US M48A3 Patton Tank

This was a great model to build. Pieces fit well with very little need for trimming or sanding. There are prominent curved surfaces on this model and I found that lightly adding some shading with an airbrush really made those features stand out. Dry brushing some highlights on some of the smaller features also really brought out its character and realism. Even without taking those additional steps it still looked great.

Like almost any other Tamiya model, it takes little trouble or time to assemble. Only thing to be careful around is the clear plastic parts, which can be easily screwed up if too much glue is used, so use the glue as sparingly as possible in the steps said parts are included in. Other than that it is real easy to build. As with other kits, I would recommend assembling the wheels separate from the rest of the model so both the lower hull and the wheels are easier to paint and weather. For weathering, I combined some Tamiya weathering master mud and bright orange rust to create the orange-y color of the dirt in Vietnam, and ran some oil washes over the model to break up the uniform color (use the washes first so they do not lift the powders). I added highlights in a few areas afterwards. The crew provided is good, with relaxed poses. With a little fiddling around, however, they can be made to assume action poses. Definitely a must have for any Vietnam armor modeller.

I put this together in a few evenings of work. I spent little bursts of time on this tank it came out wonderfully. I do recommend using a thicker glue like Gorilla gel glue for the far front road wheel suspension as the tracks may pull on it and pull it off the hull. Take your time, don't furiously rush through it, and pay attention to the fine details and this kit will turn out fantastic. If you choose to weather this tank and have no experience what ever in weathering, use the AFV Green Vehicles Weathering Set. That kit really makes your build pop and look great. I'm pairing my M48A3 with a Master Box Limited Jungle Patrol figure kit.