In Box Review of Tamiya 1/35th Scale
M26 Armored Tank Recovery Vehicle
Kit no. 35244
By Ray Mehlbeger
Copyright: 2000
I paid $55.00 for my kit when it was marked down from $80.00.
By Ray Mehlbeger
Copyright: 2000
I paid $55.00 for my kit when it was marked down from $80.00.
HISTORY:
The Allied Liberation of Europe began on June 6th, 1944, on the beaches of Normandy, and lasted until Germany’s surrender on May 9th, 1945. The Sherman tanks of the U.S. Army began their steady advance into the European mainland, wrenching Europe piece-by-piece from the clutches of Germany.
However, the massive tanks of the Wehrmacht, such as the Tiger and Panther would prove overpowering against the agile , yet considerably smaller Sherman's. One of the major factors that allowed the Allies’ advance to continue despite this disparity in power was the quick recovery and repair of battle damaged tanks. That is where the M26 Armored Tank Recovery vehicles and their brave crews came in.
The U.S. Army started developing large size towing vehicles in 1941, influenced by the British experiences in the North Africa Campaign. In that mechanized desert war, the recovery of damaged or inoperative tanks often made the difference between victory or defeat . Aware of that importance, the U.S. Army place great weight on the development of a tank transport vehicle. The production request was sent out and several large vehicle manufactures, including Fruehauf Trailer brought out prototypes.
But in the end, Knuckey Truck Company’s 6 x 6 tractor for quarry/mine use, would be selected as the base. However, because the small company could not meet the huge production demands of the U.S. Army, the Washington Rail car maker, Pacific Car & Foundry, was given the task, and made several modifications to the design to facilitate mass production.
The new vehicle was officially designated M26 Armored Tank Recovery-Vehicle in April 1943, and mass production began. The M26 was used with Fruehauf's M15 semi-trailer as the 40-ton M25, also known as the “Dragon-Wagon”, but the M26 tractor was also extensively used on its own. The M26 was frequently loaded with welding equipment, vices, and other necessary tools for emergency tank repairs on the front lines of battle.
The powerplant of the M26 WAS A 240 hp., 6-cylinder Hall-Scott 440 engine, which transferred power to the rear wheels via a chain drive. The armored cab could fit a crew of seven, and was armed with a ring-mounted M2 heavy machine gun. The M26 was also equipped with a 35,000 (about 15..9 ton) winch on the front, two 60,000 (about 2.7 ton) winches on the rear, and an adjustable support arm for recovery and towing operations called the “A-Arm”.
The M26 first saw action on the Italian Front of 1943, and was later extensively used in the inland advancement of the Allies following the Invasion of Normandy. In all kinds of weather, in the middle of night, or under a barrage of enemy fire, the repair crews continually fulfilled their duty to recover and repair damaged tanks.
Furthermore, since a high accident risk and fear of enemy ambush was involved in towing tanks back to the repair yards, the crews strove to do as many on-site repairs as possible. After the production of the 735th M26 vehicle, due to the burden of the 19 ton chassis on the front wheels, the M26A1 Tractor Truck was developed. It was mechanically the same as the M26, but incorporated tubular framework and pressed steel cab, instead of the armored cab. After the war, most of the M26 Tractor Trucks were left behind in Europe, some of which were put to use by the French Army.
The Allied Liberation of Europe began on June 6th, 1944, on the beaches of Normandy, and lasted until Germany’s surrender on May 9th, 1945. The Sherman tanks of the U.S. Army began their steady advance into the European mainland, wrenching Europe piece-by-piece from the clutches of Germany.
However, the massive tanks of the Wehrmacht, such as the Tiger and Panther would prove overpowering against the agile , yet considerably smaller Sherman's. One of the major factors that allowed the Allies’ advance to continue despite this disparity in power was the quick recovery and repair of battle damaged tanks. That is where the M26 Armored Tank Recovery vehicles and their brave crews came in.
The U.S. Army started developing large size towing vehicles in 1941, influenced by the British experiences in the North Africa Campaign. In that mechanized desert war, the recovery of damaged or inoperative tanks often made the difference between victory or defeat . Aware of that importance, the U.S. Army place great weight on the development of a tank transport vehicle. The production request was sent out and several large vehicle manufactures, including Fruehauf Trailer brought out prototypes.
But in the end, Knuckey Truck Company’s 6 x 6 tractor for quarry/mine use, would be selected as the base. However, because the small company could not meet the huge production demands of the U.S. Army, the Washington Rail car maker, Pacific Car & Foundry, was given the task, and made several modifications to the design to facilitate mass production.
The new vehicle was officially designated M26 Armored Tank Recovery-Vehicle in April 1943, and mass production began. The M26 was used with Fruehauf's M15 semi-trailer as the 40-ton M25, also known as the “Dragon-Wagon”, but the M26 tractor was also extensively used on its own. The M26 was frequently loaded with welding equipment, vices, and other necessary tools for emergency tank repairs on the front lines of battle.
The powerplant of the M26 WAS A 240 hp., 6-cylinder Hall-Scott 440 engine, which transferred power to the rear wheels via a chain drive. The armored cab could fit a crew of seven, and was armed with a ring-mounted M2 heavy machine gun. The M26 was also equipped with a 35,000 (about 15..9 ton) winch on the front, two 60,000 (about 2.7 ton) winches on the rear, and an adjustable support arm for recovery and towing operations called the “A-Arm”.
The M26 first saw action on the Italian Front of 1943, and was later extensively used in the inland advancement of the Allies following the Invasion of Normandy. In all kinds of weather, in the middle of night, or under a barrage of enemy fire, the repair crews continually fulfilled their duty to recover and repair damaged tanks.
Furthermore, since a high accident risk and fear of enemy ambush was involved in towing tanks back to the repair yards, the crews strove to do as many on-site repairs as possible. After the production of the 735th M26 vehicle, due to the burden of the 19 ton chassis on the front wheels, the M26A1 Tractor Truck was developed. It was mechanically the same as the M26, but incorporated tubular framework and pressed steel cab, instead of the armored cab. After the war, most of the M26 Tractor Trucks were left behind in Europe, some of which were put to use by the French Army.
THE KIT:
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Japan. 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 is one of Tamiya’s SIGNATURE one with an all-white background, that they use for the majority of their box arts.
It shows a M25 Recovery Vehicle that is overall olive-drab. It has a white U.S.A. over a stenciled serial no. 535230 on its sides. A white star and nick-name “CAL MOUSE” on its nose, with a white vertical bar down the center. The ends of the front bumper are painted white too.
One corner of the box art says: 1/35th Military Miniatures Series no. 244. Highly accurate static display model. A-Arm can be assembled in 5 positions. Includes vise and gas cylinder with pressure-gauges. Four seated and two standing figures. Ready to assemble precision model kit. Cement and paint not included. Modeling skills helpful if under 10 years of age.
One side panel shows a color 2-view of the M26 in the cover art scheme pulling a Sherman tank that is all white.
It says the M26 was with the Independent 458th Ordnance Maintenance Company (March 1945, Holland).
The M4 Sherman is an early production one and not included in the kit. There is a paragraph all in Japanese. Copyright date for the kit is 2000 and kit was made in Japan.
Tamiya is an old prolific model company based in Japan. 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 is one of Tamiya’s SIGNATURE one with an all-white background, that they use for the majority of their box arts.
It shows a M25 Recovery Vehicle that is overall olive-drab. It has a white U.S.A. over a stenciled serial no. 535230 on its sides. A white star and nick-name “CAL MOUSE” on its nose, with a white vertical bar down the center. The ends of the front bumper are painted white too.
One corner of the box art says: 1/35th Military Miniatures Series no. 244. Highly accurate static display model. A-Arm can be assembled in 5 positions. Includes vise and gas cylinder with pressure-gauges. Four seated and two standing figures. Ready to assemble precision model kit. Cement and paint not included. Modeling skills helpful if under 10 years of age.
One side panel shows a color 2-view of the M26 in the cover art scheme pulling a Sherman tank that is all white.
It says the M26 was with the Independent 458th Ordnance Maintenance Company (March 1945, Holland).
The M4 Sherman is an early production one and not included in the kit. There is a paragraph all in Japanese. Copyright date for the kit is 2000 and kit was made in Japan.
The other side-panel shows a color illustration of a M26 that is overall olive-drab. It has he nick-name “BLACKSHEEP II” over a color illustration of a seated bathing beauty and white stenciled USA over serial no. 545812 on its side. It Is towing a German Panther Type G, that has its tracks removed and is overall white with German cross on its sides This is followed by a paragraph all in Japanese and color illustrations of 2 U.S. tank-crewmen The address of Tamiya’s office in Germany, Kit made in Japan and Tamiya’s address in Japan.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 13 olive-drab parts trees, a loose olive-drab cab roof part, a clear tree, a chrome-plated tree, a steel PE fret, black vinyl tires and polycaps, metal rods, lengths of wire and white string, chains and the decal sheet in 14 stapled-shut clear cello bags.
The cab roof part, tires, poly-caps. Metal rods, wire, white string, chains and decal sheet are in a box that is inserted into a cardboard partition at the end of the box’s tray.
The instructions consists of a staple-bound booklet of 20 pages in 8” x 11 ¾” page format.
This kit holds 13 olive-drab parts trees, a loose olive-drab cab roof part, a clear tree, a chrome-plated tree, a steel PE fret, black vinyl tires and polycaps, metal rods, lengths of wire and white string, chains and the decal sheet in 14 stapled-shut clear cello bags.
The cab roof part, tires, poly-caps. Metal rods, wire, white string, chains and decal sheet are in a box that is inserted into a cardboard partition at the end of the box’s tray.
The instructions consists of a staple-bound booklet of 20 pages in 8” x 11 ¾” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white photo of the M26 made up, with 2 crewmen and some oxygen tanks beside it. Below is the history of the M26 in Japanese and English and a small line drawing front view of the M26.
Page 2 begins with the history of the M26 in German and French, over a lice drawing side view of a M26 with a Sherman tank on its flat bed.
Below is READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions and suggested Tamiya tools, cement and paint colors and CAUTIONS in the 4 languages.
Page 3 through to the top of page 17 gives a grand total of 36 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 17 gives towing procedures for the M26 and shows 4 line drawings of these procedures.
Page 18 continues with 2 more line drawings showing towing-procedures. Over a 3-view painting and marking guide that shows the box art subject (already described above). It does, however, further show a white star atop the cab roof and on the rear.
Page 19 is another painting and marking guide. It shows four 2-views of schemes for the M26.
1. The M26 shown on the box side panel (also already described above). It shows further a plane white star on the left side of its nose. Unit unknown.
2. A M26 all in olive-drab, white star and USA over ser. no. 536720 and a plane white star on its sides, with Nickname “DRY RUN and a white star on the left side of its nose.
3. A M26 all in olive-drab, plain white star on sides and left side of its nose, with white nickname “NEW YORK”, over USA serial no. 536710 on its sides, July 1945, Germany.
4. A M26 also all olive-drab, plain white star on its sides, with an illustration of a bathing beauty and a circled white star on left side of nose. Unknown unit, March 1945, Germany.
The top of page 20 shows one final two-view of a Japanese Ground Self Defense Force Weapons School’s M26 (Ibaraki Protecture , Tsuchiura). It is overall olive-drab with some black Japanese words on its front bumper.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. This means very careful study of the assembly steps will be needed to get the right parts for each assembly. Bad move Tamiya !
There are 2 identical olive-drab letter A trees. They hold: wheel rims, two seated figures etc. (18 parts ea.)
Page 2 begins with the history of the M26 in German and French, over a lice drawing side view of a M26 with a Sherman tank on its flat bed.
Below is READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions and suggested Tamiya tools, cement and paint colors and CAUTIONS in the 4 languages.
Page 3 through to the top of page 17 gives a grand total of 36 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 17 gives towing procedures for the M26 and shows 4 line drawings of these procedures.
Page 18 continues with 2 more line drawings showing towing-procedures. Over a 3-view painting and marking guide that shows the box art subject (already described above). It does, however, further show a white star atop the cab roof and on the rear.
Page 19 is another painting and marking guide. It shows four 2-views of schemes for the M26.
1. The M26 shown on the box side panel (also already described above). It shows further a plane white star on the left side of its nose. Unit unknown.
2. A M26 all in olive-drab, white star and USA over ser. no. 536720 and a plane white star on its sides, with Nickname “DRY RUN and a white star on the left side of its nose.
3. A M26 all in olive-drab, plain white star on sides and left side of its nose, with white nickname “NEW YORK”, over USA serial no. 536710 on its sides, July 1945, Germany.
4. A M26 also all olive-drab, plain white star on its sides, with an illustration of a bathing beauty and a circled white star on left side of nose. Unknown unit, March 1945, Germany.
The top of page 20 shows one final two-view of a Japanese Ground Self Defense Force Weapons School’s M26 (Ibaraki Protecture , Tsuchiura). It is overall olive-drab with some black Japanese words on its front bumper.
Trees are alphabetized, but not illustrated in the instructions. They do, however, have part number tabs next to the parts on the trees. This means very careful study of the assembly steps will be needed to get the right parts for each assembly. Bad move Tamiya !
There are 2 identical olive-drab letter A trees. They hold: wheel rims, two seated figures etc. (18 parts ea.)
Olive-drab letter B tree holds: side walls, muffler, floor panels etc. (27 parts)
Olive-drab letter C tree holds: leaf springs, axle, drive chain etc. (26 parts)
Olive-drab letter D tree holds: chassis, engine fan, drive shaft etc. (30 parts)
Olive-drab letter E tree holds a .50 cal. machine gun etc. (8 parts)
Olive-drab letter F tree holds; oxygen tanks, pulley wheels etc. (61 parts)
Olive-drab letter G tree holds a lot of small parts for the frame, suspension and lifting frame. (52 parts)
There are two identical olive-drab letter H trees. They hold: pulleys, jerry can, seats, fire extinguisher, shovel etc. (56 parts)
Lettering jumps to the olive-drab letter K tree. It holds the nose and side panels etc. (15 parts)
Olive-drab letter L tree holds: a rolled tarp, headlight grills, MG ring mounts and bipod, Thompson MG, sledge hammers etc. (34 parts)
Lettering jumps again to the olive-drab letter S tree. It holds the two standing figures and acetylene tanks etc. (40 parts)
The clear tree holds the windows and headlight lenses (5 parts)
There are 11 black vinyl tires and 16 poly caps.
Next are the photo etch parts for the muffler, intake, etc. (9 parts) and the string for the cables.
Four metal rods in two sizes. Two rolls of wire, 2 lengths of chain in different sizes.
The decals complete the kit.
This is one neat, highly detailed kit of the M26.
Highly recommended,
Highly recommended,