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REVIEW
M3A1 Scout Ca
Mario_HR
Joined: June 28, 2006
KitMaker: 376 posts
Armorama: 303 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 12, 2011 - 06:01 AM UTC
Stefan Halter offers his thoughts on the new Hobby Boss M3A1 Scout Car Early Production.
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If you have comments or questions please post them here.
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If you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
exer
Joined: November 27, 2004
KitMaker: 6,048 posts
Armorama: 4,619 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 12, 2011 - 08:57 AM UTC
good review- you know I'm trying to stay within my budget (€0 actually) and not buy any new kits and then I read reviews like this 
What can I do
What can I do
vonHengest
Joined: June 29, 2010
KitMaker: 5,854 posts
Armorama: 4,817 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 12, 2011 - 10:21 AM UTC
I think you'll like the kit if you go for it Pat. I have to admit that I've been dying for a new tool kit of the M3A1 for a while and was pretty excited when it came out. It's a vast improvement over the old molds that have been used for the past 3 decades or so.
Hisham
Joined: July 23, 2004
KitMaker: 6,856 posts
Armorama: 6,363 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 12, 2011 - 11:38 AM UTC
Thank you for a very good review.
I've always liked the look of this vehicle and wanted to build one, but was always put off by what I heard about the Peerless/Revel/Zvezda kit. So, I think I'll wait a month and get the late version.
By the way.. BlackDog makes a stowage set for it.
Hisham
I've always liked the look of this vehicle and wanted to build one, but was always put off by what I heard about the Peerless/Revel/Zvezda kit. So, I think I'll wait a month and get the late version.
By the way.. BlackDog makes a stowage set for it.
Hisham
AlanL
Joined: August 12, 2005
KitMaker: 14,499 posts
Armorama: 11,675 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 12, 2011 - 11:12 PM UTC
Hi Mario,
Agreed, a new kit was long over due. If I read teh review correctly you could switch the wheels on the Italeri kit for the earlier variety and vis versa?
Cheers
Al
Agreed, a new kit was long over due. If I read teh review correctly you could switch the wheels on the Italeri kit for the earlier variety and vis versa?
Cheers
Al
Dangeroo
#023
Joined: March 13, 2009
KitMaker: 2,058 posts
Armorama: 1,656 posts
Posted: Sunday, June 12, 2011 - 11:52 PM UTC
Mario thanks for getting this one up and thanks for the comments guys!
Hisham, that set looks great, seen the announcement of it here. Looks like a worthwhile addition, I will have to look for a vendor of black dog some day.
Well, Al, sort of... I don't think they will fit just like that, but with a little work I'm sure it can be done. They will have the correct rims but not the directional tread - one of several possible layouts. Check the vehicle you want to build for the correct combination. I still hope some AM producer (such as Hussar) will take their halftrack wheels and put four in a set. That would give us all the choice we need.
Cheers!
Stefan
Hisham, that set looks great, seen the announcement of it here. Looks like a worthwhile addition, I will have to look for a vendor of black dog some day.
Quoted Text
If I read the review correctly you could switch the wheels on the Italeri kit for the earlier variety and vis versa?
Well, Al, sort of... I don't think they will fit just like that, but with a little work I'm sure it can be done. They will have the correct rims but not the directional tread - one of several possible layouts. Check the vehicle you want to build for the correct combination. I still hope some AM producer (such as Hussar) will take their halftrack wheels and put four in a set. That would give us all the choice we need.
Cheers!
Stefan
AlanL
Joined: August 12, 2005
KitMaker: 14,499 posts
Armorama: 11,675 posts
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 - 01:25 AM UTC
Thanks Stefan.
Al
Al
idgeewidgee
Joined: December 29, 2009
KitMaker: 3 posts
Armorama: 2 posts
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 - 02:50 AM UTC
Good review, although the quoted price for the US is way off. It is retailing for around $40.
alanmac
Joined: February 25, 2007
KitMaker: 3,033 posts
Armorama: 2,953 posts
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 - 03:08 AM UTC
Quoted Text
So, I think I'll wait a month and get the late version. Hisham
Hi, yes I'm thinking the same, or maybe finish the Zvezda one festering in a box with Eduard PE. Chances are though I'll go for the new "late" version out soon.
Alan
Dangeroo
#023
Joined: March 13, 2009
KitMaker: 2,058 posts
Armorama: 1,656 posts
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 - 03:29 AM UTC
Ed, the quoted price is what I paid for it at a major online store in Asia.
Alan, didn't know there was a boxart of it out yet, looking forward to it!
Cheers!
Stefan
Alan, didn't know there was a boxart of it out yet, looking forward to it!
Cheers!
Stefan
dukw
Joined: March 18, 2003
KitMaker: 263 posts
Armorama: 228 posts
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 - 03:29 AM UTC
Good review so far. Thats what i noticed too. And there are some more short commings with the kit that led me to the decission to return the kit to my lhs.
Happy modelling
Harald
Happy modelling
Harald
vonHengest
Joined: June 29, 2010
KitMaker: 5,854 posts
Armorama: 4,817 posts
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 - 04:56 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Mario thanks for getting this one up and thanks for the comments guys!
Hisham, that set looks great, seen the announcement of it here. Looks like a worthwhile addition, I will have to look for a vendor of black dog some day.Quoted TextIf I read the review correctly you could switch the wheels on the Italeri kit for the earlier variety and vis versa?
Well, Al, sort of... I don't think they will fit just like that, but with a little work I'm sure it can be done. They will have the correct rims but not the directional tread - one of several possible layouts. Check the vehicle you want to build for the correct combination. I still hope some AM producer (such as Hussar) will take their halftrack wheels and put four in a set. That would give us all the choice we need.
Cheers!
Stefan
Hussar's M3A1 wheel set
CDK
Joined: September 24, 2006
KitMaker: 358 posts
Armorama: 339 posts
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 - 06:52 AM UTC
But those are the 'late' style combat rims, which the kit comes with. I believe the guys were looking for the 'early' style automotive rims.
*
I have this kit and the only thing in it that is 'early' is the two spotlights, everything else is the same as the 'late' vehicle. (machine guns notwithstanding) I'm not sure why one would want to wait for the late version, unless it was to purchase this kit at a discount.
Most of the jerrycan brackets come in the form of PE, all you would have to do is scratch build the stand off part. Having said that, Jerry can brackets do not make it a late vehicle, there are countless photos of late model M3A1's without Jerry cans.
In order to make this truly an early, you have to scratch build (or convert) the windshield armor.
vonHengest
Joined: June 29, 2010
KitMaker: 5,854 posts
Armorama: 4,817 posts
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 - 09:14 AM UTC
Ah, thanks Ken. I keep getting Late and Early stuff mixed up in the discussion.
Those late wheels are the only ones that I am aware ATM. Hussar's usually pretty good about releasing stuff that's wanted, although nobody has released the SdKfz 222 wheels in resin yet. Of course we may have to wait for an "Early" version of the M3A1 kit to be released before any of the manufacturers consider it. It's hard to say sometimes.
Those late wheels are the only ones that I am aware ATM. Hussar's usually pretty good about releasing stuff that's wanted, although nobody has released the SdKfz 222 wheels in resin yet. Of course we may have to wait for an "Early" version of the M3A1 kit to be released before any of the manufacturers consider it. It's hard to say sometimes.
CDK
Joined: September 24, 2006
KitMaker: 358 posts
Armorama: 339 posts
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 - 11:35 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Ah, thanks Ken. I keep getting Late and Early stuff mixed up in the discussion.
No worries Jeremy.
IMO, Hobby Boss should have just put the few options in the same box and released one kit as a two in one or just pointed out the options in the instructions.
The differences between the early and late models are so few that it comes down to a couple of parts on a sprue. Releasing two separate kits makes little sense to me, especially when they use the late windshield armor and include the late rims/tires in the 'early' version.
*don't get me wrong, it's a great kit and much better than the Revell 're-boxed' kits I have been building
just sayin'
vonHengest
Joined: June 29, 2010
KitMaker: 5,854 posts
Armorama: 4,817 posts
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 - 12:20 PM UTC
I agree, but I don't think that most companies would like that approach from a business standpoint. I'm just happy the darn thing came out in any form 
Dangeroo
#023
Joined: March 13, 2009
KitMaker: 2,058 posts
Armorama: 1,656 posts
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 - 06:57 PM UTC
Ken, thanks for the info on the armor plate, missed out on that one, my bad... I agree with you that it would have been better to have a 2 in 1 release but it could not have been expected after the half dozen or so M26 releases...
As for the wheels, the ones I'm talking about are in this set. It should be easy for them to expand this.
Cheers!
Stefan
As for the wheels, the ones I'm talking about are in this set. It should be easy for them to expand this.
Cheers!
Stefan
jimbrae
Joined: April 23, 2003
KitMaker: 12,927 posts
Armorama: 9,486 posts
Posted: Monday, June 13, 2011 - 08:18 PM UTC
You make an excellent point about the wheels, however although there are AM products to replace them (and not just Hussar) this happens.
Part of the problem is the source material for the research on the model. We have to assume that the detail research was done on a preserved example. In this case, the probability was undoubtedly that it was fitted with later (possibly H/T wheels).
In my opinion, this ISN'T a defence as the Workshop Manuals are VERY easy to come by and do cover the wheel types in HUGE detail.
Another trap for the unwary on the M3a1, is here in Europe. Many of the M3a1s in private ownership are ex-French. This creates a problem as virtually all of these involved a major restoration as when the French Govt put them onto the market, the armor plate was cut off them to avoid them being exported to regimes not in France's good books...
In the States, privately-owned M3a1s are all ex-U.S. Army, in Britain, a handful are true 'originals'. I Should have access to one of these over the summer if anyone needs pics..
Part of the problem is the source material for the research on the model. We have to assume that the detail research was done on a preserved example. In this case, the probability was undoubtedly that it was fitted with later (possibly H/T wheels).
In my opinion, this ISN'T a defence as the Workshop Manuals are VERY easy to come by and do cover the wheel types in HUGE detail.
Another trap for the unwary on the M3a1, is here in Europe. Many of the M3a1s in private ownership are ex-French. This creates a problem as virtually all of these involved a major restoration as when the French Govt put them onto the market, the armor plate was cut off them to avoid them being exported to regimes not in France's good books...
In the States, privately-owned M3a1s are all ex-U.S. Army, in Britain, a handful are true 'originals'. I Should have access to one of these over the summer if anyone needs pics..
CDK
Joined: September 24, 2006
KitMaker: 358 posts
Armorama: 339 posts
Posted: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - 01:37 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Ken, thanks for the info on the armor plate, missed out on that one, my bad... I agree with you that it would have been better to have a 2 in 1 release but it could not have been expected after the half dozen or so M26 releases...
As for the wheels, the ones I'm talking about are in this set. It should be easy for them to expand this.
Cheers!
Stefan
Stefan, I hope you didn't get the impression I was dogging your review, it was very thorough and you put a lot of work into it. Heck I'm not even dogging the kit, I'm chuffed to see it materialize.
I bought a bunch of those Hussar wheel sets when they first came out but I am under the impression that they are currently out of production? I could be wrong on this though.
gremlinz
Joined: February 07, 2009
KitMaker: 795 posts
Armorama: 743 posts
Posted: Tuesday, June 14, 2011 - 09:53 AM UTC
The Kiwi markings are for a vehicle from C Squadron of the NZ 20th Armoured Regiment near Triests in May of 1945 ( these look to have been taken from the Bison 20th New Zealand Armoured Regiment in Italy set - BBD35096 ).
nzgunnie
Joined: October 15, 2004
KitMaker: 371 posts
Armorama: 174 posts
Posted: Thursday, March 08, 2018 - 01:47 PM UTC
It's a silver fern, not a white feather for the new zealand vehicle. Although to be fair it is probably represented by white on the marking, it is still a fern and not a feather.
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