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Armor/AFV: Vietnam
All things Vietnam
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DML M48a3 hints, tips or after market
nick_pal
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South Australia, Australia
Joined: July 09, 2014
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Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 - 11:41 AM UTC
Hi all, just started building DML's smart kit of the m48A3. Seems like I reasonably small kit compared to some of DML's previous releases.

I've never built a Vietnam era afv, so how does this kit some up, any must do after market replacements or any thing that will make my build easier?

Main one that stands out for me is a metal barrel.

Tia, Nick
tayc
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Queensland, Australia
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Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 - 01:01 PM UTC
G'day Nick! I am currently working on the DML M48A3 Mod B. I purchased the Voyager mantlet cover as this is not included in the Mod B kit. Legend Productions also makes one, but Voyager's included an IR projector and very good .50 cal in resin, PE with brass barrel. LP's M48a3 Stowage Set II is great with more options than you need to use according to most reference images. I also purchased the Alpine M48A3 Crew Set (two figures with some options - Commander and Loader). Gino Quintiliani has posted some good reviews and a build article on this site as well that I found very helpful.
Christian
HeavyArty
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Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 - 03:35 PM UTC
Thanks for the nod there Christian. Here are the articles I have done:

M48A3 Mod B review

Legend Mantlet and Search Light set

Legend M48A3 Stowage Set

Legend M48A3 Sandbag Set #II

Those should get you what you are looking for.

Overall it is a good model that builds up nicely.

Good luck with it and be sure to post some pics when you get going on it.
Grizzly
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Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 - 07:03 PM UTC
Voyager models makes a metal barrel for the M48A3.

http://www.hlj.com/product/VYMVBS0179/Mil
Tankrider
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Posted: Wednesday, March 25, 2015 - 08:57 PM UTC
Here are a couple more reviews from the AMPS Website that I did last year, for a slightly differant point of view. The pictures of the 1:1 M48A3 Mod B/M48A5 mantlet covers and VVS-1 searchlights might be of assistance.

Mantlet/Searchlight set: http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/Reviews/showReview.aspx?ID=2803&Type=FL

Stowage Set: http://www.amps-armor.org/ampssite/Reviews/showReview.aspx?ID=2804&Type=FL

John
accelr8
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Posted: Thursday, March 26, 2015 - 08:26 AM UTC
Nobody's mentioned yet the DEF Model update set, which i find to be excellent. They offer a number of upgrades for the Dragon kit. Their basic set includes a new canvas cover, one that is easier to install than the Legend piece because it does not require removing material from the turret, and a choice of covered or uncovered searchlight.

http://defmodel.com/catalog/htm/dm35029.html

They also have a set of replacement grill doors (Depending if you are modeling a "Mod B" or regular M48A3), that come with a nice set of sprockets with pre-drilled mud relief holes.

http://defmodel.com/catalog/htm/dm35034.html
nick_pal
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Joined: July 09, 2014
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Posted: Thursday, April 09, 2015 - 08:28 AM UTC






Here is my progress so far and my main reference for my build. Notice the casual pose in the original photo. I'm trying to replicate that with the dtoys tanker. Also notice the mantlet is missing its cover, light and the original tanks has the ace of spades marking on the turret...
Mark
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Posted: Thursday, April 09, 2015 - 11:26 PM UTC
Hi Nick,

nice start of this Vietnam icon! I don't know if you decided yet on what decals to use but MecModels (okay I know; it's a shameless plug ) do two 1/35 decal sets for the M48!

http://www.mecmodels.com/wordpress/?product_cat=decals-1-35

good luck with your build and keep us posted here please!

best regards,

Mark
nick_pal
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Posted: Friday, April 10, 2015 - 02:58 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Nick,

nice start of this Vietnam icon! I don't know if you decided yet on what decals to use but MecModels (okay I know; it's a shameless plug ) do two 1/35 decal sets for the M48!

http://www.mecmodels.com/wordpress/?product_cat=decals-1-35

good luck with your build and keep us posted here please!

best regards,

Mark



Hi mark,

I was actually thinking of using dml's cartograf decals. They include the ace of spades decal on the turret, also I'm a poker fan and I don't mind the motorhead song of the same title lol...
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Friday, April 10, 2015 - 04:56 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi all, just started building DML's smart kit of the m48A3. Seems like I reasonably small kit compared to some of DML's previous releases.

I've never built a Vietnam era afv, so how does this kit some up, any must do after market replacements or any thing that will make my build easier?

Main one that stands out for me is a metal barrel.

Tia, Nick



Hi Nick, and everybody else that has, or may take an interest in this thread that you've started!

My question to you- Are you planning to build a US Marine Corps M48A3, or a US Army M48A3? IMO, the DRAGON M48A3 kits are WELL WORTH BUYING, if you're an AFV modeller, a modeller of the Vietnam War in general, or if you just dig big US tanks!

If you are going to be building a USMC tank, here are some pointers that I learned from a book entitled "PRAYING FOR SLACK" by Robert E. Peavey, who served as a TC (Tank Commander) with the USMC in Vietnam. He spent all of his time in M48A3s, and this book should be in everyone's collection, whether you are an AFV modeller or a student of US Armor in Vietnam, or the Vietnam War, in general...

This book is VERY readable, without getting bogged down in a lot of "official history", military theory and/or "armchair strategy". Rather, it is a compelling personal story of what it was like to be a Marine Tank Commander and his experiences in two different M48s in Vietnam, during the fateful year of 1968.

Corporal Peavey describes his experiences in detail, without becoming too technical, or as dry as a service manual would have been written. Even if you are new to tanks and how they operate, this book spells it all out in very understandable layman's language. The book also dispels the erroneous notion that a great majority of the Vietnam War was a "Jungle War", and not a war where armor was used in any great quantity. On the CONTRARY! Not only was there A LOT of US armor in Vietnam, but US armor WAS in action on a daily basis, and in some very major battles, as well. Corporal Peavey also injects some humorous stories, as well as the tense drama of what it was like to go into combat in an M48..

The Vietnam War wasn't a total jungle war, as Hollywood would have us believe. In fact, the territory up North below the DMZ (De-Militarized Zone) was actually EXCELLENT TANK COUNTRY!

And now, let me share with you all, some of the information in the book that may set some of misconceptions right, as regards to the DRAGON M48A3 Model B:

First off, USMC M48s were in action continuously for YEARS, unlike the Armor during World War II in Europe. As Corporal Peavey relates, the Marine M48s saw a lot of action, and consequently took a quite a beating, insofar as constant usage wrought havoc upon fenders, driving lights and their surrounding headlight guards, among other things. As a matter-of-fact, Corporal Peavey states that most Marine M48s were missing their headlights and headlight guards, and if they DID still have them, they were hopelessly beat up, and/or ready to fall off the vehicle, anyway...

Most Marine M48s were also MISSING THEIR SEARCHLIGHTS, so a lot of the complaining about the missing searchlights in the DRAGON M48A3 Model B should be taken with a grain of salt. As some of the modellers in this thread have stated, aftermarket searchlights are plentiful, and many of us die-hards would replace a kit supplied searchlight, with an aftermarket searchlight kit of better quality, anyway. In fact, I'm going to leave the searchlight off my Vietnam-service Marine M48A3, as well as the headlights.

Many Marine M48 drivers would also weld a length of steel pipe across the upper glacis plate from fender to fender. This was done in order to pile sandbags, packed tightly in front of the driver's position, just below his line-of-sight through his periscopes. This practice provided at least SOME extra protection against VC or NVA RPG rounds. RPGs could be devastating against armor in those "pre-Chobham Armor" days... Another form of anti-RPG protection was to bolt extra track links to the sides of the M48s' turrets, in the Gunners', TCs' and loaders' positions.

Since Marine tankers basically LIVED in and on their mounts, all forms of extra "creature comforts", packs, tarps, personal stuff (known as "274" Equipment) and other clap-trap was stuffed into the "Gypsy Rack", as the tankers called the Bustle Rack, and anywhere else that the stuff could be tied, or strapped to... Nothing resembles a "Gypsy Wagon" so much as a military vehicle loaded down with possibly as much as an additional ton of stowage besides what was normally carried in it's combat load...

Quite often, fenders became pretty mangled in action, especially during the Tet Offensive, in places where a lot of street-fighting took place, such as in the city of Hue, for example. Fenders were quite often replaced with make-shift corrugated roof sheet-steel fenders- Who cared what they looked like, anyway?!?

Here is another suggestion that may make your M48 a bit more interesting- Many Marine Corps TCs removed their VERY BULKY M2.50 calibre MGs from the TC's cupola, and re-mounted the weapon outside, on the top of the cupola, just ahead of the hatch opening. This re-positioned .50 was called a "Sky Mount"...

Finally, as often as not, Grunts would pile onto the M48s, hitching a ride; they dismounted for breaks, or when reaching their destinations or objectives, and/or shortly before going into action. Mounting some hitchhiking Grunts on your M48 not only adds interest, but also imparts a sense of "scale" to your model. Unfortunately, the NVA or VC didn't much care if they killed in-the-way hitchhiker Grunts when ambushing M48s, or LVTP-5s, or Army M113s, with their RPGs...

There are a couple of gross error in the DRAGON M48A3 instructions, regarding the painting of your M48:

US ARMY M48s were NOT painted in FS 34087 FLAT OLIVE DRAB- They were painted in FS 24087 SEMI-GLOSS OLIVE DRAB, which appears to be much darker than the FLAT OD.

US Marine Corps M48s, just like everything else USMC, before the advent of MERDC, CARC, and NATO Paint Schemes, were painted in "MARINE GREEN"; that includes Vietnam-era equipment. The "MARINE GREEN" of the Vietnam-era equipment that is generally agreed upon amongst modellers is actually several colors, which should all be SEMI-GLOSS: FS 24064 or FS 24083. Translated into TAMIYA Acrylic and Lacquer Spray paint, these are XF-74, XF-13, XF-58 and AS-17 Spray- take your pick. I'm not going to use any of them- I'll use my own custom-mix that I'm going to match to my Official FS-595a Color Chip Album...

Hope this helps both you and anyone else who may be considering creating a diorama or stand-alone model of a realistic Vietnam War USMC M48A3 or M48A3 Model B...
Tankrider
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Joined: October 07, 2002
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Posted: Friday, April 10, 2015 - 06:06 PM UTC
Dennis,
Peavey's book is indeed a great one for the Marine Tanker point of view. There are a couple others that will give similar stories for Army tankers in VN. One is Tank Sergeant by Ralph Zumbro, who gives a Army tanker's view just before during and after the 1968 Tet Offensive. Another one is 100 miles of Bad Road, Dwight Birdwell's story of his experiences of a tanker in 3-4 Cav, 25ID around the same time before and after Tet.

Good info but there are a couple of things in your post that need to be clarified. Keep in mind that the USMC were not the only ones who spent significant time in the field supporting light infantry units. Army units were also doing the same thing farther south where it was not so great tank country, as well as convoy escorts, manning strong points, and such. Zumbro has some good discussions of tanks fighting in close quarters with supporting assaults on villages, mine detonations, post operations maintenance - all fun stuff for tankers. 3-4 Cav was the unit that mounted sandbags on the turrets of their M48A3s, as crew protection during convoy escort duty.

USMC did not use Mod B's in Viet Nam, they used M48a3s, with most having the riser for the cupola. The Marines received Mod Bs after redeploying from RVN. Also, there was at least one USMC tank Battalion (1st Tanks?) that never "skymounted" their .50 caliber MGs.

Nick,
The pic that you posted is a Death Dealer tank from 2-34 Armor of the 1st Infantry Division. Their battalion's tanks all had the ace of spades painted on both sides of the turret. Google "2-34 Armor in Viet Nam" and you should get a bunch of pictures.

HTH

John
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Saturday, April 11, 2015 - 04:59 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Dennis,
Peavey's book is indeed a great one for the Marine Tanker point of view. There are a couple others that will give similar stories for Army tankers in VN. One is Tank Sergeant by Ralph Zumbro, who gives a Army tanker's view just before during and after the 1968 Tet Offensive. Another one is 100 miles of Bad Road, Dwight Birdwell's story of his experiences of a tanker in 3-4 Cav, 25ID around the same time before and after Tet.

Good info but there are a couple of things in your post that need to be clarified. Keep in mind that the USMC were not the only ones who spent significant time in the field supporting light infantry units. Army units were also doing the same thing farther south where it was not so great tank country, as well as convoy escorts, manning strong points, and such. Zumbro has some good discussions of tanks fighting in close quarters with supporting assaults on villages, mine detonations, post operations maintenance - all fun stuff for tankers. 3-4 Cav was the unit that mounted sandbags on the turrets of their M48A3s, as crew protection during convoy escort duty.

USMC did not use Mod B's in Viet Nam, they used M48a3s, with most having the riser for the cupola. The Marines received Mod Bs after redeploying from RVN. Also, there was at least one USMC tank Battalion (1st Tanks?) that never "skymounted" their .50 caliber MGs.

Nick,
The pic that you posted is a Death Dealer tank from 2-34 Armor of the 1st Infantry Division. Their battalion's tanks all had the ace of spades painted on both sides of the turret. Google "2-34 Armor in Viet Nam" and you should get a bunch of pictures.

HTH

John



Hi, John! THANKS VERY MUCH for your input. Didn't realize that the Marines never got Model Bs. I'll also agree with you that the Marines weren't the only service with tanks "In Country". I certainly didn't intend to convey the impression that only Marine Armor saw service in Vietnam.

In any case, at the very beginning of my contribution, I asked if Nick was going to build an Army or a Marine M48. I then proceeded to describe what MOST, but not all Marine M48s would have looked like after spending some time in battle situations. I also stated that Army M48A3s were not painted in FS 34087 FLAT OLIVE DRAB- Rather, they were painted in FS 24087 SEMI-GLOSS OLIVE DRAB, which sort of backs me up when I say that Marine Armor wasn't the only show in town...

At this time, I'd like to point out that Peavey served in his first M48,"BETTER LIVING thru CANISTER", down SOUTH upon arriving in Vietnam. After about 6 months, he was transferred up NORTH to the DMZ, where he took charge as TC in his second M48, "PRAYING FOR SLACK"... I mention this because there was definitely a Marine presence down South, as well as up North... And just to mention, I'm not biased in favor of the Marines- My US Army AFVs and Soft-skins far out-number my Marine equipment in my collection. Not that I'm biased in favor of the Army, either. The bulk of my US Armor collection is of the Europe, World War II US Army Persuasion just because that happens to be a historical fact...

Also, I stated that many, but not all Marine M48s had the "Sky Mount" M2 .50 cals. Peavey himself thought that the "Sky Mounts" were a pretty stupid idea because that required TCs to expose themselves too much to enemy fire once contact was made. I'll agree with Peavey's reasoning- Why expose yourself to enemy fire deliberately, unless you had some sick "death wish"..? I'm pretty inclined to agree with you that it WAS 1st Marines that NEVER mounted ANY external .50s on their M48A3s.

My next purchases will be the Birdwell and Zumbro books- I saw them listed on ebay, and they are both on my "Watch List". The reason why bought the Peavey book first, is because I'm presently involved in my DRAGON M48A3, which I've decided that I'm going to complete as a 1st Marines vehicle, Hue City, 1968, WITHOUT a "Sky Mount", and PROBABLY without the "TV-set" over the gun. The "riser" being present in my build is a moot point...

By the way, I just got the Squadron "In Action"-series book #2046 "M48A3 in VIetnam" by David Doyle in my mail today- It's LOADED with A LOT of color photos of US Army and USMC M48s, which I think would be a BIG HELP for a lot of us who are in the process of modelling the DRAGON M48 kit in Vietnam. This was a very timely delivery! And guess what? The M48A3 on the cover of this book... Has a "Sky Mount" .50 cal.

The dust jacket of the Peavey book shows himself and his 3 crew members posed in front of "BETTER LIVING thru CANISTER", which doesn't have the "Sky Mount", and NO "TV-set", either. Yes, there is a section of photos in this book, ALL in color...

I've also got plans to do a DRAGON M48A3 Model B in US Army guise (FS 24087), and I'll also be getting the up-coming "early" M48A1(?) as soon as it hits the hobby shops' shelves, more than likely painted in US Army FS 24087, as well...

This is what I enjoy so much about this site- The wealth of information that one can glean from a friendly exchange between fellow modellers!!! And of course, all the great models, and up-to-date news!!!
nick_pal
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South Australia, Australia
Joined: July 09, 2014
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Posted: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 - 04:21 PM UTC
Wow so much information and options. Best thing about our hobby is that we can be creative or farfetched as we like...I plan on making the tank from 2-34 1st infantry. I have just completed the hull and turrets minus the clear parts. Can anyone tell me whick of the dome shaped clear parts need to be masked and what they actually are? Also same with the clear part on the commanders cupola. Which area on these parts need to remain clear?
nick_pal
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Joined: July 09, 2014
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Posted: Tuesday, May 12, 2015 - 03:39 PM UTC
Been a while, bit of an update. I have finished building the model, leaving the road wheels off to paint separately. I have primed the model using Mr surfacer from the can, pained a thinned black laver in the places where shadow would appear and have started painting in the olive green. Been a slow work in progress, but some progress is better than none at all. Hopefully post some photos this weekend.
nick_pal
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Posted: Sunday, May 17, 2015 - 10:48 AM UTC
So after a bit of confusion I have sprayed the M48 the right colour of semi gloss olive drab to represent 2-34 Dreadnaughts tank as pictured. The colour looks much better than what I previously had. Will try to post some photos soon.
trickymissfit
Joined: October 03, 2007
KitMaker: 1,388 posts
Armorama: 1,357 posts
Posted: Monday, May 18, 2015 - 12:27 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Hi all, just started building DML's smart kit of the m48A3. Seems like I reasonably small kit compared to some of DML's previous releases.

I've never built a Vietnam era afv, so how does this kit some up, any must do after market replacements or any thing that will make my build easier?

Main one that stands out for me is a metal barrel.

Tia, Nick



Hi Nick, and everybody else that has, or may take an interest in this thread that you've started!

My question to you- Are you planning to build a US Marine Corps M48A3, or a US Army M48A3? IMO, the DRAGON M48A3 kits are WELL WORTH BUYING, if you're an AFV modeller, a modeller of the Vietnam War in general, or if you just dig big US tanks!

If you are going to be building a USMC tank, here are some pointers that I learned from a book entitled "PRAYING FOR SLACK" by Robert E. Peavey, who served as a TC (Tank Commander) with the USMC in Vietnam. He spent all of his time in M48A3s, and this book should be in everyone's collection, whether you are an AFV modeller or a student of US Armor in Vietnam, or the Vietnam War, in general...

This book is VERY readable, without getting bogged down in a lot of "official history", military theory and/or "armchair strategy". Rather, it is a compelling personal story of what it was like to be a Marine Tank Commander and his experiences in two different M48s in Vietnam, during the fateful year of 1968.

Corporal Peavey describes his experiences in detail, without becoming too technical, or as dry as a service manual would have been written. Even if you are new to tanks and how they operate, this book spells it all out in very understandable layman's language. The book also dispels the erroneous notion that a great majority of the Vietnam War was a "Jungle War", and not a war where armor was used in any great quantity. On the CONTRARY! Not only was there A LOT of US armor in Vietnam, but US armor WAS in action on a daily basis, and in some very major battles, as well. Corporal Peavey also injects some humorous stories, as well as the tense drama of what it was like to go into combat in an M48..

The Vietnam War wasn't a total jungle war, as Hollywood would have us believe. In fact, the territory up North below the DMZ (De-Militarized Zone) was actually EXCELLENT TANK COUNTRY!

And now, let me share with you all, some of the information in the book that may set some of misconceptions right, as regards to the DRAGON M48A3 Model B:

First off, USMC M48s were in action continuously for YEARS, unlike the Armor during World War II in Europe. As Corporal Peavey relates, the Marine M48s saw a lot of action, and consequently took a quite a beating, insofar as constant usage wrought havoc upon fenders, driving lights and their surrounding headlight guards, among other things. As a matter-of-fact, Corporal Peavey states that most Marine M48s were missing their headlights and headlight guards, and if they DID still have them, they were hopelessly beat up, and/or ready to fall off the vehicle, anyway...

Most Marine M48s were also MISSING THEIR SEARCHLIGHTS, so a lot of the complaining about the missing searchlights in the DRAGON M48A3 Model B should be taken with a grain of salt. As some of the modellers in this thread have stated, aftermarket searchlights are plentiful, and many of us die-hards would replace a kit supplied searchlight, with an aftermarket searchlight kit of better quality, anyway. In fact, I'm going to leave the searchlight off my Vietnam-service Marine M48A3, as well as the headlights.

Many Marine M48 drivers would also weld a length of steel pipe across the upper glacis plate from fender to fender. This was done in order to pile sandbags, packed tightly in front of the driver's position, just below his line-of-sight through his periscopes. This practice provided at least SOME extra protection against VC or NVA RPG rounds. RPGs could be devastating against armor in those "pre-Chobham Armor" days... Another form of anti-RPG protection was to bolt extra track links to the sides of the M48s' turrets, in the Gunners', TCs' and loaders' positions.

Since Marine tankers basically LIVED in and on their mounts, all forms of extra "creature comforts", packs, tarps, personal stuff (known as "274" Equipment) and other clap-trap was stuffed into the "Gypsy Rack", as the tankers called the Bustle Rack, and anywhere else that the stuff could be tied, or strapped to... Nothing resembles a "Gypsy Wagon" so much as a military vehicle loaded down with possibly as much as an additional ton of stowage besides what was normally carried in it's combat load...

Quite often, fenders became pretty mangled in action, especially during the Tet Offensive, in places where a lot of street-fighting took place, such as in the city of Hue, for example. Fenders were quite often replaced with make-shift corrugated roof sheet-steel fenders- Who cared what they looked like, anyway?!?

Here is another suggestion that may make your M48 a bit more interesting- Many Marine Corps TCs removed their VERY BULKY M2.50 calibre MGs from the TC's cupola, and re-mounted the weapon outside, on the top of the cupola, just ahead of the hatch opening. This re-positioned .50 was called a "Sky Mount"...

Finally, as often as not, Grunts would pile onto the M48s, hitching a ride; they dismounted for breaks, or when reaching their destinations or objectives, and/or shortly before going into action. Mounting some hitchhiking Grunts on your M48 not only adds interest, but also imparts a sense of "scale" to your model. Unfortunately, the NVA or VC didn't much care if they killed in-the-way hitchhiker Grunts when ambushing M48s, or LVTP-5s, or Army M113s, with their RPGs...

There are a couple of gross error in the DRAGON M48A3 instructions, regarding the painting of your M48:

US ARMY M48s were NOT painted in FS 34087 FLAT OLIVE DRAB- They were painted in FS 24087 SEMI-GLOSS OLIVE DRAB, which appears to be much darker than the FLAT OD.

US Marine Corps M48s, just like everything else USMC, before the advent of MERDC, CARC, and NATO Paint Schemes, were painted in "MARINE GREEN"; that includes Vietnam-era equipment. The "MARINE GREEN" of the Vietnam-era equipment that is generally agreed upon amongst modellers is actually several colors, which should all be SEMI-GLOSS: FS 24064 or FS 24083. Translated into TAMIYA Acrylic and Lacquer Spray paint, these are XF-74, XF-13, XF-58 and AS-17 Spray- take your pick. I'm not going to use any of them- I'll use my own custom-mix that I'm going to match to my Official FS-595a Color Chip Album...

Hope this helps both you and anyone else who may be considering creating a diorama or stand-alone model of a realistic Vietnam War USMC M48A3 or M48A3 Model B...



time frame is very important for your build. Post spring 68 it would be the 5th Mech near the DMZ (Army). Prior to that, it could even have been one of a couple CAV units, or a Marine unit.

I've seen Marine tanks in Army O.D., and Marine green. Tanks don't last as long as one would expect in the bush. Chu Lai had a pile of M48's that would fill an LST! Army used M48a2's, M48a3 Mod A & B. Marines used nothing but A's.

An M48 breaking jungle went thru a power pack a week. Nature of the beast! A two foot diameter clump of bamboo will render the gear box to mush. The country north of
Da Nang was similar to east Tennessee. Not bad, but also had it share of bad juju. Once you got twenty miles west it became serious anti tank territory. Cav units rules in these areas for a good reason. Bad thing about a 48 was that it was really restricted to where it went. They'd get bogged down setting still!

The most feared weapon by a tank crew was never the RPG. It was the 90mm recoilless rifle. They'd open one up like a can opener. When a crew saw an expended case on the side of a trail, everybody off loaded if they could. The other thing was a command detonated mine as in 155mm or 8" arty round. Either one will flip a tank like nothing you can imagine.

Dwight Birdwell's book is an absolute must read. It will turn your hair white! Anything Black Horse is serious business! When I went into the Que Son Valley there was no armor except for one dead (and mined) M48. Yet we could hear tanks running in the middle of the night. We visit with them later in the year. It was like an arid no man's land with nothing but bomb craters and one concrete bridge. We get out to Lurch, and that was the end of tank driving. Maybe 45 klicks inland. You found your self flying everywhere, and as soon as you touched ground you were on your own. No roads or tank trails out there. A recording of the fire push would scare most folks to death. [iput italicized text here.

When I finally got out of the Que Son and the Lao border we moved a little south of DaNang and west of Tam Key. Pretty place, and a pretty place to die in. There was elements from the 17th Cav with many M48's and ACAV's. We actually drove there but flew in our equipment. Real scary. They told us they didn't like the second half of the road. We got there in one piece, but I walked the last 15 klicks, as I knew better. We get there and soon learned that we were about two miles past the tanks area of operations. Still listening to them on the fire push was like going to a rodeo. They were replaced by B Troop 1st of the 1st. Another crack outfit, but we could get a tank for hell or high water. You soon learned that tanks were for roads, and when the road ended you were on your own again. Sheridans came later and became known for their "can round".
gary[/i] http://put.url.here/image.file" BORDER="0">
trickymissfit
Joined: October 03, 2007
KitMaker: 1,388 posts
Armorama: 1,357 posts
Posted: Monday, May 18, 2015 - 12:31 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Wow so much information and options. Best thing about our hobby is that we can be creative or farfetched as we like...I plan on making the tank from 2-34 1st infantry. I have just completed the hull and turrets minus the clear parts. Can anyone tell me whick of the dome shaped clear parts need to be masked and what they actually are? Also same with the clear part on the commanders cupola. Which area on these parts need to remain clear?



Your looking into the window of the First Infantry, and none are as fabled as the Quarter Cav! (1st of the 4th Cav). They lived daily in the rubber plantations. Not exactly a garden spot, and you had to be tough to survive a year in there
gary
trickymissfit
Joined: October 03, 2007
KitMaker: 1,388 posts
Armorama: 1,357 posts
Posted: Monday, May 18, 2015 - 12:32 PM UTC

Quoted Text

So after a bit of confusion I have sprayed the M48 the right colour of semi gloss olive drab to represent 2-34 Dreadnaughts tank as pictured. The colour looks much better than what I previously had. Will try to post some photos soon.



remember the paint faded like nothing you can imagine
gary
nick_pal
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South Australia, Australia
Joined: July 09, 2014
KitMaker: 327 posts
Armorama: 283 posts
Posted: Friday, June 12, 2015 - 11:14 AM UTC



Sorry about the poor quality of photos....they dont do the model any justice. Here is a work in progress. Just starting the detail painting before a gloss coat and decals/weathering can begin....

Qstn... what colour is the aerial meant to be? Black,white,olive drab?
nick_pal
Visit this Community
South Australia, Australia
Joined: July 09, 2014
KitMaker: 327 posts
Armorama: 283 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 14, 2015 - 09:14 AM UTC


Here is my m48 after decals, detail painting, mud and weathering. Just working on the tracks and figure at the moment. Feedback and criticism on progress greatly appreciated.
M48USMCTanker
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Alabama, United States
Joined: June 02, 2017
KitMaker: 22 posts
Armorama: 18 posts
Posted: Tuesday, August 08, 2017 - 07:05 AM UTC
On the M48A3 in Vietnam with the Marines. Yes we had the M48A3 not the M60. At Khe Sanh we had the 3rd Plt. Bravo Co. there with five tanks. My Plt (1st) relieved the 3rd (I think)in Mar. or Apr of 1968. I left in Jan.1968. On May 19, 1968 the 1st Pl. took about 50% casualties at Khe Sanh. See http://mcvthf.org/Maps/1_B_3rd_Tk_Bn_May-19_1968.htm
For a lot of Marine M48A3 in Vietnam got to the Marine Corps Vietnam Tankers Historical Foundation web site @ http://www.mcvthf.org/MCVTHF.htm You can spend days getting all the information you want/need there, like tanks at Khe Sanh @ http://mcvthf.org/Photos/1PltBravo3rdTksJB.html (I am the web master for this site.)
My book "Iron Horse Marine" is available on Amazon as a Kindle Book @ https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=iron+horse+marine
Monogram also has a fairly good model of the M48A3. I helped my grandson build a model of my tank in Vietnam, which got me back into modeling after about a 15 year lay off. We had our .50 sky mounted for a while when we were down around An Hoa, but when we moved up North it came down as the NVA stood and fought. Not shoot and run like the VC. The .50 laying on it's left side in the copula would only get off 4-5 rounds before jamming. Some of the 1st Tk., Bn., kept the sky mount. Our M48A3 was a mod B. Bob Peavey is a friend/associate of mine and his is a good book.
 _GOTOTOP