Hello -

I am using Vallejo (Model Air) for the first time, doing a Vietnam era M48A3 and was wondering what the best colors are for this tank with this line. I am thinking that US Dark Green as a base but I am not sure about other colors to use to create a color modulation look. Any opinions/advice would be greatly appreciated!

Quinn

Quinn,
This is a good color to start with and I would suggest simply slowly adding white to bring up the lighter colors. Add this very little at a time so that the color shift is not to radical or abrupt. You want the transition to be as smooth as possible. Also keep in mind that a satin varnish and a few filters will serve to smooth out the transition of color. You will end up with colors that do not exactly look like O.D. Green from the Vietnam era but filters and weathering will bring the color back down.
I would suggest taking a sheet of evergreen and priming it as will prime the model. Then play with bringing you O.D. Green mixtures up to the lightest shade as if it was a panel. In this way you will get a feel for how much to add to brighten up your colors.
Also, be aware that the curved surfaces of the M48 will be challenging for color modulation but you are up to the task for sure! I hope you will share photos as you go as this could be helpful for everyone.
Vallejo also offers a colored primer 70608 U.S. Olive Drab that may serve you well for this project.

Hello -

Thanks for the reply. I have mostly used Tamiya in the past and to OD, I normally add buff so I wasn't sure how to translate that to Vallejo. Thanks for the advice on the OD primer, I was not aware of that. I think you are spot on about the curved surfaces of the M48. I have an old M48A5 that it partially built that I am going to practice on. Should be interesting.

Thanks - Quinn

I'll back up Iain's recommendation for the Vallejo OD colored Primer. It's beautiful stuff.