Part 2: The Build

Grant DeRue's fine build review of the Tamiya 1:48 M8 Greyhound Armored Car on this site applies to this kit as well. The M20 was based on the M8, and Tamiya's M20 kit is based on it's earlier M8 kit. This kit fell together with no major fit problems. The major difference from the M8 kit is the inclusion of a tub for the fighting compartment along with parts for the cowling that goes around it in the M20 kit. There are few detail parts for the interior. The tub has the driver and co-driver seats and wooden crew benches molded in. A bazooka is provided to be stowed on the cowling behind the driver's compartment. The interior of the driving compartment should be painted white, including the floor. There is no detail to see here. The driving compartment hatches have the closing handles molded on, but leaving them open would reveal an empty interior. A steering wheel, gear shift, dashboard, and maybe a driver would have kicked this kit up a notch. Everything in the fighting compartment should be painted Olive Drab. Including a radio, gas can, and some rifles would have made this area look great. I chose to use the mine racks on my model. The 3 mines for each side are single pieces and very nicely done. I used painted the model Tamiya Acrylic XF-62 Olive Drab over all with Model Master Acryl Flat Black (4768) for the tires. In most cases pioneer tools would be OD, but I painted the black and buff to give the model a bit of color. I used the markings for 1st platoon, B Co., 807th Tank Destroyer Battalion, Germany, 1945. The decals went on well over a coat of Future. I used Microscale Micro Sol to settle them over the raised areas. The star for the engine cover tore (entirely my fault) so I left it off. There are 2 very nice figures supplied. Both are standing; one looking through field glasses and one at the machine gun. I didn't use them because my figure painting skills are non existant. This is a nice little kit and was a fun build. More interior detail would have been nice, but I still can recommend it for most modelers. Thanks to Tamiya USA and IPMS USA for the review sample.

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