull, I only did partially due to my choice to upgrade the engine compartment. I am also backdating the kit to an early production model, so I had to swap out the driver and assistant driver hatches periscope brush guards for the older type used, rather than what comes with the kit. Fortunately I have some in my spares bin. and lastly I started detailing the engine part that comes with the kit. I only did the transmission section today. And this is what you can see thru the open grilles More to come in a few days... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradley25mm Posted January 15, 2021 Report Share Posted January 15, 2021 Looking good Carlos. All those little details you’ve added make a good model look ALOT better. Can’t wait to see the update. What year is that kit? Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted January 15, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2021 Thank you Chris. According to Scalemates, Italeri first issued this kit in 1978. I have a 1979 Testors boxing. This is kinda fun upgrading an engine compartment. I’ve never gone down that route before. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted January 28, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2021 So the last couple of days I've been working on the engine. Yesterday I cut off Italeri’s sorry excuse for the auxiliary motor and generator Which looks nothing like the real thing And I also sanded off all the incorrect detail molded on the oil coolers, and drilled in holes in preparation for plumbing lines. Today I measured and cut lengths of styrene rod to make up the ignition harness for the cylinder banks, then glued them in place. I also created a section of the right side hull fuel tank that goes under the auxiliary motor Then a test fit into the hull with the top on to show what will be visible I still have a couple more sessions worth of work to add more details in there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted January 28, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2021 So today’s session of plumbing the engine was longer. But it feels like there is less to show. It was lots of trimming, fitting, drilling, and bending to get the stuff in place. And I added an oil filler tube and in the corner between the oil cooler and transmission housing on the left rear. And the view from each side Tomorrow I plan to work on the oil coolers and add in the carburetors and ducting, since it should be raining here all day. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted January 29, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2021 (edited) and deeper down the rabbit hole I go... oh Mr. Rabbit! So today’s session has to be broken up, I have so much planned. First off I’m using some sort of idea wheel mounts and sections of sprue here to create the carburetors and intake manifolds So quite a while later of sanding and filing to resemble what I want and make it fit, I had one completed And then I added the air ducting from the air cleaner to the carburetor. Now to finish the other side and get to work on the oil coolers... Edited January 29, 2021 by Stikpusher 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted January 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2021 My final update for today. I finished up the carburetors and intake ducting, detailed the oil coolers, and finished the plumbing in those areas. I still need to add the auxiliary motor and battery lead cables. Next session. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradley25mm Posted January 30, 2021 Report Share Posted January 30, 2021 Carlos, Looks real good. Just adding some detail like you have, makes it look so much better. Looking forward to your next update. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted January 30, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 30, 2021 Thank you Chris. This is my first time tricking out an AFV engine compartment, so it’s a learning experience for me as I do this. A couple more items to add, then the paint goes on and then installation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted February 1, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 1, 2021 So today I finished the final bits of work in the engine compartment. Using a jeep engine, I turned it into a two cylinder auxiliary motor then I added the lead line for it, and the compartment fixed fire extinguisher nozzle and feed line so now the power pack has gone from this to this painting to take place over the next few days... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheveuxroux Posted February 2, 2021 Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 COOL ! Some very nice scratch building in the engine compartment. Sort of reminds me of the Hans von Hammer method posted in another forum long ago in a modeling galaxy far, far away........ I'm looking forward to seeing the completed model. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted February 2, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 Thank you Bob. I do hope that old VonHammer is doing well, wherever he is. I miss his style. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheveuxroux Posted February 2, 2021 Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 (edited) Dunno what happened to ol' Hans. Last I recall - he became Sgt Rock - then disappeared. I never herd anything afterwards. Perhaps he was rotated to quiet sector for R and R due to being in the front lines for so long. ( Conjures up the image of Oddball with his tanks being held in reserve )😉 Edited February 2, 2021 by cheveuxroux added content 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted February 2, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 2, 2021 Yes, hopefully he is drinking some wine, eating some cheese, and soaking up some rays in a nice quiet sector somewhere. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mustang1989 Posted February 3, 2021 Report Share Posted February 3, 2021 First off this build is looking spectacular so far Carlos. As a side note for plumbing , I have found different sizes of solder to be very helpful in running fuel supply or other types of fluid lines (or throttle linkage for that matter. lol) Secondly....Hans von Hammer!! WOW!!! Now there's a name I haven't seen in YEARS!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted February 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2021 Thanks Joe. I’ve detailed aircraft engines before, but this is my first time doing a tank engine. And yeah, your work has definitely been inspiring in that respect. Your car engines are fantastic. And as for HvH, well, break out a Monogram kit and have a toast in his honor, wherever he may be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bradley25mm Posted February 3, 2021 Report Share Posted February 3, 2021 Carlos, It keeps getting better and better. For a kit that had little, you’ve done a amazing job dressing it up. Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stikpusher Posted February 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted February 3, 2021 Thank you Chris. Next up is some primer in there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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