Tamiya 32596 - 1/48 Type 16 Maneuver Combat Vehicle Japan Ground Self Defense Force Model Kit - Scale modelling pick  [32596]

Introducing the Italian P40 heavy tank

The P40 marks a unique design in Italian World War II armour. Conceived as a heavy tank, it was Italy's only entry in that class and used bogey-style wheels paired with leaf spring suspension. The "P" stands for Pesante, or heavy, while "40" denotes the year 1940. Elements of its build reflect lessons from the Carro Armato M13/40 series.

Operational history and technical notes

Fitted with a 75mm main gun alongside an 8mm Breda machine gun, the P40 ran on a 330hp V12 diesel. Sloped armour was adopted after encounters with Soviet T-34 models. Despite an order near 1,200 units, production stopped early and only a few were completed before Italy's 1943 armistice. Those tanks served in limited operations in northern regions and in Yugoslavia until the end of hostilities.

Model features and display potential

The Italeri 1/35 kit reproduces the P40 with riveted hull panels, accurate sloped armour and convincing leaf spring suspension. The kit makes use of assembly type tracks and includes photo-etched parts such as exhaust guards and fender supports to boost authenticity. Three decal schemes are supplied, covering a Fiat Ansaldo prototype and captured German service examples for varied display options.