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Armor/AFV: Early Armor
WWI and other early tanks and armored cars.
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Patton Tank Recommendations
NJLion
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: January 31, 2007
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Posted: Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 07:33 AM UTC
Is the Tamiya Patton tank a good model? If not, could you guys recommend another. I'm not looking to spend more than about $30 on a model though. Let me know.
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 08:43 AM UTC
Yes, it is a good kit. Out of the box, it will build up into a nice model. It has some inaccuracies though, they are pretty easy to fix. The biggest is the height of the suspension. It is about 3mm too high. Tamiya based theirs on an M48 without an interior or engine, hence it was light and rode high on the suspension. The turret is too squat as well. Add about 2 mm of spacer between the two turret halves to correct it. Lastly, you should fill the area between the gun mantlet and the turret. It is actually a cloth dust cover and should not have a gap.

Good luck.
ericadeane
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Michigan, United States
Joined: October 28, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 08:45 AM UTC
If you're willing to go to the earlier M47, grab up one of the excellent Italeri 1/35 kits. Although several decades old, it's still an absolutely fantastic kit.
blaster76
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Texas, United States
Joined: September 15, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 09:05 AM UTC
M46's and the M 60 series are also Patton tanks. I have several ESCI and Tamiya M 60a1's under my belt. And I have built the range from Dragon thru el-cheapo . The Patton 48 by Tamiya like GIno says has a few flaws, but even straight out of the box builds into a nice kit.
C_JACQUEMONT
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Loire-Atlantique, France
Joined: October 09, 2004
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Posted: Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 12:00 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

M46's and the M 60 series are also Patton tanks


They are not M48's. He asked about the Tamiya kit, that's a M48A3.


How did you both guess M48 and not M60, I'm curious?
C_JACQUEMONT
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Loire-Atlantique, France
Joined: October 09, 2004
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Posted: Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 12:03 PM UTC
For the M60 series I think the old ESCI kits, also reboxed by AMT/ERTL, Italeri and Revell are the best overall.

Cheers,

Christophe
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
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Posted: Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 06:41 PM UTC

Quoted Text

How did you both guess M48 and not M60, I'm curious?



Quoted Text


As far as I know, the M48A3 is the only one Tamiya labels as a Patton.


Ditto.
markm
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California, United States
Joined: September 11, 2005
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Posted: Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 08:54 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Yes, it is a good kit. Out of the box, it will build up into a nice model. It has some inaccuracies though, they are pretty easy to fix. The biggest is the height of the suspension. It is about 3mm too high. Tamiya based theirs on an M48 without an interior or engine, hence it was light and rode high on the suspension. The turret is too squat as well. Add about 2 mm of spacer between the two turret halves to correct it. Lastly, you should fill the area between the gun mantlet and the turret. It is actually a cloth dust cover and should not have a gap.

Good luck.



Thanks Gino, darned if I didn't just buy this one yesterday at my LHS for 15 bucks. I noted that it is meant to be motorized. Does that bring up any specific issues or can you just build around it?

Edit: What is the easiest fix for the suspension problem?
HeavyArty
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Florida, United States
Joined: May 16, 2002
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Posted: Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 10:15 PM UTC

Quoted Text



Thanks Gino, darned if I didn't just buy this one yesterday at my LHS for 15 bucks. I noted that it is meant to be motorized. Does that bring up any specific issues or can you just build around it?

Edit: What is the easiest fix for the suspension problem?


Just fill the motorization holes on the bottom and the slot above the final drives at the rear.

For the suspension, all you need to do is cut the tabs off the arms that go into the hull. Move them all up about 3mm and glue them in place. Set it on blocks so the arms just touch the desk and let them set. You will also have to shorten the track slightly to compensate.
markm
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Posted: Saturday, May 12, 2007 - 10:24 PM UTC
Thank you sir
Tankrider
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Oklahoma, United States
Joined: October 07, 2002
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Posted: Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 06:17 AM UTC
Mark,
There is a bit more to it than just snipping the tabs on the roadwheel arms like Gino said. The M48 had had bumper springs above each road wheel arm. To keep them in th ecorrect position on th ehull, you need to clip them off of the roadwheel arm, then clip off the rod that is at the bease of the spring (the concentric circular part), glue the mounts on to the hull and now follow Gino's instructions. I woul drtecommend AFV Club echeloned (T-97) M48/M60 track as the kit track is molded with the centerguide in the wrong position.
John
markm
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Posted: Sunday, May 13, 2007 - 08:20 AM UTC
Many thanks gentlemen.
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