M48A3 "Patton"

The M48 Patton is a first generation US main battle tank which was introduced in February 1952.
It was developed as the successor to the M47 Patton tank.
It became known as the main battle tank of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps in the Vietnam War.
Almost 12,000 M48s were built between 1952 and 1961.
The early models up to the M48A2C were powered by a petrol engine. The M48A3 and A5 versions were equipped with a diesel engine.
From August 1963, 1,020 older M48A1s and A2s were converted to the new engine.
By February 1967, the Army had about 600 converted M48A3 Patton tanks; the Marine Corps had received 419 to date.
Since many M48A3 tanks were conversions of earlier models, there were many differences in detail between the individual vehicles of this type.
In 1967, the manufacturer Bowen-McLaughlin-York, Inc. began the Model B upgrade for the M48A3, which included many detail improvements.
Most noticeable was the new raised commander's cupola. This consisted of an adapter ring with all-round vision blocks and the actual dome.


Plastic model kit

• with vinyl tracks
• with a figure

scale 1:35

unbuilt / unpainted