Does anyone know what stuart kit is accurate for the normandy breakout period, summer '44? Are there any conversions or upgrade kits out there for say, the tamiya M5 stuart? Thanks
Mike
The Tamiya M5A1 can be used for the timeframe you’re hoping to model. It’s kinda old and Steve Zaloga’s book by Osprey on modelling US Light tanks deals with it.
There are also resin upgrades by Formations (www.formationmodels.com) and TMD (www.tigermodels.com) that allow you to convert the AFV Club M3A3 kit into a more accurate M5 or M5A1.
The Tamiya kit is old and isn’t accurate. The formations set to convert the M3A3 to the M5A1 is fantastic, but will cost you a lot more than the Tamiya kit.
Verlinden makes two aftermarket resin detail sets, an interior onw with a new turret, and an exterior one. Eduard makes a couple of photo etch sets, and then AFV Club makes tracks and suspension for this kit. The kit can be dressed up quite a bit with all these accessories.
Along with what everyone else said, Tiger Model Designs should have a M5A1 conversion/correction kit out probably in January/February '06 if you can wait that long.
The AFV Club M3A3 is supposed to be very accurate. The British used it in Normandy during this period. The kit comes with decals for two different British vehicles.