is the kit a early version m48a3 or the late version m48a3
I think it’s the late version. Early versions didn’t have the cupola riser. I’m sure there are other details that make it a late model, but I’m not an expert.
It’s the early version, before the Mod B modifications, retrofitted with the vision riser and bulged cupola hatch. Marine M48A3’s were field modified like this.
It lacks the reinforcing bars welded to the rear grill doors, the reinforced tailight cover, and the ‘B’ mod headlight guards of the later model (Mod B). There may be a few other visual differences, but those are the primary ones I can remember off the top of my head.
BenHet nailed it. I would recommend the Dragon M48s though. They are much detter detailed and more correct than the old Tamiya kit. They also offer a straight M48A3 early and the later M48A3 Mod B, along with m48A1, A2, A5, and IDF versions.
This article by Paul Budzik lays out all the issues with the Tamiya kit and how he tackled them.
https://paulbudzik.com/tools-techniques/M48/m48-construction.html
It can look good after a lot of work, most of which can be avoided with the Dragon kits. I have done build reviews of the Dragon M48A1 and M48A3 Mod B kits for a comparison.
M48A3 Mod B: https://armorama.kitmaker.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=9375