Or perhaps it was opposite day when dragon designed this kit?

Is the cupola the same one that is on the M48A0???

I would like to know also Rich, the other turret details can be scratch built, but those vision blocks are horrible. I would love to know if there is a replacement available.

No. It is the hull of an early production M48 slick but the cupola is the same as on an M55 sp gun.

The M48 slick cupola had a special elevation and equibulator for the 50. The domed base shape and hatch was later copied in the Israeli urdan cupola.

Well, so much for getting a replacement for that.

Those moulded on handles on the engine deck are [auto-censored]ing ugly as well.

I put the finishing touches on the T54E1 today. As we all know by now, the turret is grossly inaccurate so it shouldn't be surprising that it doesn't sit correctly on the hull. The turret cant rotate without hitting the storage bins on the fenders. I painted the tank with Ammo of Mig's Olive Drab Post WWII.

I decided to take some markings from the M48A1 kit to mark up the T54E1 as a member of the 4th Armored Division in Germany around the time of the Sabre Hawk training exercise in 1958. My premise is that the T54 program wasn't cancelled and a few were sent to Germany for field trials. This tank was given to the XO for F Co, and the smart aleck christened the tank 'Freak Show'.

Way to go Shawn! With all of its flaws, it's great to see you push through and build it anyway, nice job. Thanks also for listing the paint you used, I'll have to get some, I like the color.

Thanks for the kind words John. The paint is specifically Ammo of Mig's Olive Drab Post WWII FS24087 (A.Mig 081) and is from the Vietnam Colors Smart Set (A.Mig 7135). I used a filter from Ammo of Mig, Brown for Dark Green (A.Mig-1506) and a panel liner from AK Interactive to highlight details - Brown and Green Camouflage (AK 2071).

That came together, very well Scipio. From following this build I couldn't imagine it finishing like that. I look forward to the official review.

Shawn, I forgot to mention that you also did a great job of getting the turret dust cover to fit. I would have never believed after dry fitting those parts together myself, that the DS part would end up fitting as well as you have shown. It is a pity that the detail is so poor on it though, (though that's Dragons fault not yours!)

You really did a good job with it. Especially as said with that dust cover.