I built this as a factory fresh machine , just a little dust on the track.
I didn't particulary like this build.
The kit could have been really good if Dragon had done a little more research.
Donald

Sorry to hear it was a disappointing build. Is the main gun dust cover a kit part or AM piece. I don't remember what you said in the thread and am too lazy to reread it.

Your rendition looks good. Thanks for the comments, although I am not as eager about this kit as I was. Still will probably eventually get one but it will not be high on the wish list.

Looks pretty good. Good job on a relatively clean tank. One correction though, the right rear light should not be red. It should have two dark slits as part of the blackout drive lights., like below.



Sorry you didn't like the build. This is actually a pretty good kit right out of the box. Dragon did a good job on it. It really only needs a mantlet cover and spot light to complete it. It is light-years better than the old Tamiya kit.

Congrats on finishing a really nice build. And kudos, as always, on your well-presented and crisp photos.
Terry

Very nice attention to detail. I would have gone crazy with those tracks.

I like the searchlight power cable with the cracks in the rubber.

Did you ever figure out what that part (square bracket with supports) was for?

I know some of the after markets accessory parts had some home grown racks that some used over the engine deck to store supplies, I wonder if it was something along those lines.

It's not like I hated the kit, It's just that it could have been so much better.
There's no power cable for the search light, I made one out of solder wrapped in fine wire, I think I got it a little too thick.
The tow hooks were missing, and the DS Mantlet that is in the kit is way out of scale. It looks just about right for the old Monogram M48 kit.
Donald

Which was also 1/35 scale and pretty rough. All your gripes seem pretty minor to me, but to each their own.