Hello,

I got myself the Tamiya M5A1 Stuart today and at home I sat down and took a closer look at it.

I was a little disappointed about the quality of details so I was searching the net for some update kits.

I found 2 kits from Verlinden (in and exterior) and a set from Eduard.

I don't want to buy the Verlinden sets so I was thinking about the Eduard set, but .... they recommend it for the Academy M5A1 Honey, so my question to you is, could I still use this update set for the Tamiya M5A1 or am I going to get in to trouble with it?

#:-)

Ronny, you should be safe since there is no Academy M5A1 Honey. The "Honey" was the British nickname for the M3 series tank and Academy only makes the M3. Verlinden kits #1561 & 1562 are made for the Tamiya M5A1. I highly recommend the AFV Club M3/5 tracks to replace the kit tracks. The problem with the kit's tracks is that the end connectors are even with the track blocks instead of straddling the gap between two track blocks thus connecting the blocks to one another. In other words, it would be a shame to put a lot of aftermarket details into a kit and have the tracks be really wrong.

Rob,
Have you seen the kit tracks for the Academy M3? My understanding is that Academy got them right. They are however, the vinyl rubber band style which never seem to come out as nice as the individual link AM.
v/r,
Cob

Cob, I have the Academy M3 kit and it includes both vinyl and single link tracks. I plan on using the set I don't use on the M3 to dress up my Tamiya M8 HMC.

Hey Guys,

Just so happens that I am working on the M5A1 Stuart myself.

I think that it might be a good idea to consider the Verlinden kits for the details that you really will need. Such as the solid type road wheels and large rear idler wheel. Also the large stowage bin. The turret that Verlinden gives you to replace the kit part is nice. Its not perfect but will do just fine.

If you are purist, the Tamiya kit hull is actually to short. It needs something like 3-4 mm added to correct this. ( Personally I am not bothering with this at all myself )

As Sabot suggested earlier, I am using the AFV club "Steel Cleat" type tracks for my M5A1. They are really cool looking and give the model a very unique look. Advice on using these though. Tanks that used the cleat track did not have the track grousers attached to the turret! Didn't know that till I started researching this little tank.

Either way have fun building it. Its all we have right now. Maybe one day we will see something from Academy or others.

Can anyone say : M5 Stuart please! Then maybe and M5A1, oh and don' t forget the M3A1!

Deacon

You are as usual, correct. I took another peek in the box and realized Academy gave us a choice. I'll definitely go with the single link track.
Cob

Hi,

My mistake, I think I hade to much glue fumes #:-), It is not the M5A1 but the Tamiya M3 that I have got, I was mistaken by a picture page of a M5A1 Stuart ( KMK-reference)

Now I am even more confused, after reading some articles on the net I can't figure out if I bought me a decent kit or not, one person claims that it makes a fair representation (for a 25 year old kit) of the Stuart the other finds it a piece crap and the only good Stuart is the academy one?!?!?!?

The kit only cost me about 10 Euro's so that is no problem, and I am not a real detail freak (yet!), but in your opinion is it even worth the trouble? or should I just get the academy kit?

It was decent for its time, but has been passed by the Academy kit which was issued this summer. True rivet counters won't say anything good about it, but for the longest time, it was the only early US WW2 light tank kit. My biggest grief is the tracks, they are a blatant error and impossible to fix the vinyl tracks, so you'd have to replace them or live with them.

Experts will also tell you that the variant is the diesel engined model which did not see service outside of the US. It builds up nicely, but if you want one with an interior and correct tracks, get the Academy kit. At $25 it is cheaper than the Verlinden interior and a set of proper tracks.

I agree with Sabot on this as well. The Academy M3 is a good place to start. Its not perfect as has already been mentioned but it will build into a reasonable model for sure. You get a nice set of individual tracks as well as an accurate set of vinyl tracks. Also there are a few extras that will come in handy on other projects too!

I beleive that there were some M3 Diesel's that did serve in the Pacific right at the start of the war. Of course correcting to a regular gas will not be to much of a difficulty.

Love those little tanks!

Deacon

Didn't we send M3 Diesels as Lend Lease to Russia?