Hobby Master Archive

Hobby Master 1/72 Ground Power Series HG3308 Type 59 MBT Chinese People’s Liberation Army

THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES NOT THE FINISHED MODEL

In 1956 an agreement between the Soviets and China saw the USSR agree to assist the Chinese in building a manufacturing facility to produce the T-54A. In 1957 production started using parts supplied by the Soviets but were gradually replaced with parts made in China. The first MBT produced in China was a basic clone of the T-54A but didn’t include an IR searchlight. The first tanks were completed in 1958 and were accepted by the PLA in 1959 and thus received the designation Type-59. The Chinese industrial designation for this tank was WZ120. Production continued until 1980 when approximately 9,500 to 10,000 tanks had been manufactured with many going to units such as the 1st armored division of 65th Group Army in the Beijing Military District. Of these approximately 4,000 were exported. Over the years the Type 59 received six upgrades one being the replacement of the 100 mm Type 59 rifled gun with a 105 mm rifled gun. It also received a new fire control system, fire suppression system, improved engines, laser range finders, improved armor and a list of others. The main users of the Type 59 were China, Vietnam, Cambodia, North Korea and Pakistan who had more than 1,300. These Chinese Type 59s also showed up in Albania, Bangladesh, the Congo, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe and Iran. The Type 59 became the basis for the newer Types 69 and 79 MBTs.

Specifications for the Chinese Type 59 MBT Date of introduction - 1959 Crew - 4 Dimensions Length with main gun barrel - 29.53 ft (9.00 m) Length (hull) - 19.82 ft (6.04 m) Width - 10.73 ft (3.27 m) Height - 8.50 ft (2.59 m)

Performance Engine - 1 X Model 1215OL V-12 liquid cooled diesel generating 520 hp @ 2,000 rpm Maximum Speed (Road) - 31 mph (50 km/hr) Maximum Speed (Cross Country) - 15.5 mph (25 km/hr) Average Speed (Cross Country) - 18 - 20 mph (30-33 km/hr)

Range Internal tanks - 267 miles (430 km) with external tanks - 372.8 miles (600 km)

Weight - 39.7 US short tons (36,000 kg) Armament and ammunition 1 X 100 mm main gun with 34 projectiles 1 X 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun with 200 rounds of ammunition 1 X 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun 3,500 rounds of ammunition 1 X 7.62 mm bow mounted machine gun 3,500 rounds of ammunition

Pre-Painted by professionals Accurate paint colors Markings Tampo (pad) applied Fully Assembled Die-Cast Model True to Scale (1:72)

Turret turns Metal turret and main gun Realistic tracks flag of the People’s Republic of China Ground Forces

People Liberation Army flag of The People’s Republic of China