Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
Hosted by Darren Baker
Latest build: M60 AVLB conversion WIP
TomO
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Ohio, United States
Joined: August 25, 2004
KitMaker: 23 posts
Armorama: 21 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2019 - 03:38 PM UTC
While you are working on the bridge you may want to change the hydraulic lines at the bridge half connection point. Part J54 is incorrect. It should have an elbow at both ends. Part J45 actually represents a flexible line that runs inside the bridge and connects to the elbow of part J54. The other end of J54 should also have an elbow that connects to a pipe that runs through the bridge to the hydraulic cylinder and the connections to the launcher. See Prime Portal picture below for clarity. http://data3.primeportal.net/tanks/jeff_nelson/m60a1_avlb/images/m60a1_avlb_06_of_38.jpg
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2019 - 11:42 PM UTC
Thanks guys. It is almost done. I should have some completed pics soon.
M4A1Sherman
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New York, United States
Joined: May 02, 2013
KitMaker: 4,403 posts
Armorama: 4,078 posts
Posted: Tuesday, March 26, 2019 - 11:52 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Thanks guys. It has been a fun build so far. Almost done.

Andreas, good catch. That should be an easy fix. It looks as though the top has a fixed pin and the bottom has a plate. Back to the bench.



VERY NICE, Gino!!! Looking forward to seeing this project of yours once its done!!!
47jw66
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California, United States
Joined: January 16, 2014
KitMaker: 23 posts
Armorama: 22 posts
Posted: Wednesday, March 27, 2019 - 02:18 AM UTC
Gino, your model looks great!
Just a "heads up". HobbyEasy has this kit listed again as available on their website.
John

HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 31, 2019 - 09:04 AM UTC
Thanks Dennis and John. I have finally finished it.

Firstly, I fixed the bridge where the angled section meets the flat section. It was pointed out that the 70-ton bridge has a fixed pin at the top and a bolted plate at the bottom. The 60-ton bridge in the kit has removable pins at both locations.



I cut off the removable pins and modified both locations to match the above pic.


Now on to the completed build. I weathered it with acrylic paint washes and some drybrushing of a sandy color.





I added a bit of rust and bare metal to the foot that supports the bridge as well.


With the erector arm deployed.




The weathered bridge.


The whole enchilada...bridge mounted on the carrier. This is one big model.






That is it, fine'. I really enjoyed building this conversion and am very satisfied with the way it turned out. It looks impressive sitting on my shelf as it dwarfs an Abrams.
27-1025
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: September 16, 2004
KitMaker: 1,281 posts
Armorama: 1,222 posts
Posted: Sunday, March 31, 2019 - 09:19 AM UTC
Looks awesome. Inspiring a lot of us to try this conversion. On the hunt for a reasonably priced M48 AVLB - hard to find right now.
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Monday, April 01, 2019 - 12:22 AM UTC
Thanks Chris.
Kenaicop
#384
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Nevada, United States
Joined: August 23, 2005
KitMaker: 1,426 posts
Armorama: 1,316 posts
Posted: Monday, April 01, 2019 - 02:44 AM UTC
Great job, Gino. Can’t wait to get my hands on one of these, some day
LonCray1
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United States
Joined: November 28, 2018
KitMaker: 55 posts
Armorama: 42 posts
Posted: Monday, April 01, 2019 - 04:45 AM UTC
That is an immense amount of plastic made into art. Great job!
Now we just need an Abrams bridge... Gino, you know that if you start one, somebody will produce it in styrene...
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Monday, April 01, 2019 - 06:44 AM UTC
Thanks James and Lee. It was a fun build.

I had thought about doing the Abrams-based JAB (Joint Assault Bridge), but really there isn't enough info and pics out there yet for it. It would be a cool, yet challenging build.
Burik
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: March 12, 2002
KitMaker: 1,437 posts
Armorama: 1,303 posts
Posted: Monday, April 01, 2019 - 12:46 PM UTC
Alright. I'd like to see this in a vignette or something.
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Monday, April 01, 2019 - 11:50 PM UTC
Thanks for checking in Bob. I don't think it will go on a dio/vignette any time soon. It is already huge.
Quartercav
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Hessen, Germany
Joined: February 06, 2014
KitMaker: 64 posts
Armorama: 64 posts
Posted: Tuesday, April 09, 2019 - 11:58 PM UTC
Hey Gino,
Very good job! I returned to my AVLB, after I worked on my Fox!

But it is difficult to finish it, after I noticed more issues of the lifting mechanism.

Quartercav
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Hessen, Germany
Joined: February 06, 2014
KitMaker: 64 posts
Armorama: 64 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 12:03 AM UTC
ITALIANMLRS
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Treviso, Italy
Joined: June 24, 2018
KitMaker: 15 posts
Armorama: 11 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 03:23 AM UTC
Great job Gino!! Well done!
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Wednesday, April 10, 2019 - 08:55 AM UTC
Thanks Alvise, it has been fun.

Andreas, at some point you have to say, "it is close enough" and finish it. I saw all sorts of other issues I could have gone on fixing.
Quartercav
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Hessen, Germany
Joined: February 06, 2014
KitMaker: 64 posts
Armorama: 64 posts
Posted: Friday, April 12, 2019 - 04:24 AM UTC
Gino, you are absolutely right! True words!
I'll see to finish it the next time.
KoSprueOne
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Myanmar
Joined: March 05, 2004
KitMaker: 4,011 posts
Armorama: 1,498 posts
Posted: Friday, April 12, 2019 - 01:27 PM UTC
Nice finish and conversion of the conversion onto an M60 and then the 70 ton tweek




2CAVTrooper
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Alabama, United States
Joined: October 21, 2005
KitMaker: 310 posts
Armorama: 302 posts
Posted: Friday, April 12, 2019 - 01:40 PM UTC
Wow Gino, totally awesome build.
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Saturday, April 13, 2019 - 12:28 AM UTC
Thanks Jeff and KoSprueOne.
skyshark
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North Carolina, United States
Joined: November 16, 2005
KitMaker: 703 posts
Armorama: 499 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 14, 2019 - 06:13 AM UTC
See gino. I told you since you are building this someone will make a m60 avlb. At the 2019 Japan model show dragon showed their new m60 avlb.
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
KitMaker: 17,694 posts
Armorama: 13,742 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 14, 2019 - 07:28 AM UTC

Quoted Text

At the 2019 Japan model show dragon showed their new m60 avlb.



That figures, and you are all welcome. Have any pictures of it?
GulfWarrior
Staff MemberCampaigns Administrator
ARMORAMA
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Texas, United States
Joined: January 05, 2010
KitMaker: 1,051 posts
Armorama: 1,029 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 14, 2019 - 08:58 AM UTC
WooHoo!! Can't wait!

ironhull
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Venezia, Italy
Joined: November 23, 2013
KitMaker: 134 posts
Armorama: 134 posts
Posted: Tuesday, May 14, 2019 - 09:29 AM UTC


From Tetra Model Works Facebook page. Only for discussion.

Late model as Gino done but can't really understand if based on A2 or A1 hull. If it's an A2 I hope they fix some dimensional issue it had.