M24 “Chaffee” Light Tank
Matchbox 1:76 Scale Vehicle Review
The Matchbox 1:76 scale M24 “Chaffee” light tank painted »Olive Drab« with Federal Standard Color 30277 »Sand (№ 3)« disruptive stripes. The M24 “Chaffee” entered service with 2nd Cavalry Group (Mechanized) of XII Corps in Patton‘s Third Army in time for the Battle of the Bulge. Unfortunately, Matchbox did not include decals for Troop F, 2nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron or Troop F, 42nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron which received M24 light tanks first.
Contents
- M24 “Chaffee” Light Tank
- Diorama Base: Dirt Road with Shell Crater and abandoned Fighting Position
- Decals:
- 43rd Tank Battalion, 12th AD, France, February 1945
- 24th Tank Battalion, 13th AD, Germany, April 1945
Evaluation
Excellent choice of subject, the M24 “Chaffee” Light Tank served in the US Army from 1944 well into the 1960s, and is still in service in Third World countries.
Scale model with good detail. The M24 is equipped with Blackout Lights, Blackout Taillights, and Blackout Stop Lights, but there are no tools, no jerrycans, and no personnel equipment anywhere on the vehicle.
Easy to assemble, only 71 parts. The soft rubber tracks are of the unique Matchbox “Hook & Eye” design, where the T-shaped tab on one end of the track perfectly matches the slotted cutout at the other end. The resulting connection is seamless, and the tracks are easily slipped over the idler, return roller, and road wheels. The tank commander‘s hatch can be modelled in the open position, but there is no figure included in this kit.
Compatible with Airfix, Fujimi, Nitto, and VAC-U-CAST.
Painting Guide
- Revell 361.46 »NATO Olive RAL 7013«: Camouflage Base Colour
- Revell 361.48 »Sea Green RAL 6028«: Disruptive Stripes
- Revell 361.08 »Black RAL 9011«: Rubber on Road Wheels, Machine Guns
To account for aerial perspective, we never use black to paint black items of uniform or equipment. PRIMAcryl 13.789 »Neutral Grey« is the better choice for painting the rubber on road wheels and the machine guns on this tank.
The Matchbox 1:76 scale M24 “Chaffee” light tank is an excellent model which may feature in a late World War Two diorama or wargame, but even more interestingly as a Cold War vehicle in Austrian, Belgian, Danish, Dutch, French, Greek, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish service.