In Box Review of Monogram/Revell 1/35th Scale U.S. M48A2 Patton Tank
Kit no. 85-7853
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $28.99
I purchased mine this week with a 60% off coupon at Michael's. It then was $12.41. Great deal.
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $28.99
I purchased mine this week with a 60% off coupon at Michael's. It then was $12.41. Great deal.
HISTORY:
The M48 Patton is a main battle tank (MBT) that was designed in the United States. It was the third tank to be officially named after General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. Third Army during World War II and one of the earliest American advocates for the use of tanks in battle. It was a further development of the M47 Patton tank. The M48 Patton was in U.S. service until replaced by the M60 and served as the U.S. Army and Marine Corps's primary battle tank in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It was widely used by U.S. Cold War allies, especially other NATO countries.
The M48 Patton tank was designed to replace the previous M47 Pattons and M4 Shermans. Although largely resembling the M47, the M48 was a completely new design. It was the last U.S. tank to mount the 90 mm tank gun, with the last model, the M48A5, being upgraded to carry the new standard weapon of the M60, the 105mm gun. Some M48A5 models served well into the 1980s with American forces, and many M48s remain in service in other countries. The Turkish Army has the largest number of modernized M48 MBTs, with more than 1,400 in its inventory. Of these, around 1,000 have been phased out, placed in storage, or modified as ARVs.
T he M48A2 had a Improved powerpack and transmission, redesigned rear plate, and improved turret control.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type Main battle tank[1]
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1953—1990s (United States)
Wars 1958 Lebanon crisis
Portuguese Colonial War
Vietnam War
Six-Day War
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Yom Kippur War[2]
Western Sahara War
Lebanese Civil War
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Iran–Iraq War
Battle of Mogadishu (1993)
Turkey–PKK conflict
2007 Lebanon conflict
Production history
Designed 1951—1953
Manufacturer M48: Chrysler, Fisher Body, Ford Motor Company, American Locomotive Company
Produced M48: 1952—1959
No. built M48: ≈12,000
Variants Many, see the variants section
Specifications
Weight M48: 49.6 short tons (44.3 long tons; 45.0 t) combat ready
Length 9.3 m (30 ft 6 in)
Width 3.65 m (12 ft 0 in)
Height 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Crew 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)
Armor Upper Glacis: 110 mm (4.3 in) at 60° = 220 mm (8.7 in) LoS
Turret Front: 178 mm (7.0 in) at 0°[3]
Main
armament
90 mm T54; M48A3 90 mm gun M41; M48A5 and later variants: 105 mm M68 gun
Secondary
armament
.50 cal (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun
.30 cal (7.62 mm) M73 Machine gun
Engine
Continental AVSI-1790-6 V12, air-cooled Twin-turbo gasoline engine (early M48s) 810 SAE gross hp = 650 DIN hp (478 kW)
Continental AVDS-1790-2 V12, air-cooled Twin-turbo diesel engine
750 hp (560 kW)
Power/weight 16.6 hp (12.4 kW)/tonne
Transmission General Motors CD-850-4A or -4B, 2 ranges forward, 1 reverse
Suspension Torsion bar suspension
Fuel capacity 200 US gal (760 l; 170 imp gal)
Operational
range
M48 and M48A1 113 km, M48A2 258 km, M48A3 463 km, M48A5 499 km (all on road)[4]
Speed M48A5: 30 mph (48 km/h)
The M48 Patton is a main battle tank (MBT) that was designed in the United States. It was the third tank to be officially named after General George S. Patton, commander of the U.S. Third Army during World War II and one of the earliest American advocates for the use of tanks in battle. It was a further development of the M47 Patton tank. The M48 Patton was in U.S. service until replaced by the M60 and served as the U.S. Army and Marine Corps's primary battle tank in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. It was widely used by U.S. Cold War allies, especially other NATO countries.
The M48 Patton tank was designed to replace the previous M47 Pattons and M4 Shermans. Although largely resembling the M47, the M48 was a completely new design. It was the last U.S. tank to mount the 90 mm tank gun, with the last model, the M48A5, being upgraded to carry the new standard weapon of the M60, the 105mm gun. Some M48A5 models served well into the 1980s with American forces, and many M48s remain in service in other countries. The Turkish Army has the largest number of modernized M48 MBTs, with more than 1,400 in its inventory. Of these, around 1,000 have been phased out, placed in storage, or modified as ARVs.
T he M48A2 had a Improved powerpack and transmission, redesigned rear plate, and improved turret control.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type Main battle tank[1]
Place of origin United States
Service history
In service 1953—1990s (United States)
Wars 1958 Lebanon crisis
Portuguese Colonial War
Vietnam War
Six-Day War
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Yom Kippur War[2]
Western Sahara War
Lebanese Civil War
Turkish invasion of Cyprus
Iran–Iraq War
Battle of Mogadishu (1993)
Turkey–PKK conflict
2007 Lebanon conflict
Production history
Designed 1951—1953
Manufacturer M48: Chrysler, Fisher Body, Ford Motor Company, American Locomotive Company
Produced M48: 1952—1959
No. built M48: ≈12,000
Variants Many, see the variants section
Specifications
Weight M48: 49.6 short tons (44.3 long tons; 45.0 t) combat ready
Length 9.3 m (30 ft 6 in)
Width 3.65 m (12 ft 0 in)
Height 3.1 m (10 ft 2 in)
Crew 4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)
Armor Upper Glacis: 110 mm (4.3 in) at 60° = 220 mm (8.7 in) LoS
Turret Front: 178 mm (7.0 in) at 0°[3]
Main
armament
90 mm T54; M48A3 90 mm gun M41; M48A5 and later variants: 105 mm M68 gun
Secondary
armament
.50 cal (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun
.30 cal (7.62 mm) M73 Machine gun
Engine
Continental AVSI-1790-6 V12, air-cooled Twin-turbo gasoline engine (early M48s) 810 SAE gross hp = 650 DIN hp (478 kW)
Continental AVDS-1790-2 V12, air-cooled Twin-turbo diesel engine
750 hp (560 kW)
Power/weight 16.6 hp (12.4 kW)/tonne
Transmission General Motors CD-850-4A or -4B, 2 ranges forward, 1 reverse
Suspension Torsion bar suspension
Fuel capacity 200 US gal (760 l; 170 imp gal)
Operational
range
M48 and M48A1 113 km, M48A2 258 km, M48A3 463 km, M48A5 499 km (all on road)[4]
Speed M48A5: 30 mph (48 km/h)
THE KIT:
Monogram and Revell are prolific model companies based in Elk Grove Village, IL. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Patton with 3 dimly illustrated helicopters behind it and an infantryman standing in front of it holding a rifle with a bayonet attached.
The Patton is overall olive-drab with "Here Comes De Judge" in white high on the left turret side. Also in white is "The Love Bug" low on the left turret side, "Short Timer" low on the nose, a peace symbol on the front of the turret and a yellow circle with a black 52 on it high on the nose.
In white also on the front of the left fender is C-12. On the front of the right fender is 314-CAV in white.
The tank commander is looking out of the cupola upper hatch.
One corner of the box art denotes that the kit is for modelers of 10 years and older and the skill level of the kit is a 2.
One side panel has a color photo of the model made up in the box art scheme showing further a white "Short!" on the side of the turret and the six infantrymen beside it. This is followed by a paint listing in 3 languages, including English, MADE IN CHINA and a small profile of the Patton made up in Israeli Army scheme.
THE KIT:
Monogram and Revell are prolific model companies based in Elk Grove Village, IL. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
The box art shows a Patton with 3 dimly illustrated helicopters behind it and an infantryman standing in front of it holding a rifle with a bayonet attached.
The Patton is overall olive-drab with "Here Comes De Judge" in white high on the left turret side. Also in white is "The Love Bug" low on the left turret side, "Short Timer" low on the nose, a peace symbol on the front of the turret and a yellow circle with a black 52 on it high on the nose.
In white also on the front of the left fender is C-12. On the front of the right fender is 314-CAV in white.
The tank commander is looking out of the cupola upper hatch.
One corner of the box art denotes that the kit is for modelers of 10 years and older and the skill level of the kit is a 2.
One side panel has a color photo of the model made up in the box art scheme showing further a white "Short!" on the side of the turret and the six infantrymen beside it. This is followed by a paint listing in 3 languages, including English, MADE IN CHINA and a small profile of the Patton made up in Israeli Army scheme.
Below this is the copyright date of 2011 and Revell's address in Elk Grove Village, IL. Revell is an associate of Monogram.
The other side panel lists features of the kit in the 3 languages: 152 parts, molded in olive-drab, water slide decals, decals have alternate markings, soft black treads. This is followed by another color photo of the model made up.
The other side panel lists features of the kit in the 3 languages: 152 parts, molded in olive-drab, water slide decals, decals have alternate markings, soft black treads. This is followed by another color photo of the model made up.
The bottom of the tray has an explanation of the skill levels and Revell's office address in Germany.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 5 olive-drab parts trees in 4 sealed cello bags, 2 runs of black vinyl treads, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The decal sheet has a tissue on it's face to protect it. However, it was floating around in the box and not protecting the sheet, so I stapled it on.
The instructions consist of a staple bound booklet of 12 pages in 8 1/2" x 11 1/2" page format.
Page 1 begins with a small black and white repeat of the box art on the left and a 3-view of the Patton on the right that is unmarked.
Below that is a one paragraph history of the tank, "Read before you begin" instructions and customer service information in the 3 languages.
Page 2 begins with a paint guide over decal application instructions and international assembly symbol explanations in the 3 languages.
Page 3 has a listing of the names of all the kit parts in the 3 languages, but no part trees illustrations.
Page 4 through 11 give a grand total of 8 assembly steps,.
Assembly step 8 is for the figures in the kit. They are all full bodied and the infantrymen that are standing all have a seperate base to mount them on. The driver figure is molded just head and shoulders.
Page 12 has two 4-views of painting and marking schemes.
1. The box art scheme (already described above.
2. A Patton with the Israeli Army that is overall desert-sand. It has a white 2X> on the sides of the turret and a black rectangle with white serial no. 346953-Y high on the turret sides.
The part trees are not alphabetized and there are no part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Monogram/Revell.
The first medium sized olive-drab tree holds four of the infantrymen figures. One fellow is prone, one standing figure holds a rifle, the next standing figure is throwing a grenade and the last standing figure has a flame thrower.
This kit contains 5 olive-drab parts trees in 4 sealed cello bags, 2 runs of black vinyl treads, the decal sheet and the instructions.
The decal sheet has a tissue on it's face to protect it. However, it was floating around in the box and not protecting the sheet, so I stapled it on.
The instructions consist of a staple bound booklet of 12 pages in 8 1/2" x 11 1/2" page format.
Page 1 begins with a small black and white repeat of the box art on the left and a 3-view of the Patton on the right that is unmarked.
Below that is a one paragraph history of the tank, "Read before you begin" instructions and customer service information in the 3 languages.
Page 2 begins with a paint guide over decal application instructions and international assembly symbol explanations in the 3 languages.
Page 3 has a listing of the names of all the kit parts in the 3 languages, but no part trees illustrations.
Page 4 through 11 give a grand total of 8 assembly steps,.
Assembly step 8 is for the figures in the kit. They are all full bodied and the infantrymen that are standing all have a seperate base to mount them on. The driver figure is molded just head and shoulders.
Page 12 has two 4-views of painting and marking schemes.
1. The box art scheme (already described above.
2. A Patton with the Israeli Army that is overall desert-sand. It has a white 2X> on the sides of the turret and a black rectangle with white serial no. 346953-Y high on the turret sides.
The part trees are not alphabetized and there are no part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. Bad move Monogram/Revell.
The first medium sized olive-drab tree holds four of the infantrymen figures. One fellow is prone, one standing figure holds a rifle, the next standing figure is throwing a grenade and the last standing figure has a flame thrower.
Also on this tree is the separate flame thrower tanks (8 parts)
The first large olive-drab tree holds part of the hull top with fenders attached, 2 halves of the rounded hull tub, mantle and cupola (5 parts)
The second medium sized olive drab tree holds the turret top and bottom halves, the hull rear and the turret basket (4 parts)
The second large olive drab tree holds the second hull top part, head lights, figure with the Tommy gun, tank commander and driver figures, base plates for the standing infantrymen, hatches, bogies, main gun barrel etc (57 parts)
The third large olive drab tree holds: road wheels, drive sprockets, return rollers, more bogies, the infantryman with a rifle, Jerry cans, the cupola machine gun, hatch lid etc. (75 parts)
The 2 lengths of black vinyl treads are next.
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
This is nicely detailed kit externally, but there is no internal details or clear parts.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.