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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
Hosted by Darren Baker
M103 Build blog
BigfootV
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Colorado, United States
Joined: December 24, 2005
KitMaker: 1,624 posts
Armorama: 994 posts
Posted: Saturday, July 05, 2014 - 06:59 PM UTC
Hello everyone,

Recently I was asked by Mr. Jim Starkweather if I'd be interested in doing a build blog on a kit that had gotten a little of bit of a beating, Dragon's M103 "Black Label" kit.

Well, I said "Yeah, why not." Thanks Jim and Darren.

Received the kit today along with an overdue Father's Day gift from my nephew, a Tamiya King Tiger kit.

I should be starting the build shortly.
Should be interesting.


http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo6/BigfootV/M103A1%20Build%20blog/403.jpg" BORDER="0">
BigfootV
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Joined: December 24, 2005
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Posted: Saturday, July 05, 2014 - 07:03 PM UTC
Hopefully I'll get the images right also.

See ya in the funnies................
Removed by original poster on 07/06/14 - 12:05:09 (GMT).
Removed by original poster on 07/06/14 - 12:06:57 (GMT).
SdAufKla
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South Carolina, United States
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Posted: Sunday, July 06, 2014 - 12:08 AM UTC
http://i356.photobucket.com/albums/oo6/BigfootV/M103A1%20Build%20blog/403.jpg



Next time, just copy the IMG link and not the DIRECT link and then past the IMG link into your post.



Good luck with the M103 build!
BigfootV
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Joined: December 24, 2005
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Posted: Sunday, July 06, 2014 - 01:57 AM UTC
Ah, I see said the blind man has he took the hammer and saw.

Thanks Mike, it's been awhile since I've done any moving of photo's from Photobucket to here, a little rusty.

See ya in the funnies............
tankmodeler
#417
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Ontario, Canada
Joined: March 01, 2004
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Posted: Sunday, July 06, 2014 - 11:16 AM UTC
Very interested in watching this. Will it be out of the box or a "rebuild for accuracy" effort?

Paul
BigfootV
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Colorado, United States
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Posted: Sunday, July 06, 2014 - 01:05 PM UTC
Hey Paul,

Thanks for tuning in.
Hmmm, I'm looking at the kit now. Not sure at this point, might be O.O.B.

My brother is going to take research photos of the M103 sitting at Ft. Hood, Tx. for me in case I go rivet counting.

So...we shall see.



See ya in the funnies............
BigfootV
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Colorado, United States
Joined: December 24, 2005
KitMaker: 1,624 posts
Armorama: 994 posts
Posted: Monday, July 07, 2014 - 06:49 AM UTC
Hello everybody,

To make things easier I've made this

www.m103heavytankbuild.blogspot.com

I'll be posting here has well.

See ya in the funnies..............
BigfootV
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Colorado, United States
Joined: December 24, 2005
KitMaker: 1,624 posts
Armorama: 994 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 08, 2014 - 03:03 PM UTC
Hi all,

I've done some work on the road wheels, return rollers, glue hull together. Will post photo's tomorrow.
Stay tuned.

See ya in the funnies..............
Removed by original poster on 07/09/14 - 17:29:00 (GMT).
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Removed by original poster on 07/09/14 - 17:36:50 (GMT).
Removed by original poster on 07/09/14 - 17:38:49 (GMT).
Removed by original poster on 07/09/14 - 17:49:41 (GMT).
BigfootV
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Colorado, United States
Joined: December 24, 2005
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Armorama: 994 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 - 05:51 AM UTC
Very interesting find. Note sprue tags.



Still working on getting photos posted here. Did what was suggested. I'll get it right before the build is done. LOL

See ya in the funnies..........................

18Bravo
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Colorado, United States
Joined: January 20, 2005
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Posted: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 - 06:55 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hey Paul,

Thanks for tuning in.
Hmmm, I'm looking at the kit now. Not sure at this point, might be O.O.B.

My brother is going to take research photos of the M103 sitting at Ft. Hood, Tx. for me in case I go rivet counting.

I alrerady have those photos if you want them. Save him a trip...
So...we shall see.



See ya in the funnies............

BigfootV
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Colorado, United States
Joined: December 24, 2005
KitMaker: 1,624 posts
Armorama: 994 posts
Posted: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 - 07:23 AM UTC
Hello Robert,

Nice of you to pop in also.

I'm still waiting on those photo from Ft. Hood.

My brother is stationed there Robert, lives off base, so it won't be a wasted trip. LOL. He's looking at a Medical Discharge in August.

Anyways, looks like an Out of the box build so far, nothing after market going on. Just the P.E. that is provided in the kit.

P.M. me if you'd like Robert.

See ya in the funnies..................

Vodnik
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Warszawa, Poland
Joined: March 26, 2003
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Posted: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 - 09:01 AM UTC
Brian,

I have a piece of advice for you: do not, I repeat: DO NOT look at any reference photos if you want to have a fun simple build.

Two reasons for that: first is that the kit is supposed to represent M103A1 and not a single M103A1 tank has survived today, so references appropriate for this version are hard to get. All surviving examples are either T43/M103 or M103A2. M103A1 was a mixture of features of M103 and M103A2 and a more serious research is required to identify which features belong to M103A1... The Dragon kit is a mix of some correct M103A1 features with others wrong for that version.

And the second reason is that the Dragon kit is so bad that practically every detail, dimension and shape is wrong... Once you start correcting them, you practically have to scratchbuild most of the tank... Ask me how I know it...
BigfootV
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Colorado, United States
Joined: December 24, 2005
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Posted: Wednesday, July 09, 2014 - 01:39 PM UTC
Hello Pawel,

Thanks for the advice. Reference photos to me are just that, reference. Look but don't try to duplicate.

Yes, there are some concerns that were noted with the post you started. I've kept that in mind, and I'm sure you've added some more gray hair's because of it.

All kidding a side Pawel, this will be a fun build. I'm just going to do it and note the issues as they happen. Buyer beware or buy the kit and find out and have fun.

Thanks again for your advise.

See ya in the funnies..............
BigfootV
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Colorado, United States
Joined: December 24, 2005
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Posted: Saturday, July 12, 2014 - 11:13 AM UTC
Minor update.

Everything going well with build. Hope to have photos posted on Monday or Tuesday of progress.

See ya in the funnies.............
BigfootV
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Colorado, United States
Joined: December 24, 2005
KitMaker: 1,624 posts
Armorama: 994 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 - 03:00 AM UTC
Hey Gang,

Just posted progress update on Blog page.

Hope to have photos here later day of progress.
Question/comments welcome here or at Blog page.

See ya in the funnies.................

Next up, torsion bars, road wheel install, turret, and gun.
BigfootV
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Colorado, United States
Joined: December 24, 2005
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Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 - 03:46 AM UTC
Progress photos'









Shop helpers. Even they look bored.
CMOT
Staff MemberEditor-in-Chief
ARMORAMA
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England - South West, United Kingdom
Joined: May 14, 2006
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Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 - 04:18 AM UTC
Brian use the image code on photobucket; last option on the right next to 'img', members will then be able to follow your progress. I have edited your post above to show how easy it is to do.
BigfootV
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Colorado, United States
Joined: December 24, 2005
KitMaker: 1,624 posts
Armorama: 994 posts
Posted: Tuesday, July 15, 2014 - 07:06 AM UTC
Thanks Darren for doing that.

I've tried to used the "img" tag here and was unable to get them to post. I'm still trying to get them to take. So if you see a bunch of "deleted by user" spaces then you know why.


Thanks again.

See ya in the funnies...............
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