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Tuesday, June 28, 2016 - 12:09 PM UTC
Continuing their series of IDF vehicles and specifically after the Magach 1&2, Dragon launches now a Magach 3.
Dragon continues to focus on the fascinating world of Israeli vehicles in its 1/35 scale kit range. After previously releasing its 2-in-1 kit depicting a Magach 1 / Magach 2 tank as used by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Dragon now offers a Magach 3 as part of its Six-Day War series.

A whole range of Magachs based on both the M48 and M60 were introduced. The Magach 3 was a modernized M48A1/A2C/A3 tank. Among the improvements were fitting of a British L7 105mm main gun (instead of the original 90mm gun), upgraded communications, a 750hp Continental AVDS-1790-2A diesel engine coupled to an Allison CD-850-6 automatic transmission, and a low-profile commander’s cupola.

This 1/35 scale kit inherits many of the features of Dragon’s existing M48 model, but it has been suitably modified to represent a Magach 3 tank serving in the IDF. It incorporates 105mm main gun and the mantlet with its weatherproof cover made from DS.

The accurately shaped turret has subtle texture and embossed casting numbers. It also includes metal tow cables metal wire with new photo-etched brackets.

Additionally, there are photo-etched parts for delicate elements, plus the tank uses one-piece tracks made from DS.
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Comments

Not really. It is just an upgunned A3. It retained the early A3 analog sighting computer, side loading air cleaners (which should be armored), round headlight cluster, etc. M48A5s were built off of M48A3 Mod B tanks and had their upgrades (smaller headlights, armored tail lights, armored bars on the rear plate, etc.), along with an M60A1 sighting computer, top-loading air cleaner, urdan-style low-profile cupola (early ones did retain the M1 cupola), and other updated parts. The IDF also used the British L7 105mm barrel as opposed to the US M68, which did not have a raised lip on either end of the bore evacuator. The drawings and CAD show some errors too. Mainly in the rear plate. It (as all their M48s do) has the raised armor bars around the exhaust louvers. These are features of M48A3 Mod B and later tanks and should not be present on a tank w/round headlights and unarmored (round top) tail lights. By fixing just them, it could be a very early IDF M48A3. The IDF quickly started updating them. The more common commander's cupolas used by the IDF were old Sherman cupolas since they did not like the enclosed gun on the M1 cupola. On later models, they developed the Urdan cupola. Also, the IDF added an armored box over the side-loading air cleaners as well. Some pics:
JUN 28, 2016 - 07:51 PM
idf in 1/35th scale.
JUN 29, 2016 - 02:12 AM
Wow! How insightful.
JUN 29, 2016 - 05:59 AM
Wow! How insightful. [/quote] That guys whole profile is nothing but short pointlessly obvious comments. No useful contributions at all that I can see.
JUN 29, 2016 - 06:38 AM
Dragon failed to include low profile cupola.
JUN 29, 2016 - 09:24 AM
That's not all they missed, read my long post above.
JUN 29, 2016 - 05:00 PM
I was really excited to see dml take the IDF route, adding more choice of manufacturers to the modeller. i was hoping for some time that IDF subject would get the "dragon treatment) like their crazy panzer kits. Oh well
JUN 29, 2016 - 10:11 PM
I have the Def Model conversion for Magach 3, but not kit to convert. In your expert opinions would I be better off with this kit or the Dragon M48A3, or doesn't it matter?
AUG 04, 2016 - 02:28 PM
This is just the Dragon M48A3 with the 105 barrel from theIr M60 kit. That means wrong barrel as well an undersized one.
AUG 04, 2016 - 03:35 PM
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