Tamiya 35120 - 1:35 M48A3 Patton

Plastic model kit of the American M48A3 Patton main battle tank in 1:35 scale

The M48A3 is a tank inseparable from the imagery of the Vietnam War: the heavy rounded turret, the tall commander's cupola with its heavy machine gun and the distinctive xenon searchlight above the main gun. Tamiya 35120 reproduces it in 1:35 scale from tooling dating to 1981.

The model captures the full, rounded shapes of the hull and turret along with the running gear on six pairs of road wheels. The kit includes the stowage typical of vehicles serving in Vietnam: a snorkel, jerry cans and spare track links fixed to the turret. Clear parts and two figures are also provided, and the decals allow either a US Army or a USMC vehicle to be built.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with hull, turret and running gear parts
• 90 mm gun and commander's cupola with heavy machine gun
• Clear parts
• Accessories: snorkel, jerry cans, spare track links, xenon searchlight
• Vinyl band tracks
• Two figures
• Waterslide decal sheet: 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, US Army and 2nd Tank Battalion, USMC
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35120
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 197 mm
• Skill level: beginner

Please note: glue, paints and modelling tools are not included. This is a kit for self-assembly.

Building the model:

The build is clear and well within reach of less experienced modellers, and the vinyl band tracks make quick work of the running gear. The external stowage — jerry cans, spare links, snorkel — is best assembled and painted separately, which makes it easier to vary the colours and achieve the look of a properly loaded tank. The xenon searchlight above the gun catches the eye, so it is worth spending a moment on it.

For painting we suggest US Olive Drab (e.g. Tamiya XF-62). Vehicles in Vietnam were heavily dusted and sun-faded, so lightening the upper surfaces and applying a wash into the recesses works well. Applying the decals over a gloss coat helps avoid silvering, and a matt varnish makes a good final coat. Pigments can recreate the reddish dust typical of Vietnamese roads.

Tools you will need:

• Modelling nippers for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sanding paper
• Plastic cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Brushes in various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• Wash to bring out detail
• Optional: weathering pigments for dust and mud

About the vehicle – M48A3 Patton:

The M48 Patton was the mainstay of the US Army in the 1950s and 1960s. Its greatest weakness was the petrol engine: flammable and short on range. The 1963 upgrade, designated M48A3, solved the problem — the vehicle received a Continental AVDS-1790-2 diesel of 750 hp, which greatly increased its range and crew safety.

Its armament consisted of the 90 mm M41 gun, a coaxial M73 machine gun and an M2 heavy machine gun in the commander's cupola. In this form the M48A3 became the principal American tank in Vietnam, used mostly for infantry support, convoy escort and road patrols. Its 90 mm gun proved effective against fortifications and firing positions, while its thick armour offered protection from mines and the anti-tank weapons of the guerrillas.

Original vehicle specifications (M48A3):

• Type: main battle tank
• Main armament: 90 mm M41 gun
• Secondary armament: coaxial M73 machine gun and M2 heavy machine gun in the commander's cupola
• Crew: 4
• Combat weight: approx. 47 t
• Powerplant: Continental AVDS-1790-2 diesel, 750 hp
• Upgrade: 1963 (petrol engine replaced by a diesel)
• Combat use: the principal American tank in Vietnam

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, a city regarded as the centre of the Japanese model industry. The company started out in the timber trade and made wooden models, releasing its first injection-moulded plastic kit in 1960. Two years later came the 1:35 tank that established the world standard scale for military modelling. The brand is known for precise tooling and excellent parts fit, which is why its kits are equally popular with beginners and experienced modellers. The Military Miniature Series, to which this kit belongs, runs to hundreds of releases covering vehicles, artillery and figures. Tamiya instructions are clear and well illustrated, with painting guides referenced to the company's own paint range. Besides kits, Tamiya offers a full range of accessories: paints, cements, tools and brushes. The company is present in dozens of countries and remains one of the most recognisable names in the hobby.