From M13/40 to M14/41

comparison of 1/72 models

There are four kits of the M13/40 in 1/72, two of which in plastic, easily found (Italeri), and two in resin, long OOP and expensive. How accurate are they ? Is it justifiable looking for the resin ones ? I have tried to answer these questions giving historical points to each kit, one point for each detail correctly beloning to each serie. Discover the findings below ...

Italeri 7036 (ex-Esci)

The venerable Italeri 7036 kit, being some 40 years old, is the grandfather of the bunch. It was a scaled-down version of the Italeri (back then, it was called Italaerei) kit in 1/35, which, as the legend says, was designed on the basis of a badly restored late M14/41.

With 6 points, the M14/41 wins, so the legend was probably right. Moreover, by discarding one spare roadwheel and placing the jack in its place, 2 more points are easily gained. However, the mufflers should be smoothed (easy), either a small hole (early M14/41) or the plate covering it (late M14/41) must be added on front fender (easy) and the radiator cover should be changed into the later style (less easy, but do-able).

Crielmodel 7201 Ansaldo Fiat M14/41

A resin kit which entered the market before Italeri re-issued the 7036 ex-Esci kit, now OOP and nearly impossible to find.

With 7 points, it is somewhat closer to an M14/41 than the Italeri kit, but the absence of the antenna is unforgivable. Again, the mufflers should be smoothed (easy), either a small hole (early M14/41) or the plate covering it (late M14/41) must be added on front fender (easy) and the radiator cover should be changed into the later style (less easy, but do-able). With the Italeri kit back on the market, there is no need to go searching for this one.

FirstAir M13/40

An high-quality resin kit which is considered by many the best of the bunch. Sadly OOP and very expensive.

This kit was born to be an M13/40 3rd serie, but long fenders are out of place. Also, the lack of any spare wheels, jack and tools is hard to understand. On the bright side, the turret shape is correct and there is a visible engine.

Italeri 7517 Carro Armato M13/40 Fast Assembly Kit

Italian modellers have asked Italeri for a new, more accurate M13/40, and all they had is this fast assembly set, with 2 models in a box.

With 5 points, it is clear that Italeri did another M14/41. Once again, to obtain an accurate M14/41, the mufflers should be smoothed (easy), either a small hole (early M14/41) or the plate covering it (late M14/41) must be added on front fender (easy) and the radiator cover should be changed into the later style. However, being a wargame model, detail is very soft in some parts (the right lateral hatch is horrible); somehow, Italeri managed to model tracks that are worse than the already impossible vinyl ones from kit 7036. No spare roadwheels nor track connecting tool. The bright side: the turret with the front gun shield has the correct shape, and the driver hatch looks very nice too.

Conclusions

Three kits out of four reproduce, more or less correctly, an M14/41 more than an M13/40. Only the FirstAir kit is close to an M13/40 3rd serie, but it would need some modifications (short fenders, jack and spare roadwheel at least). Modelling an earlier M13/40 is not very hard, and we will try to demonstrate it in a forthocoming article.

References

[1] Carro M - Carri medi M13/40, M14/41, M15/42, Semoventi e altri derivati - Volume primo Sviluppo, tecnica, comparazioni, Andrea Tallillo, Antonio Tallillo, Daniele Guglielmi, Gruppo Modellistico Trentino di studio e ricerca storica, Italy 2009 ISBN: 978-88-902511-6-0
[2] Italian medium tanks - in action, Nicola Pignato, Squadron/Signal publications Armor 39, U.S.A 2001 ISBN: 0-89747-426-0

Article Last Updated: 28 February 2017