US Half Tracks of WWII, I know in real life there were all types, but there are not many kits in 1/35th, that I know of. Years ago I built Tamiya's M3 kit, the one that came with 8 or so figures, is this kit no longer in production? Also who else makes US Half track kits? I know there are tons of German kits out there, but it seems like the US choices are slim pickins.

Ron,
The only US half track kits I know of are the M3, the M16 and the M21. Monogram did one of the M16 and the M3 and Tamiya has all three. I dont think that there was a big push for it in the modeling world and as a result only these limited kits were produced. I imagine there were more variants of the M3 built... ie M2, M5, but I have never seen any other kits of them. There is about an over abundance of German pieces for sure, so many that I cant count that high..and each one is very simular in appearance to the others making it difficult (for me anyways) to distinguish one from another.. Thats all I know on the subject.. "Q"

Ron
Squadron Shop lists the M16 skysweeper in thier 2002 catalog. I just looked on the website and only found the M21 mortor carrier which is a recient re-pop. Even one of the hobby shops here in the frozen north had one on thier shelf...it now resides on my shelf.
I see the M 16 on ebay from time to time.
HTH

Hi Rufus, hopefully Sabot will add his knowledge of " where
to get " & "who stocks " these kits. But any way until then,
there has to be conversion PE & resin set's on the market
to make some of the M3 & M5 variants such as the 75mm, 57mm
and 105mm Howitzer, all mounted on the M3.
And the other GMC's like the M13 and sightly similar M14 and the
also the M16 - all generally for AA.
My favorite was the M15 with the 37mm Gun Carriage M3E1 mounted
below the two .50 cal.MG's - On the M15A1 it was opposite ( 37mm on top ).
Any way if your really serious these variants can all be made by a conversion
from the M21 - BUT a lot of scratchbuilding and rework would be necessary.
....Of course it would make a difference if the aftermarket set's are out there.
But it still would be time consuming.
I'm doing a rebuild myself of just the roller's on the Tamiya M21 ( their incorrectly made ).
Maybe when I have alot - and I mean alot of time, I'll attempt a one
of these conversion's
- ralph

Tamiya 35070 1:35 US Half Track M3A2 is due to be re-released.

KMC have a conversion set for building a M3 75 mm GMC from TAMIYA M21, see Halftrack with a punch.

Hey TUGA - Great article ! A big "thumbs up " for finding that !
I'll have to print that up.
- ralph

i have not see any US half tracks in my hoby store. i guess they are hard to get

MISSION MODELS have the TAMIYA M3A2 (#35070) and M21 (#35083) at their list.

I agree Tazz, but you shouldn't have a problem finding them from
a internet model distributor such as Great Models or Squadron and others.

- ralph

Hi!
Let me ask you:
I got a Tamiya M16 halftrack, I'm planning to use its antiaircraft system to make a Guntruck, so the question is: What chassis it is based, the M3 or the M5? Because I'm also planning to use it for a brazilian dio in Italy during the WWII.....
Cheers

Hi Paulo ! How are you ? - I hope all is well.
The Maxson four .50 caliber turret
was tested on an M2 Halftrack chassis & later the M3,
designated GMC T58. The mount was standardised as M45
and the T58 with this mount was the M16. A total of 724 vehicles
of this type were built by White ( 1942-43 ).
.......Now the same installation on the M5 halftrack was designated M17
and was similar in it's external appearance. ( International Harvester built
1,000 of these. )
Reference Used - British & American Tanks of W.W.II
by Peter Chamberlain & Chris Ellis.
- ralph

Paulo,

Não sei se conhece mas, aqui TANKS - Brasil tem informações e fotos de vário material utilizado pelo FEB em Itália na 2ª GG.

Some info and photos of Brazilian Expeditionary Force in Italy during WW II.

e aqui/and here

http://WWII Vehicles

alguma info sobre as HT em geral/about USA HT used at WWII

Espero que ajude o seu dio.
Hope it helps for your dio.

A M16 não dá para fazer a M3 directamente, não tem a porta traseira.
The M16 have no rear door and the M3 has.

I guess I am out of luck, I've checked online hobbie shops and couldn't find anything. I am looking for M3A2 personal carrier, I waiting for Tamiya to reissue theirs, it was a pretty nice kit.

If you can hold out a bit try ebay. I look routinely sift through the offerings there and quite often there is Tamiya M3A2 halftrack, the M3 with the quad 50 cal is auctioned a little less and then lastly the M3 with mortar is up sometimes.
I already built the M3A2 and never watch these auctions to end so I can't comment on price.

Thanks Scott, I'll check it out. On Great Models the Tamiya M3A2 listed around $17. when it was still available.

I'm with you, Ron. I've been looking for that Tamiya M3A2 for a couple of months now. Tried bidding for a couple on E-Bay, but someone always wanted it a bit more.

I'm glad to hear from Jose that it is going to be re-issued. Hope it will be soon.

Mike

DOn't dispare fellas it'lll be out in again soon. Usually comes out every 3 or so years. You might want to try some of AEF designs stuff He makes anumber of Israeli Conversions, but also makes a sraight M5 as well. Also try to get K59's M3 wheel set Easier than tank workshops. All we really need now is some good rubberband track

For all interested on the M3A2 from Tamiya, I got one and if has someone interested I can trade for a M3 or an Italeri Scout Car .... just let me know!
Thanks Ralph,
So the M16 is actually a M3...it matches the vehicle that brazilian used in Italy...
José,
Eu também conheço esse site, muito bom e outro interessante sobre o assunto é:
FEB 1944
I did know this site as well, and another good one is the link above...

Rufus
Check out ebay - Item #1740178398 It's the 1/2 track w/ 81mm mortar

Just in case if there someone interested....