Hello All:
I ran across this and would like to know if anyone has a topview/drawing that I could use to scratch this vehicle using Tamyia's M3A2 as a base.


Thanks in advance:
Robert

Here's another view :


HTH
Frenchy

Hello Frenchy:
What I see is thin sheet metal being used like canvas for a cover.


Robert

I agree..There seems to be a hatch on the top.

Frenchy

I believe that the top would have been thin armor plate, maybe 1/4". Sheet metal wouldn't have been worth much in combat situations, and the exercise would have been to evaluate how it would effect the performance of the vehicle, including weight.
I suspect that this vehicle was used during training in the Southwest, by the tires on the front of the vehicle (they are standard pneumatic directional tires, not on combat rims).
Patton was always experimenting with vehicles for his personal use, from Jeeps and staff cars to halftracks and armored cars.
Norm Samuelson

I have only seen the retouched photo posted here, but it shouldn't be difficult to work out the dimensions using the body of the halftrack as a reference point. The color drawing doesn't match the photo, since it's evident that space was left around the sides of the armored roof to allow observation (and ventilation).
That said, Tamiya's M3A2 kit has the ladder shaped stowage racks molded onto the body sides, and removing them would also destroy all the screw detail, and replacing it would be a nightmare. The Tamiya M21 mortar carrier could be used, but the Dragon M3/M3A1 halftrack would be a better starting point with its superior suspension details and styrene track (even though most of the screws on the bodywork don't have the teeny slots molded in them).
Patton used this vehicle during training in the America Southwest. It did not go to North Africa with him (or at least, not in this form). Patton used a less drastically modified M3 Scout Car in Tunisia rather than a halftrack.

There's a more accurate side view drawing in S. Zaloga's "US Half-Tracks in Combat 1941-1945", along with another (non-retouched) picture showing this M3 at the Desert Training Center in 1942.

HTH

Frenchy

Frenchy -

As always, you are amazing!

Semper Fi,
Dave

You're welcome Dave

Frenchy