Dragons M48 family comes the most ambitious version yet – a fantastic model of an M48 Armored Vehicle Launched Bridge (AVLB)! Hulls from M48 tanks were converted into AVLBs in the 1950s. Turrets were removed and a scissors-type bridge of 60-ton military load classification (MLC 60) was installed atop the hull. So it could be lowered over any gap up to 18m wide that needed to be crossed by other vehicles. Hydraulic cylinders raised the 14.65-ton bridge from the hull, lowered it to the ground and then unfurled it, a process that took just 2-5 minutes. The M48 AVLB weighed 57,470kg and measured 11.3m long with the bridge stowed.
This 1/35 scale kit is impressive in terms of its bulk, let alone the level of intricate detail inherent in such a vehicle and the MLC 60 bridge. This stunning kit makes use of Dragon’s previously released M48 tank releases. However, the massive scissors bridge is totally new from Dragon, making it the first such AVLB it to become available in plastic. To make it all the more attractive to modelers, the bridge can be stowed in stowed mode, fully launched or in any intermediate configuration. Such versatility means modelers can emplace the model in any kind of diorama. This unarmed M48 AVLB is a welcome addition to Dragon’s modern range of vehicle kits, and the fact that it was used by nations other than just the USA makes it a useful subject for modelers.
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