Almost done with first kit ever - looking for feedback

Skarz, I'm no pro, but I'll add my congratulations on your achievement. This is very well done for your first effort. You have mastered the basics! Several have challenged you to take the next step, now, and focus on weathering/wear/etc. techniques. Let me add my encouragement to that. With your eye, you could create some remarkable pieces. I look forward to seeing more from you. Barrett

Good job! 

Thats a real nice build! You have obviously done your homework.

Thanks for sharing.

I don't build tanks, but I have had good luck using cheap drugstore makeup for weathering. Grind it into a powder and apply with a dry brush. Just remember to clearcoat after.

Good looking Patton you got there, friend!  

I would try using a dark brown or grayish-black wash around your detail areas, such as the stored hand tools, lights, panel lines, and exterior storage boxes.  The old Monogram kit is a classic, but lacks a lot of detail parts, especially the grab handles here and there, but no real big issue.

Remember that a tank or an armored vehicle is a crewed by Soldiers, in the case of the M48, a crew of 4: Commander, gunner, loader, and driver.  Since there's no room inside the 'fighting compartment' of the tank, most personal gear has to be stored somewhere on the exterior of the tank that doesn't interfere with crew visibility and operation of the turret and supplementary weapons' systems.  If you want to kick your game up a notch, look for online pictures of M48s (or whatever you're building) for extra details that will make your tanks even more realistic and a home for the crew that serves them.

Awesome job, are you REALLY sure that this is your first kit as an adult?  Looks great; keep up the good work.

TAD

Looks great.

keavdog

Looks great.  I like the mucked up tracks.

 

That was the first thing that caught my eye too. Nice work.

Thanks for the replies everyone. Too many to respond to individually but I'll address a few responses:

• This really is my first kit! I attempted a few builds as a kid but rarely made it past step two or three because I was too impatient to ever let the paint dry! I am 30 now so patience fortunately is a virtue I have gained and I'm ok with taking it slow now.
• I have been practicing dot filter techniques on some red solo cups that I sprayed with Tamiya and then a layer or dull coat. I'd say I'm doing 'ok' but I was too scared to try it on the actual thing hehe. Same with oil and rust streaks... I'll be adding some to the cupola once I'm more confident.

Thanks again everyone for the responses!

It is hard for me to believe that this is your first tank. Well done indeed! Can't wait to see how you progress in your modelling from such a good start. Keep posting too!

Hmm;

 Me likum big dirty tank thingy. Looks fine ta me . T.B.

Although I'm not a pro, i think your tank looks good. 

I'm curious what you used for the mud on the tracks

T e d

Yeah, you can't call yourself a novice any longer, great job! 

Ideally, I would use the technique that you used to muddy the lower half of the tank. Do the same to the turret, but, more subtlely. This way for this model, it will stay uniform. Streak it down the turret to look like rain/mud streaks.

But, for your next kit, I would use the dot filter technique. This can get tricky because you need to know what type of paint your base coat/top coat will be (acrylic, enamel, lacquer). Here is a good video of this technique: Here

Hope this helps, and again great job on this M48!

Nice model. I don't believe it's the first kit you've ever built, or even the 10th.

There are so many modifications to the old kit that you obviously know what you are doing.

Nice model though.

Yep looks good from here .. 

Great job! One idea, if you want to weather the tank, you can use pastels from the art store (NOT oil pastels) chalk pastels are cheap and you can mix them with water to streak, or use oil paints with thinner. 

Thanks for posting!

I’m far from a pro but that looks fantastic!

Your Friend, Toshi

Looks great.  I like the mucked up tracks.

Wow, looks great! I've only done a few tanks, so no expert on armor. Only suggestion I have would be to use a soft lead pencil to add some wear points here and there. The edges of fenders, towing hooks, jerry can, etc. Subtle is better!