Many of the folks here have noticed, I'm not much of a treadhead. 1/72nd scale jets are my usual subject. But when I do build something with tracks, it can get pretty weird. I was rummaging through the stash a week or so ago and came across a bunch of stuff given to me by the good hearted Mr Fontaine. I became possessed by the turretless Trumpeter Brazilian EE-T2 tank plus all the other parts of every description included in this package. Being somewhat inspired by the IDF Puma and Nagmachon APCs I started to brainstorm and assemble something out of all this. This has been mentioned in my blog but I suppose its time to start an actual thread.
Let's start with the obligatory instructions and parts shots.





I added a stiffener down the middle of the upper hull as the engine area had separate side panels and the top deck had become bent. I also closed up the drivers hatch as the periscopes were behind the hatch which didn't seem to make sense.



Since the Nagmachon



And the Puma



Were covered in ERA panels I decided to copy some from the Italeri M60 Blazer kit that was also in the stash. I didn't want to strip the Blazer of the ERA parts in case I ever wanted to build it OOB so I got down off the shelf the Aluminite casting kit I had bought many years ago. The two part casting resin was beyond saving but after what seemed like an hour of stirring the silicone mold material looked usable. I couldn't believe I got a pretty good silicone mold out of it.



After a test cast using UV casting resin I got this nice little part.



No mold release agent required and it came out perfectly so I went to town on ERA production.



I was able to do this outdoors in the shade and place the filled mold out in the sun for a few minutes to cure. In bright sun light curing is almost instant.

I've been working on the upper structure that is placed on the tank hull. The IDF used their Centurion tanks minus the turret but since this is a vehicle made out of every spare part that could be laying around this vehicle will be quite the junkyard dog. I had a base for the stand for a ship model laying around for a long time so it became the basis for the doghouse. Nice and square with a little bit of slope to the sides. I glued whatever armor looking parts I had to the sides for visual interest but then realized it will probably all be covered by the ERA blocks. Oh well, this stuff was just laying around anyway.
Here's what it looks like with an M48 cupola and a rear hatch made from a Bradley back door.





This is another option with Stryker hatches and an M113 engine cover with some other piece I don't recognize. This combo would probably get an M151 remote weapon system.







Here's a hatch from a Bradley driver's compartment that might get transplanted.



I'm also going to add an M9 dozer blade too.



So tell what you folks think of the doghouse arraignments. I might save the M48 cupola for my M41 Walker Bulldog assault gun conversion. Paint scheme is completely up in the air right now.

I'm liking..liking this one matey 😀
I'd look at the Nagmachon for its dog house if ya wanted a real challenge Ken 
That CROWS turret can be brought as a kit in itself if ya really wanted the Puma but I've been tempted to scratch build one just to see if I could 😅

I had this exact kit yrs ago and still have quite alot of it knocking around..I put the turret on a 10X10 Stryker I was building   

Quote from: kerick on June 29, 2024, 09:54:21 PMI also closed up the drivers hatch as the periscopes were behind the hatch which didn't seem to make sense.

It does if the driver's seat has a reclining back: put it forward to drive head-out, or recline to drive buttoned-up. British Chieftain and Challenger tanks do the same, as does the American M1 Abrams, though there, the periscopes are set in the back of the hatch itself instead of behind it.

Quote from: kerick on June 29, 2024, 09:54:21 PMHere's what it looks like with an M48 cupola

It is, the later style with the vision riser ring. From Tamiya, I would guess, purely going by the colour

Quote from: kerick on June 29, 2024, 09:54:21 PMThis is another option with Stryker hatches and an M113 engine cover with some other piece I don't recognize.

It's the central part of a Panther or Tiger II engine deck. I can't tell which exactly, though

Quote from: kerick on June 29, 2024, 09:54:21 PMSo tell what you folks think of the doghouse arraignments. I might save the M48 cupola for my M41 Walker Bulldog assault gun conversion. Paint scheme is completely up in the air right now.

I wouldn't go with the M48 cupola. It was a very much disliked piece of kit IRL, even with the vision riser ring, and is a very 1950s item. The RWS is a much better fit, IMHO, and immediately makes it into a modern vehicle.

Quote from: Wardukw on June 29, 2024, 11:28:34 PMI'm liking..liking this one matey 😀
I'd look at the Nagmachon for its dog house if ya wanted a real challenge Ken 
That CROWS turret can be brought as a kit in itself if ya really wanted the Puma but I've been tempted to scratch build one just to see if I could 😅

I had this exact kit yrs ago and still have quite alot of it knocking around..I put the turret on a 10X10 Stryker I was building   

I'd like to see that Stryker!

Quote from: Jakko on June 30, 2024, 02:10:37 AM

Quote from: kerick on June 29, 2024, 09:54:21 PMI also closed up the drivers hatch as the periscopes were behind the hatch which didn't seem to make sense.

It does if the driver's seat has a reclining back: put it forward to drive head-out, or recline to drive buttoned-up. British Chieftain and Challenger tanks do the same, as does the American M1 Abrams, though there, the periscopes are set in the back of the hatch itself instead of behind it.

Quote from: kerick on June 29, 2024, 09:54:21 PMHere's what it looks like with an M48 cupola

It is, the later style with the vision riser ring. From Tamiya, I would guess, purely going by the colour

Quote from: kerick on June 29, 2024, 09:54:21 PMThis is another option with Stryker hatches and an M113 engine cover with some other piece I don't recognize.

It's the central part of a Panther or Tiger II engine deck. I can't tell which exactly, though

Quote from: kerick on June 29, 2024, 09:54:21 PMSo tell what you folks think of the doghouse arraignments. I might save the M48 cupola for my M41 Walker Bulldog assault gun conversion. Paint scheme is completely up in the air right now.

I wouldn't go with the M48 cupola. It was a very much disliked piece of kit IRL, even with the vision riser ring, and is a very 1950s item. The RWS is a much better fit, IMHO, and immediately makes it into a modern vehicle.

Thanks for the info about the drivers seat. That makes sense.
It was amazing how the M113 engine cover was an almost perfect drop in part to the German engine deck part. It might just get used.
I agree about the M48 cupola. It's just too big and takes up a lot of space. It will work on the assault gun better. I think one of the problems IRL with it was the POS M87 machine gun that always jammed. That's one reason there was always a MG mount welded on top. I'll go with the RWS and the Stryker hatches.
I have to work out the drivers hatch yet.
I was just thinking about the M9 dozer blade and how it would pull down the front of the hull in the raised position. It's not too late to adjust the suspension to give it that nose down look!
Any thoughts on paint would be appreciated!

The M87 was a M2 that they "shrunk" to fit into the cupola.

The shrinking process ruined the recoil & feed mechanisms, so they failed to feed or cycle properly, leading to constant jamming & misfires.

The cupola, itself, limited the range of elevation & depression, which limited the functionality of the .50 cal (when/if it worked).

Quote from: kerick on June 30, 2024, 10:06:44 AMI agree about the M48 cupola. It's just too big and takes up a lot of space. It will work on the assault gun better. I think one of the problems IRL with it was the POS M87 machine gun that always jammed.

This type of cupola used the M2 HB machine gun, not the M85 (which is what I think you mean with "M87" ) — the M85 was installed in the M60's cupola.

Quote from: kerick on June 30, 2024, 10:06:44 AMI was just thinking about the M9 dozer blade and how it would pull down the front of the hull in the raised position. It's not too late to adjust the suspension to give it that nose down look!

No need: the EE-T1 had hydropneumatic suspension, so I assume it could adjust its ride height, and probably would try to keep the vehicle level automatically even with a big weight like a dozer blade on the front.

Quote from: kerick on June 30, 2024, 10:06:44 AMAny thoughts on paint would be appreciated!

No idea

Quote from: Old Wombat on June 30, 2024, 11:27:07 PMThe M87 was a M2 that they "shrunk" to fit into the cupola.

Sorry, but nope The M85 was a completely new design that only shared its ammunition with the M2 Browning. Even the belt links aren't interchangeable between the two, because the Browning pulls the rounds rearward from the belt and then shoves them forward into the chamber, while the M85 pushes them forward from the belt, so it needs a belt with links that are open at the bottom — putting an ammo belt for an M2 into an M85 results in an immediate stoppage on pulling the trigger.

Anyway, the M85 was indeed a pretty poor weapon, for a variety of reasons, but none of those had anything to do with it being derived from the M2 because it simply wasn't

Thanks for all the info! Saves me from cutting off five out of six suspension arms I had already glued on!

I have the driver's hatch installed now and the other hatch situation is settled. Two Stryker hatches and one rear hatch from an early Bradley. The doghouse is nearly ready to glue on. I still have to do the road wheels. Side skirts and some straight forward shields for the gunners are on the list too.

Quote from: kerick on July 01, 2024, 06:29:02 AMThanks for all the info! Saves me from cutting off five out of six suspension arms I had already glued on!

I had the same thing with my M70 MBT: I had glued all of the suspension arms on, and only then I remembered I had a mine plough somewhere that I could stick onto it. Hydropneumatic suspension to the rescue

Here's a couple of pics of the progress so far.
This has the Bradley driver's hatched all glued down.





The doghouse and hatches are glued in place.



Now I need something to cover that little hole. I have some Rust-oleum Teracotta spray paint that makes a great no slip texture for 1/35th scale. I've used it before on armor vehicles and it looks good. Then road wheels etc. I'm going to add a little extra to the right of the driver's hatch. I did get the nose down look by gently twisting the previously installed suspension arms just a bit. Then I shaved the mounting pins just a bit on the other side as I installed them. Its not much but some folks might notice it. Lots to do yet.

Making some progress day by day. Yard work is getting in the way somewhat.
Question for the group. How do real tanks have those massive side skirts that are everywhere today attached? Are they just welded to something or are there some type of supports or hangers? These things must weigh tons so it must be substantial.

Depends on the tank. On Leopard 2s, only the front skirt plates are armoured, and they hang from substantial hinges. On the M1 Abrams, most of the skirt plates are armoured (the rear third or so isn't), but less thick than the Leopard 2's, and there are supports behind them to help take the weight. Challenger's original skirt plates were unarmoured steel plate, but still with supports behind them; from the Gulf War on, they were fitted with armoured skirts, which apparently didn't need upgrading of the supports.

Quote from: Jakko on July 04, 2024, 02:14:19 AMDepends on the tank. On Leopard 2s, only the front skirt plates are armoured, and they hang from substantial hinges. On the M1 Abrams, most of the skirt plates are armoured (the rear third or so isn't), but less thick than the Leopard 2's, and there are supports behind them to help take the weight. Challenger's original skirt plates were unarmoured steel plate, but still with supports behind them; from the Gulf War on, they were fitted with armoured skirts, which apparently didn't need upgrading of the supports.

By supports behind the skirt do you mean attached to the hull between the tracks?

Quote from: kerick on July 04, 2024, 08:15:13 AM

Quote from: Jakko on July 04, 2024, 02:14:19 AMDepends on the tank. On Leopard 2s, only the front skirt plates are armoured, and they hang from substantial hinges. On the M1 Abrams, most of the skirt plates are armoured (the rear third or so isn't), but less thick than the Leopard 2's, and there are supports behind them to help take the weight. Challenger's original skirt plates were unarmoured steel plate, but still with supports behind them; from the Gulf War on, they were fitted with armoured skirts, which apparently didn't need upgrading of the supports.

By supports behind the skirt do you mean attached to the hull between the tracks?

Ken on the M1 you'll see that the side skirts are hinged so they fold out for track and wheel maintenance..there bolted at the front and swing outwards and held in place with locks on the hull and supports near the suspension.
British armour like the Centurion for example..the skirts sit on supports between the suspension units and then get bolted to the track guards ..Chieftain is the same and also Challenger.
Most tanks mount the hard side skirts the same way.
Hope that helps ya abit