Don't recall my first tank, but my first 1/35th tank was a Tamiya M41 with cable remote control, and my first 1/25th tank , Tamiya 1/25 Centurion with cable remote control. My parents brought them back from Singapore in 1978, my father being there doing a stint as a umpire with the NZ Infantry Battalion. My first HL was an M26 Pershing, which was supposed to be a M41 present for my father, who served in them 1960-1971. One of the perils of shopping with Raidentech.
Went on to purchase more M41's, and another M26 - it too was supposed to be a M41 - but not Raidentech this time - and have just rec'd a Taigen M41, now up to 7, plus bits...

Mal