1/35 I Love Kit Tanks

M3 Lee/Grant Medium Tank Family

I Love Kit provides unprecedented coverage of the M3 medium tank family, representing America's first mass-produced medium tank that served as a crucial stopgap until the M4 Sherman entered production. The M3 Lee Medium Tank captures the distinctive American configuration with its tall riveted hull, sponson-mounted 75mm gun in the right hull side, and rotating turret mounting a 37mm gun on top. This unique multi-level armament arrangement resulted from the urgent need to mount a larger gun before a suitable turret could be developed. The British M3 Grant variant features the modified turret with lower profile and rear-mounted radio bustle that British forces preferred for desert warfare in North Africa. Each kit includes finely detailed riveted armor with authentic spacing and patterns, complex suspension with vertical volute spring bogies, detailed engine deck with access hatches and cooling louvers, and comprehensive track links with proper sag characteristics.

M3 Variant Evolution

Experience the development of the M3 medium tank through I Love Kit's comprehensive variant coverage. The M3A3 Medium Tank represents the welded hull variant that eliminated the riveted construction for improved protection and simplified production, featuring the distinctive sloped glacis plate and modified hull sides. The M3A4 showcases the elongated hull variant powered by the Chrysler A57 multibank engine, with its extended engine deck and modified rear hull that increased overall length. The M3A5 combines the welded hull construction with the riveted turret, representing the final production variant before the M3 was superseded by the M4 Sherman. These variants saw extensive service in North Africa, the Pacific, and with Allied forces including British, Soviet, and Free French units, making them versatile subjects for diverse diorama scenarios depicting early WWII armored operations.

M48 Patton Main Battle Tank Series

I Love Kit extends American armor coverage into the Cold War era with comprehensive M48 Patton variants representing the evolution of this important main battle tank. The M48A1 Main Battle Tank captures the early production variant with its distinctive rounded cast turret, powerful 90mm M41 gun, and the characteristic commander's cupola with .50 caliber machine gun. The M48A2 Patton represents improved variants with fuel injection engines and modified fuel systems for enhanced reliability. The M48A3 showcases the diesel-powered variant with the Continental AVDS-1790 engine that dramatically improved operational range and reduced fire risk, while the M48A5 features the ultimate upgrade with the 105mm M68 gun, improved fire control, and enhanced armor protection that kept the Patton competitive into the 1980s.

Building Your I Love Kit Collection

I Love Kit tanks are designed for intermediate to advanced modelers, featuring well-engineered parts breakdown with slide-molded details, individual track links or link-and-length tracks depending on the kit, detailed suspension components with authentic spring and shock absorber details, and comprehensive instruction booklets with painting guides and historical background. These kits pair perfectly with American armor from complementary manufacturers through our Tamiya, Trumpeter, and Meng tank collections to create comprehensive displays of American armored forces. Expand your I Love Kit collection with vehicles from our 1/35 I Love Kit Military Vehicles range, or explore their naval offerings in our 1/700 I Love Kit Model Ships, 1/350 Model Ships, and 1/48 Prop Aircraft collections. Visit the official Tamiya USA website for painting guides, weathering techniques, and historical references to enhance your American armor modeling experience.