Tamiya M48A3 Patton 1/35

[Dunhill2005]

M48A3

Many believed armor had little utility in Vietnam, but Marine and Army combat experience proved that there was no substitute for the shock and firepower tanks brought to the battlefield. Used primarily in the infantry support role, the M48A3 tank was America's main battle tank in Vietnam from the earliest combat action, and in South Vietnamese service almost to its last.

M48 was the final version of the Patton series, named after General George S. Patton. The first M48s were produced from 1952 to 1959, but the Vietnam-era A3 was a modernized and refurbished variant that first rolled out in February 1963. It had a supercharged diesel instead of a gasoline engine and an enhanced fire control system.

The turret and hull were made from cast homogenous steel and enjoyed a 60-degree frontal slope. The turret had 4.5 inches (114mm) of frontal armor, 3 inches (76mm) of side armor and 2 inches (52mm) in the rear. Hull's front armor was 4.3 inches (109mm), and side armor was 3 inches (76mm) forward and 2 inches (52mm) rear. Inch-thick floor plating gave good protection against enemy mines.

The M48's 90mm M41 cannon fired a 24.16 pound (11Kg) shell with a muzzle velocity of 2,800 feet per second (853 m/s) out to a maximum range of 4.500 meters, but the fire control system had a 2.500 meter limit. The gunner used an M17A1 coincidence rangefinder, and the fire control system included a repeater that displayed the gunner's sight picture to the commander. A coaxial .30 caliber (7.6mm) machine gun and a .50 (12.7mm) caliber gun in, or mounted on, the commander's cupola rounded out the tank's armament.

The M48A3's wide tracks gave it good off-road mobility, but Vietnam's exceptionally soft, deep mud frequently bogged it down. Its shallow fording depth 4 feet (1.2m) and weight could limit its employment. A kit was available that enabled the tank to ford rivers up to 14 feet (4.2m) deep, but it was rarely used.

Military Career
Patton tanks were in most of the war's major actions, serving with the Marines and three U.S. Army tank battalions and with Army armored cavalry squadrons until replaced by M551 Sheridan light tanks. As U.S. forces began to depart in 1970, they turned their M48s over to the South Vietnamese.
Although designed to combat massed Soviet armored formations, the Patton was an invaluable weapon for infantry support and defending firebases. It is generally considered superior to the T-54/55 and T-59 tanks the NVA deployed south in 1972 and later. The newer M60 replaced the Patton in regular U.S. Army and Marine units after the war, but the M48 remained in service with most American allies and its reserve units well into the 1990s.

id_m48_1cav_pettit_415_20051202_700.jpg

geokanlzgold.jpg

m48a3v_001.jpg

[Dunhill2005]

This will be my first American post-war tank. I got this kit from my wife as a birthday gift.
First I must say I love Tamiya kits. And this tank looks great.
The kit is from 1981 and the parts look great. Nerly no flashes or marks.
Tamiya has put two figures and a little accessories (luggage) in the box. NICE!
Unfortunately you can see the age at the tracks. The tracks from the M48 are huge. They will sharp pointy thing out later!

IMG_3670.JPG

IMG_3671.JPG

IMG_3672.JPG

[Dunhill2005]

IMG_3676.JPG

IMG_3679.JPG

IMG_3680.JPG

[AchtungPanzer]

Nice parts - Good luck with !

[gustavlekstal]

Very nice intro. Tnx for taking the time

[PaulAyrey]

That's a great start and great background info. Look forward to more of your build

[martin57]

it looks like a well detailed kit . are you going to put any photo etch on . if there is any .good luck with it

[Donkeywalloper]

Dunhill....what a great piece of history and the tank looks great.
Massive scope for a really interesting Dio.
Hope it goes well and will follow your build.
John

[theunrealisticartist]

Thats a great insight into the M48A3's history. Looking forward to seeing your progress.

[Nige99]

This is a lovely tank to build, yes it's a old kit but comes together nice. Done one many years ago! This will look good in a classic Nam dio.
Good luck with the build

[bradsbunker]

I wish my Mrs would buy me a tank on my birthday.

[snappercity]

Watching with interest. I built one of these many moons ago and fancy a go at the new Dragon kit sometime...

[Mike00]

Looking forward to following this one.

[Dunhill2005]

Bach home from work!!!!!

Here are the first pictures of the assembly.

The rollers are assembled and still need to be sanded to get a used look

IMG_3686.JPG

The suspension is attached to the lower hull and

IMG_3683.JPG

The gun was glued together and inserted into the two halves of the Turret.

IMG_3687.JPG

[Dunhill2005]

it looks like a well detailed kit . are you going to put any photo etch on . if there is any .good luck with it

Thx

As always, I am building OOB

[Dunhill2005]

This is a lovely tank to build, yes it's a old kit but comes together nice. Done one many years ago! This will look good in a classic Nam dio.
Good luck with the build

This Tank would come really cool on a NAM-dio!
But for the NAM GB this year I use a M113. Maybe I add them together afterwards...

[Dunhill2005]

Moin!!!!!

Kudos to Tamiya.
Jerricans are molded in one piece. Thereby it has no seams, which have to be sanded later

IMG_3692.JPG

In the lower hull are all places where something is adhered inside open. I like that . It happened to me that compressed air pushed back the levers of the rollers.

IMG_3690.JPG

Unfortunately the railing does not fit on the right side of the turret . I already have drilled the holes. I'll probably put a tarp over it.

IMG_3693.JPG

[Dunhill2005]

As announced, I have attached a tarp on the right side. A little aluminum foil, twine and superglue.
The kit includes a figure as a driver. He can be mounted that he looks out of the driver's hatch. Unfortunately, he stumble his head at the panel of the gun. Now he goes under the hatch.

IMG_3700.JPG

I have covered the lens and the glass of the headlamp with tape to stay clean while painting.

IMG_3704.JPG

[Dunhill2005]

Last update today...

The rollers are sanded and ready to be painted.

IMG_3706.JPG

I think it's good that tamiya has put some stuff in the box like extra rollers, spare tracks, jerrycans and other equipment.

IMG_3707.JPG

Next is the painting

IMG_3705.JPG

[Dunhill2005]

Puhh. Had a lot to do and little time for the hobby.

Spent a lot of time on the work and renovated the living room on the free days...But now finished renovating and again somewhat more time for my kits

Have my M48 primed black and painted the whole kit with Vallejo U.S. Green. After that, I attached the decals.

IMG_3800.JPG

IMG_3803.JPG

IMG_3802.JPG

[Dunhill2005]

Have all small parts painted and then covered everything with clear varnish.

On M48 I've tried for the first time the washing of MIG. Did not feel to make that myself... I am satisfied with the result.

IMG_3851.JPG

I wanted to simulate the dirty undercarriage with the airbrush and some color. But looked like Brad Pitt after drying.
For some reason the reddish color became purple after drying. So I drove 30 km to Isernhagen.This is a borough of Hannover.
The word "Isern" means iron in the old German language. As the Mekong river in Vietnam the little brook in Isernhagen transports iron oxide. 've taken some soil back home and mixed the soil with a little water and wood glue. Looks better but is still too boring.
Try to get there a few different color accents with some washes.

IMG_3846.JPG

This is not the final position of the figure. I have it positioned him there just to show. Hell! I am unhappy with my painting of figures...

IMG_3849.JPG

[AchtungPanzer]

Very nice

[Dunhill2005]

Very nice

Thx

[Coen]

I think that you got that mud colour perfect Kevin.
You found a great match. A little wet work under there and it will be beautiful I think.
Well done buddy!!!

[Dunhill2005]

I think that you got that mud colour perfect Kevin.
You found a great match. A little wet work under there and it will be beautiful I think.
Well done buddy!!!

Thank you!

I wanted to do wet areas but I have to buy clear coat that can be applied with a brush.

[UKguyInUSA]

Looks great to me so far, Kevin!

[Dunhill2005]

So! Have given my tank a layer clear coat this morning. I just went to the bench to take look to the result I was a little
surprised.
The clear coat is dried spotty on the pigments. In retrospect, I think it's actually not that bad.
I wanted to simulate wet patches anyway.
Now fix the soldier and the kit is finished!

IMG_3867.JPG

IMG_3868.JPG

[AchtungPanzer]

Bravo mate ! Looks very well

[Dunhill2005]

Bravo mate ! Looks very well

sheers

[Coen]

It's weird the way that it did that Kevin, it still looks like wet and dry mud though.
Looks great to me bud!!

[UKguyInUSA]

Fab job mate!

[PaulAyrey]

Well done, looks great!

[Dunhill2005]

IMG_3892.JPG