Project Patton

[reserve]

I've decided to delay the start of that International mine truck for the duration of a nice soul soothing tank. As such, my intentions go beyond a single kit.

Some years ago I did a lineup of Soviet T-series armor from the T-54 to the T-90 which some of you may remember if you were hanging around MSC at the time. I've often thought of doing the same with the Patton series from the M-46 to the M-60A3 which will involve 10 kits total. No AVLB's, no CEV's, just main battle tanks fielded by the Army or Marines, no forgein variants or Guard vehicles so I can keep this manageable. I've already got some built and will start this very soon



I have already built an M-47, M-48A3, and M-60 RISE for this series. I need an M-48A2, M-60 first production with the M-48 style turret, and an M-60A3 to round things out. If any of you have one or more of these and are willing to sell/swap PM me if you have the inclination

Regards,
Mark

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

If you're going to work on this one, count me in.

[JCON]

I'll follow along too!!!

[sty57]

I'm in too....

[reserve]

Welcome gents

The ones already done



Whenever I do tanks I always assemble the hull and turret first so as to keep everything straight and in line; large parts only and then add the detail parts. This makes it much simpler to fill gaps and also prevents me from breaking off all the little delicate detail parts while attempting to join the major parts. It's a good thing I used this method here.



seams that should not be there, the '48 series was a cast hull

seams that will not be there shortly


, 
Dragon muffed it in this area, but after the letter kits this is not even a minor annoyance. Molding is crisp and excellent.

I found an M-48A2 in the LHS, a Revell of Germany. This means I'll not have to deal with the almost as old as I am Monogram offering, the idea of which almost put me off this whole project

Regards,
Mark

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

Who knew!!??

[ARMORGUY]

I'm in Mark!

[JED]

I'm in

[reserve]

Who knew what

Welcome other interested parties

This is almost ready for primer, pretty simple kit for a Dragon



Now I may pick on Dragon alot but it will never be for their DS parts, I adore the stuff. Easy to work with, just have to make sure not to use too much LPC on it. Here's the mantlet cover partially glued down



and here it's all down



I'm sold. Sufficent time for reflection makes me think I'll do these as a series of vignettes instead of putting them all in one box as I did the T series project as I think this will have more eye appeal

Regards,
Mark

[JCON]

Sounds good Mark... as for "Who knew!!?? " that is a habit saying of Bruce's... he uses it all the time. ha, ha!!!

[Dukemaddog]

Nice work! I'm building a 1/35th scale Dragon Patton as well for our SoCal AMPS Patton Group Build. I also love the DS stuff; otherwise I never would have added the mantlet cover to mine.

[reserve]

Cheers gents

Gotta say the bustle rack on this one was not a pleasant experience. Built and in primer







Just for laughs I decided to do a three color preshade on this to see if it made any difference. In the past I've not noticed a great deal of effect on the darker colors such as OD mabey this time it'll show up 

Regards,
Mark

[JCON]

Looking good!!!

[JED]

Well on your way Mark 👍

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

We have Primerage!

[ARMORGUY]

That looks just great.

[reserve]

Thanks gents

As things stand now

Completed the build on the M-48A2, it needed some fixing and minor conversion



Revell gives you an engine deck with cast texture and weld lines that do not exist on the genuine article so I ground it off and grafted in access hatches from a Dragon leftover. It was also necessary to scratch a bustle rack as the kit gives you the German one with the searchlight stowage box in it, a feature not seen on the American A2's.



Beat up the fenders a bit and sharpened up the bow



Overall not a bad kit, surprisingly good in fact.

Color on the Dragon A1



I've got a ton of Tammy OD paint to go thru and this project will probably use all of it. While I was in the LHS today I was greedily eyeballing the Mission Models OD selection but my cheap nature won out as I cannot bring myself to toss $20 worth of paint there's really nothing wrong with.

In the US section of my work/display room I noticed something I did a few years ago and apparently forgot about, a Cyberhobby Orange Box M-46 on a base so that one's off the list as well. I'll take pictures of that as I'm not sure it made it to this forum altho some may remember it from elsewhere

Regards,
Mark

[JCON]

Looking good!!!

[dogfish7 (R.I.P.)]

Yes indeed! Makes me want to pull mine off the shelf.

[JED]

Looking good Mark