Italeri's 1/35 M47 Patton
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M47 Patton
The M47 Patton was an improvement
over its predecessor the M46. It was the last production main battle tank
developed by the U.S. Army to have an assistant driver position. It also
has the distinction of not seeing hostilities under US markings. Not only
did the US Army use the M47 but other countries such as Germany, France,
Italy, Pakistan and others. Italy license-built the M47 Patton. The American
Locomotive Corporation built them in the US The M47 had better weapons
stabilization and increased ammunition storage.
The Kit
The German M47 Patton depicted on the boxart is nice and would assist
you in painting and weathering your tank after assembly. There are some
pics of a built model as well as a Model Master color reference on the
side panel.
In the box you will find an eight-page illustrated instruction booklet,
three large sprues of parts molded in olive styrene, one sprue of metallic
vinyl tracks, and a decal sheet. The instruction booklet is referenced
in six different languages. All parts are documented in a parts location
diagram along with a Model Master paint color chart. All parts are well
molded with very little flash or sink holes.
You begin assembly with the lower hull and suspension in steps 1 and
two. These step involve attaching the suspension arms and road wheel assemblies.
This as with most tank kits is the most time-consuming assembly of the
kit. The one-piece lower hull is very well detailed down to the access
and drain covers. I would suggest you preread the instructions because
the diagrams can be very busy and somewhat confusion. In step 3 you will
begin upper hull detailing with hatches, exhaust systems and optional
open engine deck grates. This is a nice option not found in many armor
kits of its day. Its too bad the molded grates were not ventilated to
show the rudimentary engine that comes with the kits. Another nice option
from this kit as well. The engine is mated with the lower hull in step
4. At this point, you might want to add any bulk heads that are missing
and any further detailing of the engine itself to give it a better 3D
affect. In steps 5 through 7 you will mate the upper and lower hulls with
the rear panel. There is continued detailing on the upper hull and rear
panel with exhausts, stowage boxes, etc. This step also has you mate the
tracks with the completed suspension. The tracks are well details with
a rubber block chevron pattern. You have an option to add the mud guards
to the fenders. I would drill out the molded headlights and replace them
with MV lenses. The separates tools and headlight guards are very nicely
molded so there is no need to look in your spare parts for replacements.
Turret assembly begins in steps 8 through 10. Pretty much a straight forward
assembly for a tank but you get the option of 3 muzzle breaks for your
90mm main gun. I would take a Dremel tool with a round dental bit and
rough up the surface of the turret to give it a more cast texture. The
only thing I would suggest to throw out would be the figure. Not that
it is that bad but there are so many aftermarket options you may want
to give this M47 Patton a full crew since all hatches can be posed open.
Keep in mind there is only a gun breach otherwise there is no interior
detailing. To my knowledge there is no aftermarket interior for this kit
but I could be wrong.
You have a choice of four M47s to paint and decal. The primary color is
Model Master's olive drab (FS37087). Your markings include the US 143rd
Tank Battalion, Germany's 2nd Panzer Grenadier Division, Italy's Ariete
Division and France's Trier Blinde Division. As usual, Italeri's decals
are some of the best quality around.
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Conclusion
Italeri's reissue of this venerable old kit is still worth the build.
Other than the rudimentary engine this kit builds into a really nice M47
Patton. If you are looking to fill in your Patton series I recommend this
kit. I would like to thank Testor's
for the review kit.
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