Dave Shick uncovers the M5 Early from Best Value Models and shares his findings with us.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!

While there hasn't been an all-plastic M5 kit before, both Formations and Tiger Model Designs have produced conversions.

There were a number of visible differences between the M5 and M5A1 hulls and M3A1 and M5 turrets. Simply plopping two pieces together as this kit does will give you a start, not an accurate M5.

Thanks for the review,
KL

I am wondering if Academy and AFV Club know about this...

???

Unless the sprues were stolen from the factories both companies sold some kits to Azimut. Probably at wholesale prices, but sold nonetheless. They may have even sold them just the desired sprues.

In any case, they both sold more product than they would have otherwise, so even if they didn't know (which I doubt) I can't see how they would care.

KL

Azimut are/were official importers for AFV Club at one stage.

The other thing worth mentionning is that those kits are very limited editions, even less produced than resin kits. I'd say as low as 30 pieces and 50 to 60 pieces maximum in some rare cases.

Cheers,

Christophe

I had no problem finding the AFV or Academy kits in stock at a few online retailers. The AFV early edition is harder to find, that may be why BVM used the late one, and simply removed the parts that make it the later version.

And they also have the incorrect 1960 version of the US flag instead of teh 48 star style which means sourcing a correct one for accuracy purposes.

Personally, and it's an excellent Review, I think you were a touch generous in the rating.

I don't, i'm afraid, see this release/reboxing as anything more than a calculated rip-off