Saw this on PMMS and didn't see any news here.

Looks like no mantlet cover again.

There is a (modelling) God!!

Thank you oh thank you!

Yes someone heard our prayers. Thank you great Modelling god.

that's fantastic news! What's Black Label, though?

What does the "black label" mean?

Glad to see Volstead artwork. The new kettenkrad artwork is creepy looking by comparison.

Love the M103! Anyone know a release date yet?

Can the rest of the Heavy Metal Gods (T-29, T-30, T-32 and T-34) be right around the corner?





Jeff

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the importance of this tank? Where did it see action, Korea?

Hisham

Want.

Hello,

the importance of this kit:

- it was the last generation of heavy tanks before the mbt was introduced.
- forgotten tank generation of the NATO states
- interesting technical tank
- non directly action but part of the Cold War (Europe and Pacific)
- if you want it is the background of the M-103 (reaction against soviet heavy tanks, heavy tank supporters in the US War Department was first time successful, etc.)
- it reflects another tank conception and theory in contrast to the MBT


Furthermore, "heavy metal" which is not called "Tiger"!!!

And do not forget, there are two soviet COld War Heavy tanks (Is-3,4). This kit is needed, for the "balance of power"!!!


Hope that helps.

Cheers

IIRC never saw action but was produced and used in numbers by the US Army and Uncle Sams Misguided Children . It is the "heavy" partner to the Patton series wielding a 120mm gun compared to the 90mm of the early Patties. Was designed as a counter to the heavies of the UdSSR similar to the british Conqueror (partner of the Centurion) and phased out when the M60 came in.

It is one of the "missing" tanks of the early cold war (like M48A1/A2) so it fills a "want/need" part of post WWII collectors/builders

'Importance' Well, it's huge, casted turret and hull (and therefore a very good looking tank!), one of the heavies of the 50's (along with T10 and Conqueror etc.).

Saw service in Europe and the states, no war record. Still, it's more than just a prototype tank.

Great news and a fantastic art work on the box!
| |)

Cheers,
/E

On a side note, the M51 tank retriever was based on the M103 chassis :


The M51 was used in Vietnam by the USMC...

H.P.

And in the Dominican Republic in 1965.


Cheers,
/E

On the one hand, I have always wanted this tank and have been reluctant to sink the work into the Commander's kit. On the other hand, I build Dragon's mediocre to poor T28 and hope to God that team doesn't get this kit. . .

Matt

Don't know for sure but I'm betting it means expensive.

The Dragon label generally means that already

On another note, I'm generally not really a fan of post WW2 stuff but this beast does look interesting.

Is this real!!?? Holy crap!!!,

I photographed the one outside of Ft. Knox a couple years ago. Definitely an interesting subject. May have to get one of these too....

Yup, seems Dragon are allergic to canvas.
Since the roadwheels, drive sprockets etc are presumably from the M48 kit my guess is this model will have about the same level of detail. i.e. not much. But I have the Hunnicutt book on US heavies so all is not lost.

Cheap, with so-so flavor?

KL

As soon as a mantlet cover comes out for it, I will add this kit to the stash. There has been such an overload of new kits coming out recently its been tough to be genuinely excited for a kit, but I'm definitely excited for this one. I can't say any of us saw this one coming. It's great to finally see '50s US tank designs getting their due in plastic form.



Erik

Well, it's a read CAD image so far. If it proceeds past that and how long that might take is anyone's guess.

Still, I'm in for at least one and probably two, the second to be converted to a Marine M103A2.

There's a big poster up at the Dragon booth at the show it was announced at, so its real. Knowing how quickly Dragon released the M48 I wouldn't be surprised if this thing hit stores by Christmas.


Erik

And I though that was the "red label."

Cool subject, though. I hope whatever DML decides to actually put in the box is basically accurate, dimension and shape-wise. As long as the "bones" are good, the rest can follow.

+1 on the return to "real" artwork, too. The colorized CAD stuff is hideous.

Happy dazes!

again with the missing mantlet cover.
I am in for a kit but I will be grumbling to myself about having to spend extra money to add stuff that should have come in the kit.

its a great subject and I am looking forward to building it