TONGDE M60A3 MAKEOVER AND INSTALLATION OF AFTERMARKET PARTS

[dai phan]

Howdy,

Looking at photos of tanks serving in the desert arena indicates these tanks are pretty weathered. I will need to add more random dark and light patches and highlights along the edges. Dai

[dai phan]

Weathering is completed. Now will be the decal stage. I will scan, enlarge to 1/16 and then print on decal paper. Dai

[Rubicon99]

Weathering is completed. Now will be the decal stage. I will scan, enlarge to 1/16 and then print on decal paper. Dai

Showing some character👍. It will get even better looking when you start adding the crew kit and gear.

[Meter Rat]

This is really starting to pop.

[dai phan]

Showing some character👍. It will get even better looking when you start adding the crew kit and gear.

I have these so I really can dress up the tank. You can put these in boiling water for a minute then bend them to the contour of the tank like the bags. I will do away with the crates as Rich advised as these are more appropriate for WW2 tanks. Dai

[dai phan]

Weathering is completed. Now will be the decal stage. I will scan, enlarge to 1/16 and then print on decal paper. Dai

Still feel more weathering is needed. What you think? Weathering really brings the tank to life! Dai

[dai phan]

Tonight I will hook up everything and test the recoil. Wish me luck please. Dai

[dai phan]

OK all,

The recoil does not work. I plug the servo lead into channel 1 and rotate both ways to ensure correct polarity. The tank recoils but no servo movement. Also the speaker stopped working. I had to replace it with a spare HL speaker. Looks like quality of TD's electronics is not so good. Dai

[Rubicon99]

OK all,

The recoil does not work. I plug the servo lead into channel 1 and rotate both ways to ensure correct polarity. The tank recoils but no servo movement. Dai

That is because your specific TD MFU does not have the servo ports activated. Only the newer 3.0 version have them activated as a factory setting. The older 2.0 are random. That is why people recommend to swap out the stock TD MFU with an upgraded HL 7.1 MFU.

[dai phan]

That is because your specific TD MFU does not have the servo ports activated. Only the newer 3.0 version have them activated as a factory setting. The older 2.0 are random. That is why people recommend to swap out the stock TD MFU with an upgraded HL 7.1 MFU.

I was on the phone with Rich. I am going to get the HL 7.1 as well as TX. The TD 2.0 is hit or miss. I know it is not reversed polarity or servo issue. Dai

[dai phan]

Using the photo as reference I tacked on the accessories. Dai

[Rubicon99]

Using the photo as reference I tacked on the accessories. Dai

Keep in mind you are doing an Egyptian M60. They do not have anywhere the amount of kit available to their crews as American M60 crews. The photo reference you are using is of an USMC M60 and the Marines are known for carrying even more kit then the Army.

Also the reference photo is at the "depot" and the gear on the front of the turret is simply stacked there waiting to be stowed in another location.

[dai phan]

Keep in mind you are doing an Egyptian M60. They do not have anywhere the amount of kit available to their crews as American M60 crews. The photo reference you are using is of an USMC M60 and the Marines are known for carrying even more kit then the Army.

Also the reference photo is at the "depot" and the gear on the front of the turret is simply stacked there waiting to be stowed in another location.

Thank you. Will remove the stuff on the front of the turret and reduce number of gears. Dai

[dai phan]

Howdy all,

I removed some of the stuff per advise butI am sure Rubicon will shake his head at this. My feeling still too much stuff ? Dai

[Rubicon99]

Howdy all,

I removed some of the stuff per advise butI am sure Rubicon will shake his head at this. My feeling still too much stuff ? Dai

If you feel it is too much then it is. You have to be happy with it.

[dai phan]

If you feel it is too much then it is. You have to be happy with it.

Thank you. All my life I am aircraft guy so I am very clumsy at this. Aircraft modelling is way way earier than armor! Dai

[Rubicon99]

Thank you. All my life I am aircraft guy so I am very clumsy at this. Aircraft modelling is way way earier than armor! Dai

Use Google Images to help out with where and how to place kit. Try googling Egyptian M60 tank, USMC M60 tank and M60A3 tank. When you get to you IDF M60 google Magach M60 the Israeli name for it.

The images will help you get a wider idea of what gear goes where.

[dai phan]

Greetings,

Thank you all for all your advises especially Rubicon in which his models are at MASTER level to say the least !!! But I am going to be realistic here especially for someone like me starting in this hobby. These tanks are toy grade accuracy. I custom paint my tank with careful research and will be making custom decals from 1/35 static kit. That shows I am serious about getting these tanks as close to static models as possible. But still they are toy grade accuracy and thar is why I exercise my liberty on decorating these tanks. As realistic as they look after painting, they are still a toy. So that is why I am so not OCD on these tanks as I am on my A/C models. But I thrive to make them as best as I can. I simply cannot thank Rubicon and Rich and others enough for all the help. Dai

[Meter Rat]

I think you are doing an excellent job of improving your model. We have a saying in the UK. Sometimes less is more.

[dai phan]

Howdy everyone...

Reduced further numbers of stuff on the tank. I hope maybe this is within reason? Dai