Italeri Plastic Model Kit

Italeri 90 mm GMC M36B1 Tank Destroyer (1/35) 96538

The Italeri 90 mm GMC M36B1 Tank Destroyer is a 1/35 scale plastic model kit of the American armoured vehicle developed to counter heavily protected German tanks during the Second World War. Its prominent 90 mm gun and open-topped turret give the model the distinctive appearance of the original vehicle.

The M36B1 combined the powerful turret and armament of the M36 tank destroyer with the widely available hull of the Sherman M4A3. This unusual arrangement created a vehicle with recognisable features from both designs and makes the subject a distinctive addition to an American wartime armour collection.

Once assembled, the model measures approximately 21.3 cm long. The open fighting compartment provides a visible focal point for detailed painting and weathering, while the Sherman-based hull offers opportunities to reproduce the worn surfaces and operational finish associated with Allied armoured vehicles.

Browse our range of 1/35 Military Vehicle Kits and complete your build with our selection of model paints, modelling glues, weathering products and 1/35 Figures.

• 1/35 scale plastic model kit
• Manufacturer SKU: 96538
• American M36B1 tank destroyer
• Powerful 90 mm M3 main gun
• Open-topped tank destroyer turret
• Sherman M4A3-based hull
• Distinctive late-war American armoured vehicle
• Completed model length of approximately 21.3 cm
• Suitable for WWII armour collections and dioramas
• Glue and paints are sold separately

History

The M36 tank destroyer was developed during the Second World War to give Allied forces a more effective response to heavily armoured German vehicles such as the Panther and Tiger. Earlier American tank destroyers, including the M10 with its 76 mm gun, lacked the firepower needed to engage these opponents reliably at longer distances.

The M36 addressed this problem by mounting the more powerful 90 mm M3 gun in a new open-topped turret. As with other American tank destroyers, the open fighting compartment improved observation and situational awareness for the crew, although it provided less protection from artillery fragments, small-arms fire and adverse weather.

The M36B1 was created to make use of the large number of Sherman M4A3 hulls available to American industry. Combining the M36 turret with the Sherman chassis allowed production capacity and existing components to be used efficiently. The vehicle’s effective armament contributed to a long operational career, and members of the wider M36 family remained in service with numerous armies after the Second World War.

Glue and paints are sold separately.