So I walk into the vendor room and look at everything and for some reason I am again “turned On” by the M3. The price was good[:p], the timeing right[^], so now I am encouraged to go all out. Who makes an interior for Tamiya’s M3 Lee? Yes, I know Eduard does a PE set and will likely get it; anybody else make a better one (aber?). Who does an engine compartment? Or would the early sherman (radial) compartment work? What about aftermarket tracks? I need the early solid rubber block type. I think I’ve got everything else covered, references, paint, machine gun barrels (collectors brass[:)]). Now to work on the expensive stuff. thanks
G.L.
Hi glweeks:
My first question is do you want one as accurate as possible? Then you’ve got to know that the Tamiya M3 is chock full of areas that need serious revision.
The main inaccuracies of the M3 Lee lie in these areas:
- width of hull (not noticeable unless you want to upgrade the transmission)
- spoked wheels (need complete replacement as six spoked wheels totally fictional)
- tracks (get RHPS T41 or T51 set)
- rear engine layout (decked for Diesel M3A5 not the M3 gasoline engine – can swap with one from the M3 Grant which has the correct tail)
- MG beneath the 37mm gun is fake. In reality, it’s a counterweight
Other areas to consider:
- replace tools (Verlinden or the better Formations set)
- replace suspension (Tiger Model Designs: expensive though)
- if you look at photos of the view ports on the real thing, you’ll see that they’re off center. The kit ones are centered. Need to correct this if possible.
Armoured Brigade of Canada (now OOP and near impossible to obtain) did an update set where a new turret, corrected rear engine bulkhead and better viewports were included.
I think Verlinden recently released an interior for this.
Of course, Academy has had the M3 Lee on its “upcoming releases” list for quite a while. We Allied model lovers have been growing old waiting for it.
Thanks a lot man, now I’ll have to sit and think about the expense.[BH] Knowing that as soon as I spend the $$$ to correct the old kit the new Academy one would come out.[banghead] Murphy’s Law I guess…
G.L.
G.L.
Just to add a few things to the above …
Verlinden #1807 is a Lee interior, reasonably complete.
You can use a Sherman radial kit, see Verlinden #1120 (TWS could be used also).
Caliber35 #35013 has corrected wheels.
The Eduard details (35433 & 35063) are useful for the usual PE things & have hatch details but little else on the interior.
That leaves the rear hull/engine door to scratch or steal …
and the 37mm turret isn’t quite right & that’s a small bear to wrassle …
John
I wouldn’t fret too much, because it’s a no win situation. If you go to the effort to build and correct the Tamiya M3, Academy will no doubt release an excellent M3 Medium within a month. On the other hand, if pass on the Tamiya M3 in favor of Academy’s future M3, either Academy will never release it or if they do, it will be no better than Tamiya’s kit.[:D]
Andy
By the way, I have an M3 Grant in the build queue. I already have Eduard’s PE for it, and a set of AFV tracks, although I might still pick up a set of RHPS double-I indies. It will provide a usefule exercise for resin duplication since I have four unused 5 spoke road wheels from a Sherman in the parts bin.
Say… Random question…
Remember the movie, black & white, where John Wayne (I think) and friends, repair a busted up M3 Lee, and drive it off the battlefield in retreat, eventually finding the one water source in the area, and defending it against the Germans? I heard there was a remake, where the Lee was replaced with a Sherman.
What movie was that??? I saw it ages ago, I cant remember what the name was.
-Ben.
That is a Humphrey Bogart movie called Sahara. He is the tank commander and he has his crew. After Kasserine Pass they are in retreat and come across a British Army doctor (captain), and several Tommies (including a free Frenchman). The eventually stumble upon a Sudanese sergeant major and his Italian prisoner.
They shoot down a Bf-109 and capture the German pilot. Then they go to a water hole at a “village” (just a few abandon buildings) and defend it from the Germans.
Jim Belushi did a remake in Austrailia but they used an M3 Lee.
The ending of that movie always infuriated me. Where Bogart and his team are blowing away scores of half dead dehydrated Germans who are only running forward trying to get to their well of water. I always thought it was pretty sick.
-Ben.
Hey Glweeks, when your done your $20 M3 Lee kit will be a $200 project. lol[:)]
Seems like I caught the M3 bug too. I just started revising mine to represent one used in Burma. Just a note, the Idler track tensioners on the Tamiya kit stink. Formations just came out with a set for the Sherman, but it would work on the Lee. Also, Glweeks, get the Tamiya Grant kit for the back end of the tank, for $20.00 it’s better than scratchbuilding! Just my two cents worth
ouch! your dream just went smash![:-,]sorry, my evilness acted up.
seriously that sorta sucks to be in that position. I’m sorry 4 u
Wait till Dragon puts out an M3 kit and sell the Tamiya…thats just too much work…and very costly…You may be able to return the kit and exchange it for something else.
Wait a bit longer, Academy is due to release the Lee. I’m not sure when, just heard about it in the grapevine.