varanusk
Managing EditorSanta Cruz de Tenerife, Spain / España
Joined: July 04, 2013
KitMaker: 1,288 posts
Armorama: 942 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 28, 2017 - 01:20 PM UTC

Takom is extending the family of M3 tanks with a late production Lee.
Read the Full News StoryIf you have comments or questions please post them here.
Thanks!
Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Joined: March 07, 2010
KitMaker: 33 posts
Armorama: 10 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 28, 2017 - 01:38 PM UTC
Haven't seen any of Takom's announced kits in the shops since their M47.
There are places I'll remember all my life, though some have changed.
Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Joined: November 24, 2013
KitMaker: 107 posts
Armorama: 91 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 28, 2017 - 02:56 PM UTC
nice, finally an american version.
New Jersey, United States
Joined: December 08, 2003
KitMaker: 2,864 posts
Armorama: 2,497 posts
Posted: Saturday, October 28, 2017 - 04:58 PM UTC
Ventilators, deleted side hatch, a definite must have. I did one in 1/72 ages ago with the Hasegawa kit and been waiting for a 1/35 kit ever since because I just wasn't going to do that much work in 1/35.
"The only thing a man should take seriously is the fact that nothing should be taken seriously."
Samuel Butler, Victorian satirist
Steve Willoughby
bill_c
Campaigns AdministratorNew Jersey, United States
Joined: January 09, 2008
KitMaker: 10,553 posts
Armorama: 8,109 posts
Posted: Sunday, October 29, 2017 - 02:30 AM UTC
Manitoba, Canada
Joined: January 03, 2016
KitMaker: 3,791 posts
Armorama: 3,778 posts
Posted: Monday, October 30, 2017 - 01:55 AM UTC
It would be even better if a credible company finally released an M-31 kit! Academy teased us with one years ago but nothing came from that and Italeri's M-32 is only good for parts to build something better.
Florida, United States
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 3,736 posts
Armorama: 3,697 posts
Posted: Monday, October 30, 2017 - 03:24 AM UTC
Hmm, it's not just a late production M3, it's a FINAL production M3, with the side doors deleted altogether. M3 production had ended by the time of the Operation Torch landings in November, 1943, and all variants were in service simultaneously. But these particular tanks were most often seen in training in Northern Ireland. The tanks photographed in North Africa usually had the side doors installed, though often with the late-style long gun, as shown in the kit. If anyone can turn up pictures of this final version in combat, I'd be much obliged, so I don't have to kitbash this model with an earlier upper hull.
New South Wales, Australia
Joined: February 28, 2006
KitMaker: 1,605 posts
Armorama: 1,565 posts
Posted: Monday, October 30, 2017 - 03:32 AM UTC
Quoted Text
It would be even better if a credible company finally released an M-31 kit! Academy teased us with one years ago but nothing came from that and Italeri's M-32 is only good for parts to build something better.
Did you miss this one:
or the Tasca/Asuka M32's which offer both types of turret?
A;
Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
Joined: January 11, 2009
KitMaker: 673 posts
Armorama: 286 posts
Posted: Monday, October 30, 2017 - 03:37 AM UTC
Quoted Text
It would be even better if a credible company finally released an M-31 kit! Academy teased us with one years ago but nothing came from that and Italeri's M-32 is only good for parts to build something better.
?
Takom annouced a M31,
http://perthmilitarymodelling.com/newkitnews/takom.html
MICHAEL
New South Wales, Australia
Joined: February 28, 2006
KitMaker: 1,605 posts
Armorama: 1,565 posts
Posted: Monday, October 30, 2017 - 03:37 AM UTC
Quoted Text
Hmm, it's not just a late production M3, it's a FINAL production M3, with the side doors deleted altogether. M3 production had ended by the time of the Operation Torch landings in November, 1943, and all variants were in service simultaneously. But these particular tanks were most often seen in training in Northern Ireland. The tanks photographed in North Africa usually had the side doors installed, though often with the late-style long gun, as shown in the kit. If anyone can turn up pictures of this final version in combat, I'd be much obliged, so I don't have to kitbash this model with an earlier upper hull.
Post on Missing Lynx with picture coutesy of Kurt laughlin"http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/thread/1509215166/last-1509317705/View+Thread
Here is a Soviet one:
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=m3+lee+in+burma&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj0zIDhtJnXAhXFppQKHVYtBPkQsAQIJQ&biw=1700&bih=796&dpr=1.13#imgrc=ltk6Gn-odhCkeM:And a British one in Burma:
New Jersey, United States
Joined: December 08, 2003
KitMaker: 2,864 posts
Armorama: 2,497 posts
Posted: Monday, October 30, 2017 - 01:59 PM UTC
Though I would prefer that Takom would include the option of side doors so a greater variety of vehicles could be modeled, the units photographed training in Ireland were the same that arrived for Torch so for me that us enough evidence that the tanks were there. There are a couple if hundred tanks in the motorpool not every single one was photographed. Safe to assume the great majority escaped any sort of documentation outside of the usual issue and maintenance documents.
"The only thing a man should take seriously is the fact that nothing should be taken seriously."
Samuel Butler, Victorian satirist
Steve Willoughby
Manitoba, Canada
Joined: January 03, 2016
KitMaker: 3,791 posts
Armorama: 3,778 posts
Posted: Monday, October 30, 2017 - 06:54 PM UTC
Yup, while waiting (for years!) for Academy to release an M-31 someone else releases a BETTER one! Gonna have to look into this.
British Columbia, Canada
Joined: January 27, 2017
KitMaker: 147 posts
Armorama: 147 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - 04:24 AM UTC
I thought there were M3s with later bogies with offset return rollers
Pennsylvania, United States
Joined: January 18, 2003
KitMaker: 2,402 posts
Armorama: 2,377 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - 04:44 AM UTC
Quoted Text
I thought there were M3s with later bogies with offset return rollers
Only M3A4s and some vehicles converted to other types. The Australians kept their tanks long after the war and appear to have upgraded the bogies.
KL
Ontario, Canada
Joined: November 03, 2012
KitMaker: 2,275 posts
Armorama: 2,233 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - 06:23 AM UTC
whats your opinion of the tracks that came with the kit? Eeekk?
New Jersey, United States
Joined: December 08, 2003
KitMaker: 2,864 posts
Armorama: 2,497 posts
Posted: Tuesday, October 31, 2017 - 12:49 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
I thought there were M3s with later bogies with offset return rollers
Only M3A4s and some vehicles converted to other types. The Australians kept their tanks long after the war and appear to have upgraded the bogies.
KL
The Brazilians too. They even used the M3A4 in service?
"The only thing a man should take seriously is the fact that nothing should be taken seriously."
Samuel Butler, Victorian satirist
Steve Willoughby
Baden-Württemberg, Germany
Joined: November 24, 2013
KitMaker: 107 posts
Armorama: 91 posts
Posted: Thursday, November 02, 2017 - 09:18 PM UTC
when will it be available?
MichaelSatin
Campaigns AdministratorColorado, United States
Joined: January 19, 2008
KitMaker: 3,909 posts
Armorama: 510 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 02:15 AM UTC
So this kit is out now, does anyone know anything about it? Markings options, etc.?
Thanks!
Michael
On the bench:
Sorta depends on your definition of "on the bench"...
RobinNilsson
TOS ModeratorStockholm, Sweden
Joined: November 29, 2006
KitMaker: 6,693 posts
Armorama: 5,562 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 02:52 PM UTC
The included marking options, info from the instruction booklet:
One Beutepanzer with Balkenkreuz, Pz.Kpfw M3 744(a)
Three different tanks of 1st Armored Division, Perham Downs, England, December 1942.
Name and large number on rear side of turret:
Coffee-Grinder 9, C-9
Barbarian 4, B-14 and
Buccaneer 7, B-17
The instructions do not indicate any optional parts or alternative assembly sequences.
A number of holes need to be drilled in the engine deck for the tools.
/ Robin
In memory of Al Superczynski:
"Build what YOU want, the way YOU want to....
and the critics will flame you every time"
MichaelSatin
Campaigns AdministratorColorado, United States
Joined: January 19, 2008
KitMaker: 3,909 posts
Armorama: 510 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 05:22 PM UTC
Thanks, Robin. Not very inspiring, really.
Michael
On the bench:
Sorta depends on your definition of "on the bench"...
Wien, Austria
Joined: March 09, 2016
KitMaker: 2,408 posts
Armorama: 2,300 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 05:25 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Not very inspiring, really.
Agree. I expected to see at least one Burmese option...
New Jersey, United States
Joined: December 08, 2003
KitMaker: 2,864 posts
Armorama: 2,497 posts
Posted: Thursday, February 22, 2018 - 06:25 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
Not very inspiring, really.
Agree. I expected to see at least one Burmese option...
That's probably going to be a seperate kit and include the extra storage boxes And Grant cupola.
"The only thing a man should take seriously is the fact that nothing should be taken seriously."
Samuel Butler, Victorian satirist
Steve Willoughby
RobinNilsson
TOS ModeratorStockholm, Sweden
Joined: November 29, 2006
KitMaker: 6,693 posts
Armorama: 5,562 posts
Posted: Friday, February 23, 2018 - 11:02 PM UTC
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
Quoted Text
Not very inspiring, really.
Agree. I expected to see at least one Burmese option...
That's probably going to be a seperate kit and include the extra storage boxes And Grant cupola.
Just put it in the stash for a while and wait for aftermarket decal options. Something will probably turn up, mant modelers will probably have the same reaction to the, ahem, "uninspiring" marking options ...
/ Robin
In memory of Al Superczynski:
"Build what YOU want, the way YOU want to....
and the critics will flame you every time"