I was thinking along the lines of this.
I would like to be accurate but I’m having difficulties finding AM decals for that kit
This scene would allow me to not worry about the tracks too much.
Also this one as a generic scene.
Well, your half in luck for reference… the top photo is an A2. One of the two known units using A2s, 1/77 Armor from 5th ID. No fender air cleaners, and the drivers heater vent pipe is toward the left fender(viewer’s right).
The bottom photo is an A3- five return rollers, older style headlights, and fender mounted air cleaner boxes.
As far as markings go though… nobody has yet come out with A2 specific Vietnam markings. Perhaps one day Echelon may. They sure have been doing plenty of Vietnam armor markings. Or perhaps Star Decals. But for now, you’d have to cobble together your own, which aside from company turret markings and personal type, are usually easy to do from leftover kit decals.
Some M48A2s were upgraded to M48A3 and then to M48A5, so the three vs. five return roller number is never a good indicator to positively identify the tanks.
Having said that, A2s will always have three, but A3s and A5s can have three or five.
True… M48A3s, like the A5, were all rebuilds of earlier variants. The M48A2 was the last original factory produced variant after the M48 and M48A1.
That would make a very cool diorama! You should build that.
I’m going to do that. I did muddy water in another tank dio a few years back and learned a few things. I do nee to find some decals that will work and of course crew.
