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From the Model Desk of Spaceman Spiff: M48A3 Patton
Posted on 10/9/25 at 8:32 pm
Posted on 10/9/25 at 8:32 pm
This is the old Tamiya 1/35 M48A3 Patton kit. I first built this kit some 30+ years ago as a kid and wanted to try it again using all I’ve learned. It’s pretty much out of the box with the exception a few resin items like the search light and mantlet, also a few ammo boxes, etc. Painted in Tamiya’s acrylics using my trusty old Iwata airbrush. Vietnam earth pigments for dust/mud. It will be part of a Vietnam diorama. Figures are resin, 1/35 scale.
Still have the stowage to finish and maybe dirty it up some more and then it’s on to the base.
Still have the stowage to finish and maybe dirty it up some more and then it’s on to the base.
12
Posted on 10/9/25 at 8:33 pm to Spaceman Spiff
Nice job
Posted on 10/9/25 at 8:39 pm to Spaceman Spiff
With the right photography, people would think that thing is real.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 8:42 pm to TrueTiger
Nice work
Posted on 10/9/25 at 8:43 pm to Spaceman Spiff
Great job! Looks like it just rolled off the assembly line at Ford
Posted on 10/9/25 at 8:57 pm to Spaceman Spiff
Well done
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:06 pm to Spaceman Spiff
You out in a lot of work on those. Do you patina the metal as well? Can’t quite tell from your photos and the light
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:17 pm to idlewatcher
Sorry for the shitty camera work. I did the black basing method - you can see the tonal differences better on the front of the tank, esp the fender area. I didn’t go the oil route for weathering, maybe I should have, though. I couldn’t really find pictures from Vietnam that showed faded paint like that on fighter planes, etc. Most of the weathering on the tank was done using the Vietnam earth/light dust pigments. It’s still a work in progress. The mud (some on the road wheels and under the fenders) was done by globbing oil paint and then covering that with the pigments. Can’t really tell in the pics.
The figures were first primed in black and then many glazes to achieve the tonal differences. I suck at figures
The figures were first primed in black and then many glazes to achieve the tonal differences. I suck at figures
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:35 pm to Spaceman Spiff
I like this one with the figures and all.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 9:40 pm to Spaceman Spiff
Nice, very nice. Same with you and Darth, I have no clue why people DV the model build threads.
Posted on 10/9/25 at 10:11 pm to Spaceman Spiff
Great work 
Posted on 10/10/25 at 4:42 am to TigrrrDad
Appreciate it!
Posted on 10/10/25 at 4:46 am to Spaceman Spiff
Wonderful work 
Posted on 10/10/25 at 4:51 am to Spaceman Spiff
Looks great. What are the 3 figures talking about?
Posted on 10/10/25 at 5:21 am to LCA131
Who knows. Maybe drawing up plans for an obstacle. Or drawing tits on the ground
Posted on 10/10/25 at 7:20 am to Spaceman Spiff
If i remember correctly. Those were the tanks they used in the movie Patton instead of Sherman and some tigers because that's what the Spanish government used at the time when they filmed in Spain.
This post was edited on 10/10/25 at 7:25 am
Posted on 10/10/25 at 7:29 am to Spaceman Spiff
Spectacular work, Spiff. As both an avid modeler and an old tanker, I really like this build. Your color tones are spot on with just enough weathering. Good job!
Oddly enough, despite the fact my favorite subject to build is armor and Tamiya is my favorite brand, I’ve never built this particular kit. I may have to change that.
Right now, I’m working on an Academy 1/48 scale F-86F Sabre.
So far, it’s been a pretty good build. I’ve taken a vacation day today so I plan to start painting later this morning.
Oddly enough, despite the fact my favorite subject to build is armor and Tamiya is my favorite brand, I’ve never built this particular kit. I may have to change that.
Right now, I’m working on an Academy 1/48 scale F-86F Sabre.
So far, it’s been a pretty good build. I’ve taken a vacation day today so I plan to start painting later this morning.
Posted on 10/10/25 at 7:31 am to Spaceman Spiff
quote:
Who knows. Maybe drawing up plans for an obstacle. Or drawing tits on the ground
Speaking from experience as an old DAT, they’re definitely drawing tits on the ground.
Posted on 10/10/25 at 7:55 am to Darth_Vader
quote:
Spectacular work, Spiff. As both an avid modeler and an old tanker, I really like this build. Your color tones are spot on with just enough weathering. Good job!
Oddly enough, despite the fact my favorite subject to build is armor and Tamiya is my favorite brand, I’ve never built this particular kit. I may have to change that.
Thanks, Darth! I didn't want to go really muddy as they got over there, but that red dirt/dust got everywhere. Tried to replicate pics as best I could.
That kit is old but excellent and like all Tamiya kits, easy to build. However, the kit's searchlight and mantlet cover leave a lot to be desired, so I went with Legend Productions accessories. Also, after market decals as the kit ones were unusable.
How is the Sabre kit? That's one bird I've never built but need to get.
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