Tamiya 35120 - 1/35 U.S. M48A3 Patton Military Tank Model Kit - Precision Vietnam Era Replica  [35120]

Overview of the 1/35 U.S. M48A3 Patton Tank Kit

The Tamiya 1/35 U.S. M48A3 Patton Tank model kit recreates the look and engineering of a key Cold War era vehicle that saw service in Vietnam. Originating in the early 1950s from Chrysler designs, the M48 series improved on the M47 with a cast elliptical hull and the distinctive "Turtleback" turret for stronger ballistic protection.

Service Background and Key Components

Praised for its toughness and battlefield utility, the M48A3 Patton carried a 90mm M41 gun, a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun, and a .50 caliber mount on the commander's cupola. This kit mirrors those weapon mounts and also references the Continental V-12 AV-1790 petrol engine noted in period sources, which supported a top road speed near 48 km/h.

The M48A3's later configurations featured the AVDS-1970-2 diesel upgrades to boost reliability and range. In Vietnam, crews often fitted extra secondary weapons and field modifications, details that the kit allows you to represent during assembly and finishing.

Building Rewards and Display Notes

Designed for builders who value historical accuracy, the kit includes finely modelled items such as the coincidence-type range finder and the five-bogie wheel arrangement seen on Vietnam service tanks. Careful assembly and painting will produce a convincing centrepiece for dioramas or a military model collection.