US Army M26 Pershing Tank

US Army M60 Patton Tank

Recon341, 1/87 scale

Reviewed by Cookie Sewell
 

Summary

FirstLook

Three times a year there are very large scale model railroad shows held in Baltimore, and as rule I always go to see what is available. While my current favorite searches for ROCO or similar HO armor models is getting thinner as time goes on, a new vendor named Makin Tracks Trains showed up this year with a selection of a dozen new 3D printed US vehicles to include M1A2 Abrams, Strykers and these two models.

The resin castings are very sharp and without some of the heavy layering seen in other models. To be sure it is there, but insignificant for most parts of the two models.

Both models appear to have been printed in four parts: hull, turret, and both track sets. All of the parts have been painted (primed) with the tank in OD and the tracks in black.

The M26 is actually an M26A1 with the bore evacuator so it shares the same printed turret with the M46. The hulls are clean and with all proper differences but with the headlights mounted on the fenders, not the glacis. The bow machine guns are missing but a small section of thin wire should complete them. Also there is no turret .50 caliber on these models (the Abrams did have them) and the pylon for them is molded in the down position, so it will need to be removed and replaced to mount a gun. The radio mast mounts are heavy but will help support antennas if you are careful with drilling out the mounts.

The gun barrels are bit on the heavy side but this is apparently to prevent them snapping off in shipment. You will need to drill out the muzzle brake assembly as well as some of the small details like the lift rings on the rear of the hull and the dismounted machine gun transport fittings.