Tamiya 1 35 T-55 model kit is regarded as a staple model kit among model contest aficionados. Tamiya brings this fan favorite subject to a smaller scale with this 1 48 rendition. The T-55 medium tank not only provided a base for later T-62, T-72 and T-80 designs still in use today, it spurred Western rivals on and contributed to the great East-West arms race of the Cold War. Its 100mm gun compared favorably with the West 90mm counterpart, and with HEAT rounds could defeat up to 390mm of armor. The T-55 was produced in the USSR, and under license in Czechoslovakia and Poland, and supplied to Soviet countries and clients worldwide it even faced off against U.S.-designed M48s and M60A1s in the Middle East.

The T-55 was born in an era of increasing West-East Cold War tension, as an upgrade to the existing T-54. This low-profile design with hemispherical turret was extremely well suited to mass production, and even featured rudimentary protection from chemical weapons. It was also produced under license in Czechoslovakia and Poland, and when added with the T-54 its production run is said to have run to the astonishing number of 100,000 units. Warsaw Pact countries and Arab client states were among those who operated the T-55, meaning it saw significant action in the Middle East and even the Gulf War.

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