Military Modelling - July 2013

Product reviewsDragon Models LtdM48A3 Mod.B in 1:35 scaleWhen the M60 and M60A1tanks entered service, the USArmy still had a large numberof M48 tanks in service anddecided to upgrade them tomatch most of the capabilities ofthe newer vehicles. A test-beddubbed the M48A1E1 was builtwith the Continental AVDS-1790diesel engine as well as addingthe coincidence rangefinderfrom the M60 series in place ofthe older stereoscopic one. Thenew tank, other than its lack ofthe newer 105mm gun, wasconsidered its near equal in mostcategories. The biggest one wasnearly doubling the tank’s rangeto 300-miles on the highway(500-kilometres) from the olderM48/A1/A2 gasoline engine.When the tanks got toVietnam they were found tohave some serious problems.One of the worst was thepoor visibility from thecommander’s cupolaand lack of room dueto the use of the bigM2HB machine gun in a tightspace. The trackguards andheadlights also proved nomatch for jungle growth andwere easily damaged. As aresult, Bowen-McLaughlin-Yorkmodified 578 M48A3 tanksto ‘Model B’ standards withnew reinforced trackguardsand stronger headlightmounts and guards, a bulgedcommander’s hatch, and ariser block with eight largeprisms in it for improved roomand visibility. While it did notsolve one endemic problem ofthe M48 series cupolas – 50rounds for the M2 and linkejection jams – it did providea much better environmentfor the commander. But manycommanders preferred to havethe .50 calibre gun mountedoutside the cupola on a pintlemount.In 2013 two new M48 kitswere announced, one fromAFV Club and one from Dragon;the latter is first to the market.Dragon’s kit (item 3544) showsa great deal of planning for othervariants, and as it sits now it canbe produced as an early M48A3,an M48A2 or M48A2C, or anM48A5 with little changesneeded other than a new sprueor two. Based on the rear enginedeck hull side fittings, it alsoappears that an M48 and M48A1will also follow.The kit appears to have takena lot of comments by modellersinto account, and looks to haveused some pretty good research.Recent comments about theheight of the turret seem to findthe Tamiya turret a bit suspect,and this one measures 25.3mmfrom lower edge to flat roof.The shapes compare favourablywith those in the Hunnicuttbook Patton: A History of theAmerican Main Battle Tank,and all details for the basicModel B tank are present.The riser block is a singleclear moulding but willneed some tinting to moreaccurately represent thoseon the actual tank. However, forreasons best known to Dragonthey have left off the VVS-2searchlight assembly (but didmould the power feed to theroof of the turret). The basicmounts are in place but aremissing the ball fittings.Also an oddity is why,considering their great useof DS plastic parts with otherkits, Dragon did not providethe mantlet with its canvascover and gun tube boot asfound on nearly all of theVietnam-era tanks. Of all majormanufacturers, Dragon couldhave done this and pleasedall of the modellers eagerlyawaiting this kit. As it is,either they will have to awaita later version of the kit or goto the after-market boys for areplacement.The turret comes with theearly model T-shaped muzzlebrake. This is not wrong, butlater tanks adopted a slightlyY-shaped one due to problemswith ‘Beehive’ flechette roundstending to cause the muzzlebrake to shatter.The bustle rack is the basicmodel and comes in five parts,all of which are suitably thin andscale. Ditto for the handrails onthe sides of the turret.The hull comes in two halveswith all other componentshaving to be attached to themsuch as the engine deck, sternplate, and trackguards. Thetrackguards have part of theedge of the turret race mouldedto them; the M48A5 will needholes in them so it will beinteresting to see what Dragondoes when it gets to that tank.Due to the breakdown of partsan A2 will be easy for them toaccomplish as the replacementside louvres without air cleanerfeed should be a drop-fit from68Military Modelling Vol.43 No.7 2013