Thanks for the complements guys. The tank is a work around by Taiwan. They were not allowed to buy "tanks" but they could get M-6p hulls and M-48 turrets. The other plus is there is more room in the 48 turret for the new fire controls. (same systems as the M1A1). I first heared about them when a gun breech exploded during a training shoot while I was there. Not long after this kit came out, and with the cool looking ERA. So on the bench it went.
The kit and base coat were done in southern Taiwan and then due to a job change it was imported (hopefully not against international arms treaties) back to the US to be finished.
PzDave... good point, but the farmer was not even considered for a second during the build. Such is the life of a rice farmer I guess.