[-BACK-] Subject:  
M26
Pershing
Kit Used: Tamiya 1/16

Review & model by:
Chris Nichols
Pictures: R. Forys




[The Tamiya 1/16th scale RC M26 Pershing]


The Toughest of Them All...

After the release of Tamiya's full option Sherman M4 105 the RC tank world's betting money was on the universe's greatest model company following up with a Panther.   Tamiya fooled everyone by bringing out a M-26 Pershing.   I myself was hoping for a JS2 to battle my Tiger I.   (Hint, hint Mr. Tamiya...)   Regardless, the RC M-26 has been a very welcome addition to Tamiya's lineup, and has now become available in three scales.



[The M26 Pershing was a 42-ton tank armed with a 90mm gun]


The Tank:   The M26 Pershing was a 42-ton tank armed with a 90mm gun, 2 .30 caliber mgs and a .50 caliber mg for air defense.   It had a Ford V8 producing 500hp at 2,600 rpm.   The frontal armor was over 100mm and it weighed 42 tons.   According to Belton Cooper, author of "Death Traps", the Pershing could have been available in limited numbers in time for D-Day except for the objections of General Patton.   It was his position that our tanks did not fight enemy tanks, our tank destroyers did that job.   If Mr. Cooper is correct, a lot of men lost their lives because of Patton's insistence to go by the established doctrine.




It's not often that you would be interested in looking at a movie of a plastic model.   That's because most plastic models don't move!   Well, I have to tell you, seeing one of these things cruise across the terrain, engine noise blaring, and guns a' blazing, is pretty darn cool!  So instead of trying to describe it, we thought you would get more out of it actually seeing and hearing this bruiser move.  


[CLICK HERE to play movie]


Click on the images to play either of two small MPG format movies with sound that will load in Window Media Player, or similar software.   While these movies are not the best, they still allow us to present an entire different dimension to our hobby, and one we hope you enjoy.   Remember to turn up your sound, then grab some popcorn, and click on the images to play the movies.


[CLICK HERE to play movie]




[The M26 was for me, the toughest build of any of the RC tanks to date.] [Almost all of the electronics, speaker box, and motors must be fitted into the hull.]


The Kit:   The M26 was for me, the toughest build of any of the RC tanks to date.   What makes it so difficult is the advanced design of the tank itself.   Gone were the side sponsons of the Tigers and Shermans.   Almost all of the electronics, speaker box, and motors must be fitted into the hull.   This makes for a very tight fit.   To obtain some space I relocated the on/off switch to underneath the loader's hatch, a practice that had worked well on both my Tiger I and Sherman.   This made some room for the wiring bundles, and also gave easier access to the switch.   When I added the hull deck to the hull I still had a small gap at the front of the tank.   I was able to get this to seal by using double-sided carpet tape on the upper and lower hulls and press fitting the two together.




[I had to use double-sided carpet tape to get rid of a small gap at the front of the tank.] [I added missing details like the periscope guards and headlamp plugs.]
[Note the rusted exhaust.] [I used the replacement storage bin handles provided in the kit.]


The rest of the assembly went Tamiya smooth.   I added missing details like the periscope guards and headlamp plugs.   I also used the replacement storage bin handles provided in the kit.   The only other modification during construction was to sheath part #K3 in tin metal.   This black plastic recoil part has failed on every RC tank I've built so far, so a little added strength is in order.




[I modeled this tank to represent a Marine AFV during a hot dry summer of the Korean conflict.] [It was weathered with pen and ink, pastels and ground pencil lead.]



Finishing:   I wanted this tank to represent a Marine AFV during a hot dry summer of the Korean conflict.   I used Model Master Faded Olive Drab as a base color.   The kit decals were used but I cut them to model tank B21 instead of B12.   Dry transfers and clear decal film were used to create the BLACK JACK name of the tank.   Everything was then weathered with pen and ink, pastels and ground pencil lead.



[The kit decals were used but I cut them to model tank B21 instead of B12.] [To obtain some space I relocated the on/off switch to underneath the loader's hatch.]
[Note the wash on the mantlett casting numbers.]



After nearly 8 months of work imagine my dismay when the tank failed its first bench test.   The electronic clutch would not engage.   Two days of frustration built to the point that I just shoved the throttle down into overdrive and at last it ran.   Turns out that the bump stop on the stick was limiting the travel, and the clutch would not engage as a result. This must have been a common problem because Tamiya has not offered this feature on any tank since.   All in all the M26 is a beautiful kit, a challenge for even the best of modelers, and credit to the company that made it.




[All in all the M26 is a beautiful kit, a challenge for even the best of modelers, and credit to the company that made it.]