Model-Miniature

Choice of subject

The M47 was developed in the fifties from the M46 by combining the latter's slightly modified chassis with a completely new turret. This resulted in one of the most important US build post-war tanks, more than 8000 vehicles having been produced. The majority of these were exported to NATO countries to provide a counterbalance against the ever growing numbers of T55 aligned by the Warsaw Pact. It is therefore bizarre that, apart from an obscure kit produced by Polistil in the 70, the M47 remained long-time absent from the Braille scene. Finally, Model-Miniature produced one in resin, for which we should congratulate them.

My kit arrived packed in a sturdy cardboard box, but for one reason or another, many parts got damaged during transport. The most severe cases were quickly replaced by Model-Miniature, but some parts I'll have to repair myself.

The quality casting of the parts varies from excellent to mediocre. Some are very good, others however have rather soft detail, some parts even are completely useless and on a number of them, the resin shows discoloured spot, especially on the edges. The rear edges of the hull even have the resin flaking and peeling off. I tested the quality of the resin on a hidden spot and it appears very brittle.

I checked the dimension of the model against those on the American Fighting Vehicle Database site and they are correct.

The tracks

On inspection of the tracks, I discovered a regular pattern of ejection marks. On a resin kit??? This bewildered me at first until I got myself the M46 Trumpeter kit # 7288 (which contains link & length plastic tracks). I compared the Model-Miniature tracks with the Trumpeter ones and found both sets have their ejection marks placed in a similar pattern.

I therefore can only conclude that the M47 resin tracks runs are a slightly adapted copy of the Trumpeter ones, made longer by gluing some links to them. However these M46 tracks are the T80 steel type, which were only used on the earlier M47 tanks. The type most commonly used with the M47 is the T84E1 with the rubber chevron.

The Hull

The hull is one massive part with acceptable detail. However, due to the bad quality of the casting, it is useless. Although being a massive block of resin, the engine deck looks like it has collapsed under a heavy weight, something I have never encountered before. I have no clue what could have caused this? Maybe a bad mould?

Apparently the model on the box art also has this problem. Check this picture on the Model-Miniature flickr page.

Anyway, this is a serious problem that is impossible to correct without major surgery. Noticy also the resin flaking on the mudguards.

Since the M47 is a development of the M46, I also compared the Model-Miniature hull to the Trumpeter M46 parts and guess what? When looking at all the details, it became obvious that this, once again, is a copy of an assembled Trumpeter hull, slightly adapted by deleting the rotoclone blower between the hatches to resemble something that looks like the glacis of the M47.

However, the glacis on a real M47 (see below) lacks the prominent ridge of the M46 and therefore has a much sharper slope, a feature that Model-Miniature has failed to capture.

Additionally, the details on the resin hull are notably softer than these on the original plastic one.

The turret

In the end, the only major part in this kit that was originally mastered by Model-Miniature is the turret, and you immediately see the different approach. The general shape of the turret looks correct, but apart from that, it is very naked. The texture is much too smooth, doesn’t look like a cast steel turret at all. The few details on the turret were all broken when I’d got my kit (like the small lifting hook in front of the turret and the antennae base).

The camouflage loops at the top of the resin turret sides (not to be seen on this picture, because broken on my sample) were only used on early vehicles. It is a pity Model-Miniature doesn't not provide the typical big stowage racks normally seen on the M47.

This 90mm gun has the T-shaped blast deflector installed. Most M47s, however, were produced with a cylindrical blast deflector.

The typical canvas cover on the mantlet is not modelled.

 
This kit doesn't have an instruction sheet. However, since most of the parts are straightforward, this is not a real problem. A decal sheet or painting scheme is also missing. No figures or etched brass parts are included either.

The kit however does contain 4 fuel cans and 3 pieces of stowage.

Conclusion

This kit is a missed opportunity to produce a decent model of this famous tank. Firstly, it builds up to produce an early version, whereas a later model would be more popular. Secondly, instead of copying the majority of the Trumpeter M46 parts, Model-Miniature could have saved us a lot of money by providing only an update set comprising a more correct hull and turret.

Not recommended

Review sample purchased by the author

Article Last Updated: 20 March 2014