Thanks Pawel.  Yup, this one will be very clean and in semi-gloss dark green.  The Berlin BDE vehicles were on display to the Soviets as much as a show of force.  They were kept pristine.

Hello Gino!

It's good to see you building again! I believe this one will fit your finishing style perfectly - I have heard the Berlin Brigade kept their stuff very clean. Some time ago I helped my friend restore a 51' M-38 Jeep, and we have also painted it in Berlin Command markings. Good luck with your build and have a nice day

Paweł

Thanks Gino for taking the time to explain that. Makes a lot of sense. 

Thanks Gamera - The rifle was for the TC (Tank Commander).  Sometimes you need the precision of a rifle over a spray and pray MG inside a cupola that is hard to aim, limits your line of sight, and can't really be maneuvered quickly.  A rifle can be quickly shouldered, aimed and fired before the MG in the cupola can be spun around to find the target through a soda straw sight.  This is the same reason many later M48A3 TC's in Vietnam removed the internal .50 cal and mounted a free .50 cal onto the outside of the TC's cupola on a pintle mount so it could be brought to bear quickly when needed.

Hey Gino, nice work as usual on the searchlight and the rifle case. 

The latter does confuse me. Was the rifle for the CO and why did he need this when he has a machine gun in the cupola turret? Just seems odd to me. 

Thanks Mike.  Always good to have you check in.

As always your details are a work of art. Nice work.

Rounds Complete!!