Saturday 5 November 2016

Airfix M3 Build Kit Bash

A quick kit-bash of an Airfix classic and one that will be useful in the next Battle in the Airfix Battles series (see below):


I took my time, having made this kit before helped and liked the result. The only thing I noted was that I remembered a "canvas cover" in the old kit but this was missing in the new box - also absent in the instructions, so not just missing from my box.

10 comments:

Robert (Bob) Cordery said...

I wonder why they don't include it in the kit any more. It was an alternative to fitting the 'pulpit' for the HMG.

All the best,

Bob

DaveM said...

Unfortunately Airfix removed the tilt from the kit many years ago. You can still find old kits with the tilt if you scout around but they are getting harder to come by. And of course there are some resin after market jobs.

Cheers, Dave

Renko said...

Is it a new tooling?

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Methinks there must have been "an accountant" at play Bob, thanks for the heads-up Dave and sadly Renko it is not a new tooling

I was actually confused looking at the Airfix online store as they were showing literally no 1/72-6 vehicle kits. I think the M3 Half-Track was dropped from the catalogue, pity as I was thinking of getting another to make a Company/Platoon of three

I have a pack of PSC US Halftracks to make-up as well as my three Hasagawa. The composite formation would almost be a US Armoured Infantry Battalion/Company [depending on what rules you play]

DaveM said...

Although I am normally a big fan of PSC kits, their US and C'Wealth halftracks are among their worst offerings. I can point out some of the problems if you are at all interested... The biggest problem with the Hasegawa HTs is they are overscale. Not that the Airfix kit is without problems either.

Cheers, Dave

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Hmm, I thought they looked a little big on the sprue, never mind they will look 'normal' next to my Hasagawa "big-uns"

The PSC Shermans were a tad on the bigger side too (though not as bad as tehe Hasagawa "Easy Eight"

DaveM said...

The problem with the PSC HTs isn't scale - they are 1/72 "true scale". The problems are with many other details (incorrect panel lines, rivet detail, MG pulpit shape, crew webbing, etc, etc). Being 1/72 they will look a bit big next to 1/76 Airfix. The Hasegawa HTs are well overscale for 1/72.

Cheers, Dave

Paul Foster said...

Still a nice build mate.

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Cheers Dave M,

I will have to huddle them next to my PSC American Infantry
Mind you they seem to be the "right size" for 1/72
If such a thing exists

Geordie an Exiled FoG said...

Thanks PAul,

I tried to keep it nice and clean
It helped in that I had made a couple before ;)