In Box Review of Tamiya 1/35th Scale
U.S. Tank-destroyer M36 Jackson
Kit no. MT-135
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
HISTORY:
During WWII, some heavy tank-destroyers acquired fame as “Tank Killers” in fierce tank battles. They were the tank-destroyer V “Jagdpanther, the tank-destroyer VI “Elephant” and the tank-destroyer VI “Jagdtiger” of the Germans. The SU-85 tank-destroyer, the SU-100 tank-destroyer and the SU-122 of the Russians. The M36 tank-destroyer “General Jackson” series of the Americans which exercised it’s power in the European theater was called the “German Tank Killer”.
The M36 tank-destroyer series first saw battle in the Invasion of Normandy on June 1944. As the main strength of American independent tan-destroyer battalions, it exercised it’s power in anti-tank battles over heavy tanks of the German tank forces.
In the well-known Battle of the Bulge, the 702nd Independent Tank-destroyer Battalion, which belonged to the U.S. 2nd Armored Division, “Hell on Wheels” also nick-named “Patton Division”, encountered in East Belgium with the 2nd German Tank Division “Dreizack” under the command of the 47th Tank Corps of the German 5th Tank Army. After fierce fighting destroyed 33 German vehicles as follows: one Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. L, eight Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. J’s, fifteen medium tank V’s, one heavy tank VI “Tiger IIb”, two Assault Gun Tanks IV’s, two Tank-destroyer V’s and two half-track personnel carriers and two wheeled vehicles.
On the other hand, the 702nd Battalion just lost only eight of its main-strength M36 Tank-destroyers “General Jackson I’s”.
During WWII, the U.S. Army possessed seventeen tank-destroyer groups, sixty-three tank destroyer battalions as well as the 1st Independent Tank-destroyer Brigade. There were fourteen tank-destroyer groups and forty-five tank destroyer battalions in continental Europe, except Italy. One tank-destroyer group and ten tank-destroyer battalions to the Italian front, and seven tank-destroyer battalions in the Pacific Theater.
The 1st Tank-destroyer Brigade belonged to the 3rd Army “Hell on Wheels” under the command of General Patton and was used in special tactics. Some of the M36 tank-destroyer series which served as the main body of the independent tank-destroyer battalions and destroyed the main-strength tanks of the German tank forces by the hit-and-run tactics in the late stages of WWII were given to the army of Britain, France and other NATO countries.
After the war, Japan’s Self Defense Force was also provided with some M36’s, use of which is now exhibited in the Weapons Data Center of the Ordnance School. The main armament of this M36 is the 90 mm cannon M3A1 equipped with a single-acting muzzle brake and a cylindrical smoke exhaust.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Hull length: 24 feet
Width: 9 feet
Height: 8 feet
Weight: 31 tons (loaded) 28.5 tons (empty)
Armament: one 90 mm Cannon M3 on a revolving turret and one 12.7 mm Browning machine gun.
Engine: Ford G.A.A. 11 V-type 8-cylinder gasoline engine
Maximum output: 450 ps/2,600 rpm
Maximum speed: 48 km/h
Maximum climb gradient: 31 degrees
Cruising range: 240 km
Number of ammo rounds carried: 47
Number of machine gun rounds carried: 1,000
Number of crew members: 5
During WWII, some heavy tank-destroyers acquired fame as “Tank Killers” in fierce tank battles. They were the tank-destroyer V “Jagdpanther, the tank-destroyer VI “Elephant” and the tank-destroyer VI “Jagdtiger” of the Germans. The SU-85 tank-destroyer, the SU-100 tank-destroyer and the SU-122 of the Russians. The M36 tank-destroyer “General Jackson” series of the Americans which exercised it’s power in the European theater was called the “German Tank Killer”.
The M36 tank-destroyer series first saw battle in the Invasion of Normandy on June 1944. As the main strength of American independent tan-destroyer battalions, it exercised it’s power in anti-tank battles over heavy tanks of the German tank forces.
In the well-known Battle of the Bulge, the 702nd Independent Tank-destroyer Battalion, which belonged to the U.S. 2nd Armored Division, “Hell on Wheels” also nick-named “Patton Division”, encountered in East Belgium with the 2nd German Tank Division “Dreizack” under the command of the 47th Tank Corps of the German 5th Tank Army. After fierce fighting destroyed 33 German vehicles as follows: one Pz.Kpfw. III Ausf. L, eight Pz.Kpfw. IV Ausf. J’s, fifteen medium tank V’s, one heavy tank VI “Tiger IIb”, two Assault Gun Tanks IV’s, two Tank-destroyer V’s and two half-track personnel carriers and two wheeled vehicles.
On the other hand, the 702nd Battalion just lost only eight of its main-strength M36 Tank-destroyers “General Jackson I’s”.
During WWII, the U.S. Army possessed seventeen tank-destroyer groups, sixty-three tank destroyer battalions as well as the 1st Independent Tank-destroyer Brigade. There were fourteen tank-destroyer groups and forty-five tank destroyer battalions in continental Europe, except Italy. One tank-destroyer group and ten tank-destroyer battalions to the Italian front, and seven tank-destroyer battalions in the Pacific Theater.
The 1st Tank-destroyer Brigade belonged to the 3rd Army “Hell on Wheels” under the command of General Patton and was used in special tactics. Some of the M36 tank-destroyer series which served as the main body of the independent tank-destroyer battalions and destroyed the main-strength tanks of the German tank forces by the hit-and-run tactics in the late stages of WWII were given to the army of Britain, France and other NATO countries.
After the war, Japan’s Self Defense Force was also provided with some M36’s, use of which is now exhibited in the Weapons Data Center of the Ordnance School. The main armament of this M36 is the 90 mm cannon M3A1 equipped with a single-acting muzzle brake and a cylindrical smoke exhaust.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Hull length: 24 feet
Width: 9 feet
Height: 8 feet
Weight: 31 tons (loaded) 28.5 tons (empty)
Armament: one 90 mm Cannon M3 on a revolving turret and one 12.7 mm Browning machine gun.
Engine: Ford G.A.A. 11 V-type 8-cylinder gasoline engine
Maximum output: 450 ps/2,600 rpm
Maximum speed: 48 km/h
Maximum climb gradient: 31 degrees
Cruising range: 240 km
Number of ammo rounds carried: 47
Number of machine gun rounds carried: 1,000
Number of crew members: 5
THE KIT:
Tamiya is an older prolific model company based in Shizuoka City Japan. They make all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a M36 Jackson posed against Tamiya’s signature all-white background that they use on all their box arts.
The M36 is overall olive drab with a large white star on the sides of the turret and on the front of the hull. Below the star on the front on the left side is the white serial number 5A701TD and on the right is white serial number A-23. On the forward end of the hull sides is a white USA above the serial number 40177404.
3 crewmen are looking out of the open-topped turret. On is pointing with his right arm and just the heads of the other two men can be seen.
One side panel has a smaller color repeat of the box art, followed by a one-paragraph history of the M36 in English. Below this is a list of the tanks features.
Authentically styled molded plastic caterpillar treads add realism
Precisely detailed open top turret interior and gun loading compartment,
Includes figures of 3 crew members: commander, gunner and loader.
Authentic U.S. Army Mobile Gun Corps decals included.
It then says MADE IN JAPAN and Model Rectifier Corp’s address in Edison, NJ is given. Model Rectifier was the U.S. importer and distributor of Tamiya kits at one time.
The other side panel has 4 color box arts of other AFV kits that Tamiya marketed.
A M3A3-E8 U.S. Tank (box art showing it with the shark mouth on the front)
A M42 Duster U.S. A.A. Gun
A German Hunting Tiger
A Russian SU-100 tank
All the box arts show scenery in the back-grounds. Not Tamiya’s normal all-white backgrounds. No kit numbers are given for these 4.
Tamiya’s address is Japan is provided here also.
Tamiya is an older prolific model company based in Shizuoka City Japan. They make all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a M36 Jackson posed against Tamiya’s signature all-white background that they use on all their box arts.
The M36 is overall olive drab with a large white star on the sides of the turret and on the front of the hull. Below the star on the front on the left side is the white serial number 5A701TD and on the right is white serial number A-23. On the forward end of the hull sides is a white USA above the serial number 40177404.
3 crewmen are looking out of the open-topped turret. On is pointing with his right arm and just the heads of the other two men can be seen.
One side panel has a smaller color repeat of the box art, followed by a one-paragraph history of the M36 in English. Below this is a list of the tanks features.
Authentically styled molded plastic caterpillar treads add realism
Precisely detailed open top turret interior and gun loading compartment,
Includes figures of 3 crew members: commander, gunner and loader.
Authentic U.S. Army Mobile Gun Corps decals included.
It then says MADE IN JAPAN and Model Rectifier Corp’s address in Edison, NJ is given. Model Rectifier was the U.S. importer and distributor of Tamiya kits at one time.
The other side panel has 4 color box arts of other AFV kits that Tamiya marketed.
A M3A3-E8 U.S. Tank (box art showing it with the shark mouth on the front)
A M42 Duster U.S. A.A. Gun
A German Hunting Tiger
A Russian SU-100 tank
All the box arts show scenery in the back-grounds. Not Tamiya’s normal all-white backgrounds. No kit numbers are given for these 4.
Tamiya’s address is Japan is provided here also.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 4 dark green trees of parts in 3 stapled-shut cello bags, a dark-green loose hull tub, hull top, turret top and turret bottom, vinyl treads, a metal gearbox and electric motor, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 ½” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the M36 in English. There are small drawings of a M36B11, a SU-85, a Jagdtiger and a M-30.
Page 2 has the parts trees drawings. The tree of figures is not alphabetized here. There is a list to the side of the names of all the parts in English.
At the bottom of the page is a black and white photo of the M36 made up with 6 figures crawling on it and a jeep parked next to it.
Page 3 through 6 give a grand total of 16 assembly steps.
Steps 1 to 4 are for assembly of the gear box for motorization.
Step 9 shows the battery installation.
Instructions are shown as to how to hot rivet the treads into a loop. These treads are not the newer glueable type.
A black and white photo of the interior of a real M36 is provided and 4 others are walk-around shots of various parts of it’s anatomy.
Step 16 is for the assembly and painting of the 3 crew figures.
On the page with this is black and white photos of a front and rear view of the kit made up and one of the crew in the open turret.
Page 7 has the painting and decal application instructions.
One side view and a 3-view indicate you can use any one of 3 choices of marking:
Serial no. 5A701D (the box art subject) is a tank belonging to the 5th Army
Serial no. IA814TD belongs to the 1st Army
Serial no. 3A705TD belongs to the 3rd Army
Page 8 continues the history of the M36 in English. There are 4 more illustrations of tanks here: a M4A3 (2 illustrations of it), a M36 and a M36B1.
At the bottom of the page is a black and white photo of a M36 parked as an out-doors display at Aberdeen, Maryland.
Dark green letter A parts tree holds: the main gun barrel, mantle, gun travel lock, switch plate wall, 50 cal machine gun, ammo bins, spare track links etc. (57 parts)
This kit contains 4 dark green trees of parts in 3 stapled-shut cello bags, a dark-green loose hull tub, hull top, turret top and turret bottom, vinyl treads, a metal gearbox and electric motor, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single sheet that accordion-folds out into 8 pages in 7 ½” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 of the instructions begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, followed by the history of the M36 in English. There are small drawings of a M36B11, a SU-85, a Jagdtiger and a M-30.
Page 2 has the parts trees drawings. The tree of figures is not alphabetized here. There is a list to the side of the names of all the parts in English.
At the bottom of the page is a black and white photo of the M36 made up with 6 figures crawling on it and a jeep parked next to it.
Page 3 through 6 give a grand total of 16 assembly steps.
Steps 1 to 4 are for assembly of the gear box for motorization.
Step 9 shows the battery installation.
Instructions are shown as to how to hot rivet the treads into a loop. These treads are not the newer glueable type.
A black and white photo of the interior of a real M36 is provided and 4 others are walk-around shots of various parts of it’s anatomy.
Step 16 is for the assembly and painting of the 3 crew figures.
On the page with this is black and white photos of a front and rear view of the kit made up and one of the crew in the open turret.
Page 7 has the painting and decal application instructions.
One side view and a 3-view indicate you can use any one of 3 choices of marking:
Serial no. 5A701D (the box art subject) is a tank belonging to the 5th Army
Serial no. IA814TD belongs to the 1st Army
Serial no. 3A705TD belongs to the 3rd Army
Page 8 continues the history of the M36 in English. There are 4 more illustrations of tanks here: a M4A3 (2 illustrations of it), a M36 and a M36B1.
At the bottom of the page is a black and white photo of a M36 parked as an out-doors display at Aberdeen, Maryland.
Dark green letter A parts tree holds: the main gun barrel, mantle, gun travel lock, switch plate wall, 50 cal machine gun, ammo bins, spare track links etc. (57 parts)
Dark green letter B parts tree holds: the road wheels, drive sprockets, idler wheels, return rollers, rear hull wall, interior bulkheads (27 parts)
Dark green letter C parts tree holds: bogies, engine air intake grill etc. (19 parts)
The dark green un-alphabetized parts tree holds the parts of the 3 figures, a gun in a holster, a Thompson machine gun, 2 rifles, ammo rounds etc. (23 parts)
The upper and lower hull are supplied as one piece moldings.
The turret is in two pieces with the turret ring molded closed.
The black vinyl rubber band type treads are next. There are 2 long runs.
The metal gear box and electric motor and the decal sheet complete the kit’s contents.
I don't know if I will build this kit motorized or static. For static you will have to putty up the holes in the hull tub that are there for motorization.
There is some nice detail inside the turret but no details for inside the hull and no clear parts.
Recommended.
I purchased my kit back in the 70's at my local hobby shop.
Copyright of this kit is 1973.
There is some nice detail inside the turret but no details for inside the hull and no clear parts.
Recommended.
I purchased my kit back in the 70's at my local hobby shop.
Copyright of this kit is 1973.