I plan to build a M48A3 Patton tank using DML kit # 3546 from a museum picture located either at Ft. Knox, Ky or Ft. Benning, GA. I thought I read somewhere that the M48s were painted a semi-gloss. Does anyone have any suggestions of what color and what sheen. Either Tamiya or Vallejo are my choices. The other question is how do I trace a serial number from this tank? There is a # 16 on the turret and serial # 9B6325? If someone can point me in the right direction to research.

Thanks.

I use Tamiya XF-74 JGSDF Green for the US Army, and XF-27 Black Green for USMC tanks. I spray the base, then over coat with a lightened version of the same to show fading

Best response, Jason! Same here.

The colors vary due to paint lots, so you are on your own. As for finish on the vehicle see first observation. And as for the USA number, it seems a bit odd, because I served on an M60 with the number of 9B4646 in 2/68 Armor.

The number was on a M48A3 Mod B tank in the Ft. Knox collection. Patton Museum of Cavalry and Armor.

FS-24087 Semigloss Olive Drab was standard. Tamiya OD with a semigloss clear coat would work. There are anecdotal reports that some divisional commanders in the 1950's and 60's ordered that the color be darkened with flat black, simply because they liked the look, and rank hath its privileges. The amount of black varied from unit to unit.
An infrared reflecting paint was introduced near the end of the Vietnam conflict that supposedly could reduce internal temperatures by ten degrees. It was greener. That may be the paint that several modelers have matched to JGSDF Olive Drab, though I've never seen an official FS-595b match for it.

When looking for true FS 24087 remember that they changed the color slightly when the newer FS was issued (around 1991 IIRC). I ended up custom mixing various Tamiya colors to match a swatch of late 60's 24087 that I made while painting my 12"=1' guntruck.
Colors would change quickly in the sun and it was a common practice to clean vehicles with diesel fuel. As stated above, some mixed more black (OD is a mix of yellow and black) and the larger guntrucks that looked black were actually a very dark green (mostly black with a few drops of yellow to make it legit!).