Developed during WWII to counter the heavy armor used by the Germans, the US M26 Pershing was finally deployed only during the final stages of the war and saw limited action. The Pershing made a name for itself in the Korean War when it ran roughshod over the T-34/85s fielded by the North Korean forces. The first of a "new generation" of US main battle tanks, the M26 Pershing evolved into the M46, M47, M48, and M60 series of Patton tanks.

Another 1/48 scale beauty from Tamiya! As with the rest of the 1/48 series, this kit features a die-cast chassis for added weight and "realism" (tanks are heavy, you know!). The chassis is die-cast, but the hull sides and suspension arms are plastic (molded as one piece per side), making it a bit easier to modify the suspension to fit terrain if you're thinking of making a diorama. The T81 tracks are the series standard link-and-length, with the upper and lower runs molded as single pieces for ease of assembly. Markings for three vehicles included (two WWII and one Korean War vehicle).