Esci Kit #8329 M48 A2 GA2 & Kit #8333 M48 A5

US Patton Tank Models, 1/72 scale

Stephen Brezinski

Vehicle Description

In order to help in modeling these vehicles in appropriate markings and paint schemes I believe a little technical & historical information is valuable.

Specifications: American designed and produced 48-ton medium tank of the 1950’s and 1960’s. Originally armed with a 90-mm main cannon, many later re-armed with the 105-mm L7 tank gun as included in these two models. Crew of four. No bow-gunner/assistant driver as in earlier M46 and M47 tanks.

M48 A2 GA2: Modernized German variant of the M48A2 with a new cupola, 105-mm L7 gun. The M48A2 differed from the M48 and M48A1 in having a more fuel-efficient engine, fuel injection, new engine deck, IR equipment, no small idler wheel below the sprocket and new rangefinder.

M48 A5: modernized & upgraded M48, M48A1, A2, and A3 upgraded to M60 standards with new fire-control equipment, 105-mm main gun, and low-profile Israeli designed Urdan commander’s cupola.

The basic ESCI M48 kit features of hull, turret and wheels discussed in this review reflect the other M48 variants released by ESCI.

ESCI Kit 8322, M48A2: 90-mm gun armed version. Improved design of hull rear from earlier M48 and M48A1 tanks.

Kit 8336 M48A2C: Similar to the M48A2 above but with 90-mm gun, M1 mg cupola/turret, Israeli markings and no track tension wheel below the sprocket. Should have coincidence rather than the stereoscopic rangefinder.

Kit 8326, M48A3: Also armed with the 90-mm gun. New diesel engines and new transmission. Fender mounted air cleaners.

Parts Description

Kit similarities

Each M48 kits have about 100 tan styrene plastic injection molded parts not including the link & length tracks. Both models come with the same upper and lower hull pieces and turret sprues which are well detailed. The loader’s and driver’s hatches are molded shut. The M48 turret is similar to the initial M60 turret so might make for an interesting conversion as Pat Storto has already done.

The common roadwheels and return rollers appear accurate and though are molded as one wide wheel (like the ESCI M60 roadwheels) with no groove for the track teeth. [From a former M60 tanker I understand that the M47, M48 and M60 could interchange roadwheels.]

The tracks are decently cast though have no guide teeth and no interior detail such as hinge relief. If we cut grooves in the wheels we should also add guide teeth, at least in the most obvious lengths of the tracks.

The boxtop photos exhibit the basic features of each model. As of August 2003 the ESCI M48 kits have not (yet?) been re-released by Italeri as they have other old ESCI models.

Kit Differences

M48A2GA2: The 105-mm gun has a thermal sleeve and a German designed mantlet. A spotlight box over the main gun is smaller than on the M48A5 model. The commander’s cupola appears similar to the German Leopard 1 cupola. At the rear of the turret is a medium-size stowage box with a stowage basket on either side. German MG 42 machine gun on cupola. Row of smoke dischargers on each side of turret.

M48A5: No thermal sleeve on the 105-mm gun barrel and standard M48 gun mantlet. Larger IR spotlight over the main gun. Israeli designed low-profile "Urdan" cupola. Larger turret-wide stowage basket across rear of turret. US M60 machine gun on turret roof. The turret sprue comes with a commanders M1 machinegun-turret cupola though is not used for this model. No smoke dischargers.

Turret Sprue at left common to all ESCI M48 kits; the M48A2GA2 sprue at far right of turret scan.

M48 hull & wheels common to the ESCI M48 kits.

Kit Instructions

Instructions are very good and typical of ESCI models. The placement of the shock absorbers on the forward and rear roadwheels are unclear. Perhaps Italeri will release new instructions or duplicate the ESCI instructions.

Kit Markings

M48A2GA2: Markings for one (West) German Bundeswehr vehicle. West Germany was the first and largest foreign recipient of the M48 tanks.

M48A5: Water-slide decal markings for one US tank with a three-tone camouflage scheme. Israel and other nations also used this M48 variant.

Conclusions

Very good 1/72 scale models when originally released years ago, and for today as well. The only major drawbacks are the tracks and roadwheels. Italeri, if they re-release these kits, should include a more diverse selection of markings.

Building References

http://www.jed.simonides.org/tanks/mike-number-us/m048_series/m48-series.html A great website for many AFV’s and military equipment.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/m48.htm Military Analysis Network.

Completed views of these models can be seen at:

http://www.ontheway.us/gallery/gallerypostww2.htm Several M48 variants @ On The Way website.

http://www.msu.edu/user/storto/afvpost1.htm M60 using M48 turret conversion at 1/72 Scale AFV Museum.

http://smallscaleafv.web3.cz/ANG/index1.html Several M48 variants @ Sandman & Overlord’s website.