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M48A3 Finished

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  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
M48A3 Finished
Posted by ridleusmc on Sunday, May 27, 2007 11:53 PM

Hey guys,

I just finished Tamiya's M48A3.  It has an Eduard PE set and a Legends Products gun mantlet.  The final dullcoat was a bit old and added a heavy grey tinge to the model, but I think it will turn out OK in the dusty diorama setting that I have planned for it.  What'd guys think?

Semper Fi,

Chris

  • Member since
    May 2007
  • From: Auckland, New Zealand
Posted by Jazza on Monday, May 28, 2007 12:25 AM

Hey Chris, Great looking tank! Did this kit come with any figures? I really like how you did the gun mantlet. 

Just a tip, the camera flash tends to hide all the hard work you placed into the weathering. Suggest you try taking a photo using a tripod or a pile of books and take the photo without a flash. Use a table lamp thats positioned behind the camera to compensate for the lack of a flash and soften the light with a Kleenex tissue over the lamp. 

Jeremy Wee ModelArmour Administrator
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posted by ridleusmc on Monday, May 28, 2007 12:37 AM

Jazza,

I took your advice, and these pics turned out better.  However, there is still some glare. 

Semper Fi,

Chris

  • Member since
    April 2004
  • From: The cornfields of Ohio
Posted by crockett on Monday, May 28, 2007 1:02 AM

Hey Chris,

Looks like an M48, but a couple things are jumpin out at me. Since you took the trouble to add some AM, maybe you might be interested in changinga few things?

I think the searchlight should have a canvas cover or the lens should be plexiglass?

The fenders are bent , but the paint is in tact, a collision would leave a little scraped paint?

The classic "fogging " of the (Testors?) dull laquer really gives an inconsistent finish, rather than imply "dust" from the road. I would hit the whole model with some future, and after cure, start over with a nice wash to bring out the details, especially the suspension and lower hull..then hit her with a reliable matte coat like Polyscale

It looks like the gunners and driver vision blocks are painted OD

only the left upper tail blackout light should have a red lens? (check me on this).

the kool aid can on the left rear fender isn't tied down, it would certainly fall off the minute the vehicle moved

I would also apply some slight rust to the heater exhaust tube, these things really got hot and the paint sort of baked off in the field

The rear grille door vanes should have some "soot" applied, as this is where the exhaust vented.

Just a few things from my tankin' years buddy.

I'm really looking forward to your dio project.

 

Steve

 

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posted by ridleusmc on Monday, May 28, 2007 1:16 AM

Thanks for the info crockett.  I'll adjust windage accordingly.

Semper Fi,

Chris 

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Posted by russamys on Monday, May 28, 2007 9:10 AM
I like the odds and ends tossed on the vehicles, especially the cots and the water/coffee container. 
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Tacoma WA
Posted by gjek on Thursday, May 31, 2007 12:22 AM
Yep, cots and coffee, must be at the tank range.Wink [;)]
Msgt USMC Ret M48, M60A1, M1A1
  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Katy, TX
Posted by jthurston on Thursday, May 31, 2007 9:45 AM

I'm a big fan of M48s and M60s, but I can't pretend to know much about them.

They're cool-looking tanks, used a lot in the 60s, 70s and 80s, and they're generally green in color or that cool-lookin' old-pattern camo. You know, that kinda stuff.

I love this build, and my favorite thing about it is the fold-up cots. Although, I'm not sure if they should be the aluminum ones or the older green-wood-framed ones. You know, for time-frame reference. Kinder seems to me like them tanks was in all-over 3-color camo (4-color sometimes) by the time the metal-framed cots came out. But I could be wrong 'bout that.

My other favorite thing is the graying, or generally faded, dusty look of the upper hull. I'm not seeing it as much on the turret or the roadwheels though. I'd like to see it overall. I'd also like to see Tamiya or Vallejo come out with that just-right faded OD for armor. Call it "Old CARC". (You treadheads will know about CARC).  

  • Member since
    January 2007
Posted by the doog on Thursday, May 31, 2007 10:09 AM

Hey Chris, ditto on what crockett said (man, he knows his stuff huh?!)

Nice build, I love this tank...I would hit this with an overall wash of darkened OD, to stifle the "fogged" effect a bit; that fogging, by the way, is not the actual dullcoat itself, but a result of the caustic lacquer attacking the undercoat/base coat; happens mostly on darker paints. Try going for very light succesive coats rather than one heavy application. Might interest ya to know I don't "seal" 90% of my tanks--I don't like the way the lacquer dulls the details...

If this is gonna be a "'Nam" tank, it seems a wee bit clean for me. Viey Nam's climate was real rough on equipment, with the humidity and constant intermittent rain; I would think that even in a dusty setting there'd be a lot more rust and streaks on this ol' vet...

Additionally, if it is a 'Nam tank, (sure looks like the markings were from that theatre) the dust would be of a reddish hue, not so much tan. It shouldn't be too hard to scare up some color photos (the Internet?) to see what I mean... 

  • Member since
    April 2011
  • From: Dayton, OH
Posted by tcepilot on Monday, June 27, 2011 10:04 PM

I am making the same exact model right now!, GREAT KIT.ang great job...

-tcepilot

 

 

 just make a gif here

   

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Dripping Springs, TX, USA
Posted by RBaer on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 7:50 AM

Looks good, and I agree on pretty much everything that's been suggested so far.........

BTW, I just finished Robert Peavey's "Praying For Slack", great book, with some very good pics of his two M48s in the field. Highly recommended........

Apprentice rivet counter.

  • Member since
    July 2004
  • From: Texas
Posted by wbill76 on Tuesday, June 28, 2011 2:22 PM

Whistling Zombie thread rises from the dead exactly 4 years to the day! They want brains...or at least a good hamburger... Smile Burger 

  • Member since
    September 2006
  • From: Dripping Springs, TX, USA
Posted by RBaer on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 9:03 AM

wbill76

Whistling Zombie thread rises from the dead exactly 4 years to the day! They want brains...or at least a good hamburger... Smile Burger 

Wow, I didn't even notice......Surprise

Apprentice rivet counter.

  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: Allentown, PA
Posted by BaBill212 on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 1:01 PM

Looks good Chris,,,,,,   lots of good follow-up info fodder too.

Will be looking forward to the finished diorama!

 

Mostly,,,, thanks for sharing

Enjoy the ride!

 

  • Member since
    March 2006
Posted by TD4438 on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 3:59 PM

Zombie thread or not,I like it!

  • Member since
    October 2009
  • From: South Carolina
Posted by jetmodeler on Thursday, June 30, 2011 7:41 AM

TD4438

Zombie thread or not,I like it!

Ditto

 

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