I'd hoped to get back to these a little earlier than nine months... 

Anyway the Tortoise is almost done and I pulled the M103 back out again. 

I pre-shaded with Testor's Model Master Helo Green. 

And then sprayed the model with Testor's Model Master Marine Corps Green. Mike said above this is incorrect but it looks close to photos I've seen on the internet. Is this at all correct? Should I go back and redo her with more Helo Green? Should I go for something totally different? Sorry, they're not the best photos but I hope they're close enough to get some idea where I'm headed here. And I am going to pre-shade it a big lighter so both of these should be darker than the end result. 

I think I'm going for the top tank in the instructions: 

Rob Gronovius

I think the yellow smaller markings are for the USMC version that the instructions show as unidentified unit in Germany.

 

Agreed. The Army was using number or geometric symbols with numbers for  unit ID markings, not letter & number combos.

Thanks Rob! So the top two are army AFVs? I think I'm going to have to pick up a few bottles of the Gunze brand OD green SP pointed out. I have a bottle of MM acrylic 4723 US Army Helo Drab that looks pretty close. Shame the brand is now gone and I won't be able to get any more.

Sorry guys, back now.

Xenon & John: I'll try to get to the ZTZ-99A sometime next year. They did provide a B&W print of the camo, I was thinking of transfering them to some Frog tape and just applying it to the model as a mask. 

MM: Thanks and noted!

Anyway here are the decal instructions:

Thanks guys!

Had a kidney stone today and think it passed but I'm still a bit sore. I'll try to post the decaling instructions for the M103 tomorrow or Monday.

stikpusher

Thats right! I had forgotten about the Marines having the A1. Does the A1 kit come with Marine Corps markings?

Yes, the M103A1 does come with USMC registration markings that you use with the white stars instead of Army divisional bumper numbers. The decal sheet is different than the USMC one that comes with the A2.

I love a good Panzer but I would have to go with the Tortoise.

Rob Gronovius

 

 

stikpusher

He showed the Army A1 version up top, not the Marine Corps A2 kit. 

 

 

 

The Marines used both the M103A1 and M103A2 and even received the Army's only heavy tank battalion's A1s when that unit got rid of them (2/33 Armor).

All M103A2s began life as earlier versions of the M103 before being converted or rebuilt.

 

Thats right! I had forgotten about the Marines having the A1. Does the A1 kit come with Marine Corps markings?

stikpusher

He showed the Army A1 version up top, not the Marine Corps A2 kit. 

The Marines used both the M103A1 and M103A2 and even received the Army's only heavy tank battalion's A1s when that unit got rid of them (2/33 Armor).

All M103A2s began life as earlier versions of the M103 before being converted or rebuilt.

M. Brindos

I cast my vote for the M-103. 

It should be in Marine Corps Green. Model Master makes it in enamel. Don't bother with the MM acrylic, it's not the same color.

Wait, which version are you thinking of? O.D. may be correct.

 

He showed the Army A1 version up top, not the Marine Corps A2 kit. 

I cast my vote for the M-103. 

It should be in Marine Corps Green. Model Master makes it in enamel. Don't bother with the MM acrylic, it's not the same color.

Wait, which version are you thinking of? O.D. may be correct.

+1 on the ztz. I am intrigued to see how you do the digital camo.

The ZTZ. Only because I have the B variant by Hobby Boss and want to see how you do the camo lol

Gamera

Cool, thanks SP!!! 

I've got some darker OD green that should be perfect for that. 

 

I like Gunze Olive Drab (2) for that era OD.

Here's a lone vote for the T-90, but I'm a sucker for cool box art.

Seems to me if you get your paint groove on, you'll knock out half of those in short order.

Hope you get a lot of happy bench time!

Cool, thanks SP!!! 

I've got some darker OD green that should be perfect for that. 

Gamera

Then the M103A1, it's olive drab too, I think the dark Vietnam era OD is right instead of the lighter WWII OD. Please correct me if I'm wrong. 

The late 50’s/early 60’s OD is a semi gloss and a bit darker than the WWII shade, but not the dark shade seen in Vietnam and afterwards.

Here‘s a better shot of the OD from the same era

Lol, yes I love that name - TORTOISE!!! 

Think I'll move it to number 2 after the M48A3...

1). M48A3

2). A39 Tortoise

3). M103A1

After those all green schemes I should be ready to get back into some more complex camo schemes.

4). M60A3 

5). K2A1 Black Panther

And thanks for the vote of confidence Bruce! And I know you're going to get a bunch of stuff finished in 2021!  

Real G

Tortoise, because, you know, "Gamera".  

 

LOL!

I pick 1 through 10! Git er done! 

Like I can say anything about getting anything done! 

Tortoise, because, you know, "Gamera".  

Well, the closest to being done is the M48A3 so I'll move it to the top of the list. 

Then the M103A1, it's olive drab too, I think the dark Vietnam era OD is right instead of the lighter WWII OD. Please correct me if I'm wrong. 

And the then the A39 Tortoise. It's just plain bronze green so it should be fairly simple. 

The M60A3, K2A1, Chinese tanks etc are all at about the same level of completion. Just requiring a boatload of masking. 

stikpusher

I agree with getting the one closest to the finish line over the finish line. I think the three US tanks all qualify there. 

And on the M60A3, you mentioned masking for the NATO camo... are you going with the NATO Tri color CARC scheme? Those had a soft edge pattern, although the feathering was pretty tight. MERDC schemes go with way, some hard edged, some feathered. I saw plenty of both.

 

 

I was about to call it MERDC but I'm not sure that's the right scheme here. I was going with Silly Putty and a hard edge scheme- in 1/35th soft looks pretty hard in scale unless it's really soft. I'm happy to take your advice if I'm wrong here.

In order of weirdness: Tortoise, then K2A1.

I agree with getting the one closest to the finish line over the finish line. I think the three US tanks all qualify there. 

And on the M60A3, you mentioned masking for the NATO camo... are you going with the NATO Tri color CARC scheme? Those had a soft edge pattern, although the feathering was pretty tight. MERDC schemes go with way, some hard edged, some feathered. I saw plenty of both.

I like the idea of finishing the ones nearest completion since people tend to get inspiration from actually finishing something quickly. Psychologically, you are more likely to quickly move on to the lower part of your list by finishing a couple of models nearing completion.

Bill

Bish

The A39, and i would go for Deep Bronze Green.

 

Thanks Bish! Deep Bronze Green makes sense. 

So I've got your vote for the A39 and Bill's for the M103 so far. 

GMorrison

A while back I made a rule. Start new/ finish shelf queen. No breaking it. Works sort of OK.

 

Bill

 

That is good advice Bill. I intend to start two new kits for GBs next year. So if I can finish off two of these older kits I'll be doing well. I aiming for at least five though.