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Robert Griffin

A fully illustrated and historically informative guide to building scale models of the U.S. Army’s iconic Cold War main battle tank. 

The M48 Patton main battle tank was one of the longest-serving and most successful designs in the U.S. military. A significant advance from the Sherman and M47, the M48 formed the backbone of American armored forces during the early years of the Cold War. It saw combat in Vietnam, during the Indo-Pakistan wars and in the Middle East, especially during the Iran-Iraq War.

Archive photos of the M48 in service and extensively researched color profile illustrations depict the tank throughout its operational life. A large part of the book showcases available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details, as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field, are also examined and provide everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of the M48.

Pen & Sword Military

Tank Craft

M48 Patton: American Cold War Battle Tank

David Grummitt

A history of the iconic vehicle: “This modeler's delight showcases the M1 and its variations with all sorts of camouflage schemes. ” —Historical Miniatures Gaming Society

Since its introduction in 1981, at the height of the Cold War, the Abrams main battle tank has been one of the most visible symbols of American military power, and it is the fascinating subject of this heavily illustrated historical and modeling guide in the TankCraft series by David Grummitt. Designed to meet head-on the massed tank forces of the Warsaw Pact, its combat debut actually came in a different scenario in 1991, during the First Gulf War. Since then it has served in a peacekeeping role in the former Yugoslavia and seen combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Yemen. It has gone through a series of modifications and modernizations that see it set to remain the backbone of the US Army until at least 2050.

As well as charting the development and combat history of the vehicle, this book is illustrated throughout with color photos and specially commissioned color profiles. Five different models, covering the service history of the Abrams, are featured, as is a modeler’s guide to the existing kits and accessories in the all the popular scales.

M1 Abrams: The US's Main Battle Tank in American and Foreign Service, 1981–2019

An in-depth look at this sophisticated armored vehicle with photos, technical details, and modeling information.

During the 1980s and early 1990s the Challenger 1 main battle tank played a central role in Britain’s armored forces and achieved remarkable success in combat, destroying around 300 Iraqi tanks in the Gulf War. With its advanced Chobham armor and hydropneumatic suspension system, it was one of the most sophisticated and effective armored vehicles of the time and, in a modified form, it is still in service with the Jordanian army. It is also a popular subject with tank modelers and enthusiasts.

Archive photos of the Challenger 1 in service and extensively researched color profile illustrations depict the tank throughout its operational life. A large part of the book showcases available model kits and aftermarket products, complemented by a gallery of beautifully constructed and painted models in various scales. Technical details as well as modifications introduced during production and in the field are also examined, and provide everything the modeler needs to recreate an accurate representation of the Challenger 1.

Challenger 1: British Main Battle Tank of the Gulf War