In Box Review of Tamiya 1/35th Scale
Carro Armato M13/40 Italian Tank
Kit no,. 35134
By Ray Mehlberger
By Ray Mehlberger
HISTORY:
The Fiat-Ansaldo M13/40 was an Italian World War II tank designed to replace the Fiat L3, the Fiat L6/40 and the Fiat M11/39 in the Italian Army at the start of World War II. It was the main tank the Italians used throughout the war. The design was influenced by the British Vickers 6-Ton and was based on the modified chassis of the earlier Fiat M11/39. Production of the M11/39 was cut short in order to get the M13/40 into production. The name refers to "M" for Medio (medium) according to the Italian tank weight standards at the time, 13 tonnes was the scheduled weight and 1940 the initial year of production.
The Fiat-Ansaldo M13/40 was an Italian World War II tank designed to replace the Fiat L3, the Fiat L6/40 and the Fiat M11/39 in the Italian Army at the start of World War II. It was the main tank the Italians used throughout the war. The design was influenced by the British Vickers 6-Ton and was based on the modified chassis of the earlier Fiat M11/39. Production of the M11/39 was cut short in order to get the M13/40 into production. The name refers to "M" for Medio (medium) according to the Italian tank weight standards at the time, 13 tonnes was the scheduled weight and 1940 the initial year of production.
ECIFICATIONS:
Type
Medium tank
Place of origin
Italy
Service history
In service
8 July 1940 – c. 1943
Used by
Italy
Australia
United Kingdom
Nazi Germany[1]
Wars
World War II
Production history
Designer
Fiat
Designed
26 October 1939
Produced
1 January 1940 – c. 1941
Variants
M14/41, M15/42
Specifications
Weight
13.5 t (13.3 long tons)
Length
4.9 m (16 ft 0.9 in)
Width
2.2 m (7 ft 2.6 in)
Height
2.39 m (7 ft 10.1 in)
Crew
4
Armour
42 mm or 0.2–1.7 inches
Main
armament
47 mm Cannone da 47/32 M35
104 shells
Secondary
armament
3–4 × 8 mm Breda machine guns
Engine
Fiat V8 diesel SPA 8 TM
125 hp
Power/weight
8.92 horsepower per ton
Suspension
Leaf spring bogies
Operational
range
200 km (120 mi)
Speed
32 km/h (20 mph) (road speed)
Type
Medium tank
Place of origin
Italy
Service history
In service
8 July 1940 – c. 1943
Used by
Italy
Australia
United Kingdom
Nazi Germany[1]
Wars
World War II
Production history
Designer
Fiat
Designed
26 October 1939
Produced
1 January 1940 – c. 1941
Variants
M14/41, M15/42
Specifications
Weight
13.5 t (13.3 long tons)
Length
4.9 m (16 ft 0.9 in)
Width
2.2 m (7 ft 2.6 in)
Height
2.39 m (7 ft 10.1 in)
Crew
4
Armour
42 mm or 0.2–1.7 inches
Main
armament
47 mm Cannone da 47/32 M35
104 shells
Secondary
armament
3–4 × 8 mm Breda machine guns
Engine
Fiat V8 diesel SPA 8 TM
125 hp
Power/weight
8.92 horsepower per ton
Suspension
Leaf spring bogies
Operational
range
200 km (120 mi)
Speed
32 km/h (20 mph) (road speed)
THE KIT:
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a M13/40 against Tamiya’s signature all white back ground that they use for all their box arts. The tank is overall sand with a white number 132 on the left side of the rear wall of the fighing compartment. The turret has a white number 1 above a red bar with a white verical bar in the center. A crewman is looking out of the turret hatch with binoculars.
One side panel has color box arts of 4 other AFV kits that Tamiya markets. These are all shown with scenery backgrounds. Not Tamiya’s usual practice with the all-white backgrounds.
A KV-1 Soviet Heavy Tank
A M4 Sherman U.S. Medium Tank
A Tiger 1 German Heavy Tank
A Centurion British Medium Tank
No kit numbers are given for any of these 4.
The other side panel has a small color repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the M13/40 in Japanese and MADE IN JAPAN.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a M13/40 against Tamiya’s signature all white back ground that they use for all their box arts. The tank is overall sand with a white number 132 on the left side of the rear wall of the fighing compartment. The turret has a white number 1 above a red bar with a white verical bar in the center. A crewman is looking out of the turret hatch with binoculars.
One side panel has color box arts of 4 other AFV kits that Tamiya markets. These are all shown with scenery backgrounds. Not Tamiya’s usual practice with the all-white backgrounds.
A KV-1 Soviet Heavy Tank
A M4 Sherman U.S. Medium Tank
A Tiger 1 German Heavy Tank
A Centurion British Medium Tank
No kit numbers are given for any of these 4.
The other side panel has a small color repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the M13/40 in Japanese and MADE IN JAPAN.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 3 light tan trees of parts in 2 stapled shut cello bags, a loose light tan hull top and hull tub, steel colored vinyl rubber-band type treads, the instructions and a sheet showing other kits that Tamiya markets.
The instructions consist of a single long sheet that is 20 ½” x 7 ½”, printed on both sides and folded twice along it’s length to fit the box.
It’s face side begins with 2 black and white photos of M13/40’s in museums, followed by the history of the tank in Japanese only and painting and decal application instructions A side view illustration has arrows pointing to where you apply the marks and the crewman is shown. However, being all in Japanese, I cannot say what the colors should be or what units the markings are for. Sorry. I wish Tamiya had included English instructions.
The reverse side of the instructions have 8 assembly steps, show how to heat rivet the tracks together and how to stretch sprue for an antenna. Some M13/40’s did not carry a full set of fenders and there is a drawing here to show you how much of the fenders should be removed for this version,.
Light tan letter A tree holds: the drive sprockets, road wheels, idler wheels and return rollers (55 parts)
This kit contains 3 light tan trees of parts in 2 stapled shut cello bags, a loose light tan hull top and hull tub, steel colored vinyl rubber-band type treads, the instructions and a sheet showing other kits that Tamiya markets.
The instructions consist of a single long sheet that is 20 ½” x 7 ½”, printed on both sides and folded twice along it’s length to fit the box.
It’s face side begins with 2 black and white photos of M13/40’s in museums, followed by the history of the tank in Japanese only and painting and decal application instructions A side view illustration has arrows pointing to where you apply the marks and the crewman is shown. However, being all in Japanese, I cannot say what the colors should be or what units the markings are for. Sorry. I wish Tamiya had included English instructions.
The reverse side of the instructions have 8 assembly steps, show how to heat rivet the tracks together and how to stretch sprue for an antenna. Some M13/40’s did not carry a full set of fenders and there is a drawing here to show you how much of the fenders should be removed for this version,.
Light tan letter A tree holds: the drive sprockets, road wheels, idler wheels and return rollers (55 parts)
Light tan letter B tree holds: bogies, leaf springs, tools, tow hooks, muffler/exhaust, storage lockers, front and rear hull panels, steps etc. (36 parts).
Light tan letter C tree holds: the crewman (he is full bodied with his left arm seperat), the turret top bottom and base plate, fighting compartment side panels and door. Fighting compart front wall, turret hatch doors, machine gun, mantle parts, main gun barrel, pair of binoculars etc (15 parts).
The upper hull includes the fenders,engine deck and transmission plate molded as one part.
The lower hull is a one piece molding as well.
The steel colored vinyl rubber band type tracks are next. They are the older type that have to be heat riveted or stapled into a loop. Not the newer glueable type.
The decals, instructions and a kit catalog sheet complete the kit’s contents. This sheet and the instructions are all in Japanese only.
I also canabalized some of the markings off the decal sheet in this kit for another Italian AFV project.
I also canabalized some of the markings off the decal sheet in this kit for another Italian AFV project.
This kit has good exterior detail, but there are no details provided for inside it.
Highly recommended.
I bought my kit back in the 70’s at my local hobby shop.
Highly recommended.
I bought my kit back in the 70’s at my local hobby shop.