Tamiya 35296 - 1:35 Italian Medium Tank Carro Armato M13/40

1:35 scale plastic model kit of the Italian Carro Armato M13/40 medium tank

Tamiya 35296 reproduces the Carro Armato M13/40 – the principal Italian tank of the WWII period. This vehicle of characteristic riveted construction was armed with a 47 mm gun mounted in Italy's first hydraulically powered turret. The M13/40 fought mainly on the North African front, alongside the German Afrika Korps.

The model faithfully captures the riveted hull and turret and the bogey suspension on leaf springs. The kit is enhanced with a turned metal barrel and photo-etched parts, and the included string lets you represent external equipment.

What's in the box:

• Plastic sprues with riveted hull and turret
• 47 mm gun with a turned metal barrel
• Photo-etched parts
• Mixed tracks (individual links and longer lengths)
• String to represent external equipment
• Crew figures
• Decal sheet for the marking options (Ariete and Littorio divisions and a vehicle captured by Australians)
• Illustrated assembly instructions

Model specifications:

• Scale: 1:35
• Item number: 35296
• Manufacturer: Tamiya
• Assembled length: 143 mm
• Skill level: beginner/intermediate (photo-etched parts, mixed tracks)

Note: This kit does not include glue, paints or modelling tools. The model is intended for self-assembly.

Building the model:

Thanks to good part fit, the model is approachable even for less experienced builders, although the mixed tracks and small photo-etched parts require patience and cyanoacrylate glue. The turned metal barrel gives clear detail sharpness straight out of the box.

For a desert finish, the palette typical of Italian vehicles in North Africa is recommended, matched to the chosen marking option. Military vehicles are usually finished with a matt varnish, and the many rivets and recesses benefit from a wash and dry-brushing.

Tools you'll need:

• Modelling side cutters for removing parts from the sprues
• Hobby knife or scalpel
• Files and sandpaper for cleaning up sprue-gate marks
• Polystyrene cement (e.g. Tamiya Extra Thin Cement)
• Cyanoacrylate glue for the photo-etched and metal parts
• Brushes of various sizes
• Model paints (acrylic or enamel)
• A wash to emphasise detail and recesses
• Optionally: pigments for dust and mud effects

About the vehicle – Carro Armato M13/40:

The Carro Armato M13/40 was the principal tank of the Italian army in the first half of WWII. It was characterised by riveted hull and turret construction, bogey suspension on leaf springs and a 47 mm gun mounted in the first hydraulically powered turret in an Italian tank. It was powered by a liquid-cooled V8 diesel engine of about 125 hp.

From 1940 to 1943, around 800 M13/40s were built. These vehicles fought mainly on the North African front, alongside the German Afrika Korps. Although they were inferior to more modern Allied tanks, they formed the backbone of Italian armoured forces of the period.

Original specifications (Carro Armato M13/40):

• Length: approx. 4.92 m
• Width: approx. 2.2 m
• Height: approx. 2.37 m
• Combat weight: approx. 14 t
• Crew: 4
• Main armament: 47 mm gun
• Secondary armament: 8 mm Breda machine guns
• Powerplant: SPA V8 diesel engine, approx. 125 hp
• Maximum speed: approx. 30 km/h
• Range: approx. 200 km
• Armour: up to approx. 42 mm
• Production: 1940–1943, approx. 800 examples

About the manufacturer – Tamiya:

Tamiya Corporation is a Japanese model company founded in 1946 by Yoshio Tamiya in Shizuoka, regarded as the heart of the Japanese model industry. The company initially traded in timber, but from the late 1940s it produced wooden models, and in 1960 it launched its first plastic assembly kit. Two years later it introduced its iconic 1:35 scale tank, which set the worldwide standard scale for military modelling. The brand is renowned for exceptionally precise injection moulds and excellent part fit, which is why its kits are favoured by beginners and experienced modellers alike. The Military Miniature Series, to which this model belongs, comprises hundreds of items and is considered one of the most comprehensive 1:35 catalogues of military vehicles in the world. Alongside plastic kits, Tamiya offers a full range of modelling supplies: paints, glues, tools and brushes.