I've built out the crew compartment. The back is squared off now and the top and sides are covered in new plastic to complete the squared off area. It seems a wrecked M48 was brought back and judged too broken to repair so the cupola, loaders hatch and air vent are being repurposed. The M41 toolboxes have a new home on the fenders next to the engine deck. The rear fenders have been salvaged and put back in place. Also a whole new engine deck has been installed. Looks like I need to do a photo dump here tomorrow.

Yup you do bud   
Can't wait to see this 😁

Time for some photos. Here's where we are so far.
The crew compartment and front driver's areas are not glued down so far. I want to install colored plastic in the driver's periscopes but I'll have to figure out how to mask them when I paint.













It's possible a TOW box launcher may get installed. My first thought might not work out as the exhaust of the missile will shoot straight into the air vent.
Tonight I'll have to figure out how to mount the gun.

Can't go too far wrong with a ball-mount.
Coming along well. 

I built the gun mount and the right fender. Cut a gunner's periscope from the M41 turret and glued it in front of the cupola.

I'm seriously liking this Ken ..low profile ..which is great for tank hunting 👍
That TOW launcher is a nice touch..here's an idea for ya ...a retractable gantry frame which mounts to the back of the fighting compartment.
Can be lowered or raised..lowered.. it can sit in line with the hull roof when not being used ..reised for fighting or engine maintenance 🤔
With it sitting above the hull roof you get a clear field of fire and no chance of hurting the vehicle and a bloody good chance of hurting something else 

I was having a little trouble visualising this, not anymore. Thankyou 

Looking good.

If I move the air vent to the other side I can install the box launcher Bradley style. Or steal a TOW launcher from one of the Jeep kits in the stash and glue it on top.

Quote from: kerick on December 20, 2024, 07:53:44 AMIf I move the air vent to the other side I can install the box launcher Bradley style. Or steal a TOW launcher from one of the Jeep kits in the stash and glue it on top.

On the roof ain't a good idea bud...it would be knackered the moment it went under a low hanging branch...the tube the TOW uses is just thin steel tubing and dropping one can bend it ...it stick with the Bradley one ..it also looks better .
If you still went with moving the engine deck and then just mounted the TOW on a ..say hydraulic ram so it just goes up and down it would still work perfectly and still be protected when its down .
Oh another thought 
If ya put a door directly in front of the launcher ..when it's down you could reload it from inside the tank   
Am I making Ken's life easier? Nope 😄 😄

Food for thought. There is empty space on top in front of the loaders hatch. I could put an armor plate in front of the box instead of the moving plate the Bradley uses. Then maybe a scissors device to raise and lower it. The loader would have to make double sure his hatch was closed before a missile was fired! Plus the side of the box is a good place to put witty names for the vehicle. I met a Bradley crew in Iraq who had painted the name "Camel TOW" on the box. Their commander made them remove it. Spoil sport!

Quote from: kerick on December 21, 2024, 08:32:49 AMmet a Bradley crew in Iraq who had painted the name "Camel TOW" on the box. Their commander made them remove it. Spoil sport!

  

I've added armor plates to the front and fiddly bits to the sides and back end. Not much else going on except Christmas prep. Friday I'm going to the aircraft restoration company I went to last year. They have an F4U Corsair taken apart right now so that will be interesting. I'm sure some other stuff in pieces around the shop. I'll take lots of pics.

Quote from: kerick on December 24, 2024, 10:32:51 AMI'll take lots of pics.

Yes, Please!

Quote from: Rick Lowe on December 25, 2024, 11:22:12 PM

Quote from: kerick on December 24, 2024, 10:32:51 AMI'll take lots of pics.

Yes, Please!

Yup yup   

Here's a few pics of the latest progress. Welded on front armor, lights, searchlight, gun barrel, lifting hooks on the back, need some for the front. And drill out the vision ports on the cupola so I can fill them with UV resin. I have some violet paint that might look good painted inside of the ports. I was going to mount a .30 cal MG in front of the loaders hatch but now the searchlight looks to be in the way.
I think I will pass on the TOW box on this build. I still have the shortened hull to deal with. TOW might work well for that.