Tamiya- 1/35 US Light Tank M24 Chaffee

For the First Look review of the kit- head here:  https://www.amps-armor.org/SiteReviews/ShowReview.aspx?id=25490

The Build

As is typical for new Tamiya builds, the construction starts with the lower hull- specifically the two sides attached to the bottom along with the middle support. You then proceed to fold the one piece PE mesh rack using the included jig which sandwiches the piece and folds it at the same time.

Steps 3-13 continue with the lower hull, attaching parts to the front and rear panel before attaching them to the hull. Bump stops, suspension arms, road wheels, sprockets, return rollers, and idler wheels are next. The sprockets are 4 part assemblies and require some nimble fingers to align the lightening holes. There are little indents that help, but it took some finagling. The same is true for the idlers. Last up in these steps are the link and length tracks- which were really a breeze to assemble with no issues.

Steps 14-19 concern the upper hull- the top deck and sides assemble together with an interesting arrangement of notches and pegs which aid later in attaching the fenders and sand shields. All the fiddley parts- hatches, lights, siren, and light guards are next. The guards are assembled as two pieces each. The hull gun is not slide-molded so I took out my new borehole positioner tool and drilled it out. Grab handles, tools, fuel filler caps, and the fender-mounted 7.62mm machine gun tripods are last to be added. Tamiya has molded these tripods as tarp covered pieces. 

The hull top and bottom are mated together in step 20 and then fender brackets and rear lights, molded tow cable, spare track links, and another tarp-covered molded piece for the track connecting tool are added. Steps 24-31 involve the gun breech, crew seats, and radio which is added to the turret halves and bottom before assembling them all together. After adding the top, the gun shield and gun are added- and the mantlet machine gun barrel drilled out before adding. Rear storage box, ammunition cases, and turret bits including the anti-aircraft machine gun mount are added. The cupola is up next- with decals to use for the lenses- and is added along with the commander's and loaders hatches. 

The commander and loader figures are assembled next and their fit is quite good. They are then added to the turret and the turret to the hull. Up last is the M2 machine gun which again needs to be drilled out before adding its ammunition box to it and it to the mount. The antenna bases, and 4 more ammunition cases are up last.

Painting and Weathering

I went with the 43rd Cavalry Recon Squadron scheme from Germany, March 1945. I used AK Interactive Faded Olive Drab over a primer coat of AMMO One Shot black. Details on road wheels and tools were painted with the AK paint markers- and I weathered with an assortment of products- Tamiya Panel Liner black, AMMO Oilbrushers, and a custom mix of AMMO pigments. The figures were painted with Vallejo and washed with Citadel Nuln Oil washes.

Conclusion

It is always a treat to see a newly tooled kit from Tamiya and this one does not disappoint. I know from posting progress pics that this is an eagerly anticipated kit and I believe it is due to be released within the next month for all to grab up for their stashes. It fits as you would expect Tamiya kits to do and the only small niggle I have with the kit is the machine gun barrels needing to be drilled out. I would love to see Tamiya start slide-molding these bits like they do some of the other parts in the kit- but this should not deter most modelers to be sure. 

Highly Recommended for Beginner to Advanced builders.

Thanks goes out to Tamiya for this review kit.

Reviewed by Michael Reeves

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