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Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
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New Honey
GunTruck
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Posted: Monday, July 08, 2002 - 06:21 AM UTC
I got two of the new Academy Stuarts over the weekend. Must say I like them - pretty nice looking kits. Terry Ashley's review on PMMS is right on with the kit.

Just like Gulf11 said - ditch the turret basket for the British "Honey". The early US M3 didn't have one either. I thought the rear wall of the fighting compartment was off like Terry Ashley mentioned, but otherwise it's a nice start for modeling an M3. Made me look at my own efforts with Tamiya's kit.

Gunnie
210cav
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Posted: Monday, July 08, 2002 - 07:48 AM UTC
Gunnie--I can only echo your comments on the Honey. It is a beauty. I have the prime mover on the M-26 almost completed and once that baby is on the shelf, I want to tackle the Honey.
DJ
Ps--that Jaguar Sheridan keeps on getting pushed further down the line everytime someone comes out with a new model.... #:-)
GunTruck
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Posted: Monday, July 08, 2002 - 11:15 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Ps--that Jaguar Sheridan keeps on getting pushed further down the line everytime someone comes out with a new model.... #:-)


Heh heh - YEAH it does. I went looking for mine last night and it took me 10 minutes to find it. And I'm organized

However, I finally got myself Hunnicutt's SHERIDAN book so that I could look at more information before continuing punishing myself in finishing that model kit. My life is pretty busy, so I have to pick my time & project carefully when it comes to modeling. I've got so much that I want to wrap up that the Jaguar Sheridan keeps coming in behind some other project. I know, if models had feelings, it would feel pretty neglected

Gunnie
210cav
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Posted: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 02:36 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

Ps--that Jaguar Sheridan keeps on getting pushed further down the line everytime someone comes out with a new model.... #:-)


Heh heh - YEAH it does. I went looking for mine last night and it took me 10 minutes to find it. And I'm organized

However, I finally got myself Hunnicutt's SHERIDAN book so that I could look at more information before continuing punishing myself in finishing that model kit. My life is pretty busy, so I have to pick my time & project carefully when it comes to modeling. I've got so much that I want to wrap up that the Jaguar Sheridan keeps coming in behind some other project. I know, if models had feelings, it would feel pretty neglected

Gunnie


Sir--please let me know when you finish. I am getting on in years and would like to see before,..... well, you understand.
DJ
GunTruck
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Posted: Tuesday, July 09, 2002 - 03:26 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Sir--please let me know when you finish. I am getting on in years and would like to see before,..... well, you understand.
DJ


LOL! Okay - I get the point. I'll redouble my efforts

Gunnie
herberta
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Posted: Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 10:06 AM UTC
OKEE-DOKEY

I got the Academy Honey last night. $22.50 in a decent hobby shop in Webster NY. The kit is a little beauty. The detail is very nice, and I'm keen to get started on it!

I know the turret basket should not be included, and according to pics at PerthMiliatryModelling, the open spoked wheels have an exagerrated shape to the cutouts. Are there any other fixes/tweaks needed to the kit?

I also wonder about the colour schemes possible. Were the M3s ever just desert sand or with a black/brown camo scheme?

I have the Squadron Stuart book, the old Squadron Armour and camo in the desert book and a few other relevant references, but they're still in storage.

My in-box review is: GET IT NOW!!!!!!! The kit is a beauty!!!

Andy
Doc
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Posted: Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 10:31 AM UTC
you are going to want to get " Tanks in Camera, Archive Photographs from the Tank Museum, 1940-1943" by David Fletcher (ISBN 0-7509-1568-4). A great book, with many awesome photos of vehicles on both sides of the campaign in North Africa. The Stuart shown on the cover and again on page 112 appears to be painted a solid 'Light Stone' color, without any other colors. The only visible markings are " T37730" painted in small charcters in a dark color on the hull below the turret. Not sure on the black/brown camo, though. I've heard that the wheels from the old Tamiya kit may be more accurate.
Sabot
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Posted: Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 10:34 AM UTC
Finally got my Academy Honey. Night and day between the old Tamiya kit (not that it is a bad kit, just 30 years old). I am partial to that North African paint scheme, will go nicely with my DML (VM) Valentine. I wonder if the old Eduard PE for the Tamiya Stuart will work with the Academy kit?
GunTruck
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Posted: Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 10:05 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Finally got my Academy Honey. Night and day between the old Tamiya kit (not that it is a bad kit, just 30 years old). I am partial to that North African paint scheme, will go nicely with my DML (VM) Valentine. I wonder if the old Eduard PE for the Tamiya Stuart will work with the Academy kit?


I think so Sabot - the two kits are quite similar in dimensions overall.

Gunnie
avukich
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Posted: Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 10:11 PM UTC
Sabot,

I echo what Gunnie says. The PE should work because a guy from my model club brought both the old Tamiya M3 and the new Academy M3 to show the comparison and they are almost dead-on dimensionally speaking.
m60a3
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Posted: Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 10:11 PM UTC
Picked mine up in Avenel NJ for about 23...It was a toss up between it and the DML Panther A. I figure another two paychecks and the Panther's mine too.
My kit is finely molded, I really like the choices of markings, the track options and the armament options. Too bad I had to go on a work trip right after vacation or I'd be nametape deep in another fine mess!
GunTruck
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Posted: Wednesday, July 10, 2002 - 10:16 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Picked mine up in Avenel NJ for about 23...It was a toss up between it and the DML Panther A. I figure another two paychecks and the Panther's mine too.
My kit is finely molded, I really like the choices of markings, the track options and the armament options. Too bad I had to go on a work trip right after vacation or I'd be nametape deep in another fine mess!


You're gonna love that DML Panther A too. I got one, and I'm not even a WW II German AFV fan - I think the kit is really, really, nice...

Gunnie
Sabot
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Posted: Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 01:56 AM UTC
Nice thing about the second set of tracks is that whichever one you don't use could be used to dress up an old Tamiya kit!
m60a3
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Posted: Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 02:42 AM UTC
[quote
You're gonna love that DML Panther A too. I got one, and I'm not even a WW II German AFV fan - I think the kit is really, really, nice...

Gunnie[/quote]
Super. I now get to kick myself for buying the Italeri "A"! (At least it was on sale...)
GunTruck
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Posted: Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 05:45 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I made the convertion masters for Harper Castings Stuart kit's.I sure hope they got the turret size's correct!I am looking forward to seeing it.


It is the right size this time Bear - even Cookie Sewell thought so...

Gunnie
sgtreef
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Posted: Thursday, July 11, 2002 - 06:33 AM UTC
Glad you all enjoyed the New Honey one heck of a model. Good going Academy now if all their new kits come out this good will give Tamiya a run for their money. Now on to an Academy Sherman
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