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
Authentic Detailing

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
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HOBBY  MASTER  COLLECTOR