If that's the economic decision that Academy makes (including toy features like batteries and motorization) -- I'm 100% fine with it as they generally don't detract from my main goal, a built static model. All I care about are the hull and turret angles and dimensions. Get that right and you can put all the battery panels and motorization bits you want into the mold...

I was kidding about the batteries and switch! I have no idea what the hole is for.

I ordered the M10. When it arrives I will post what is in the box.

To be cynical, I don't think there is enough "new-tooling" to get very excited about. But that's just me.

There was only really four parts that needed retooling and that was the: - upper hull - Mantlet - Turret Shell - Transmission cover We will have to see what has been retooled but the photos look promising. Al

Ok, I got the new Academy M10 yesterday and compared it to the old Academy M10 Duckbill. The upper hull is completely new. When you set it next to the old M10 you notice the new hull is lower, the hull angles have changed and the fenders are different. The turret is also new and comes close to matching Steven Zaloga's turret outline for the M10 included in his Osprey book on modeling US Army Tank Destroyers of World War II. The transmission covers have been re-tooled, but the turret mantlet is the same.

How about the fighting compartment? Same old parts? They could have been sharpened up a bit, and I think there was something wrong with the shape of the breech block. An AM resin interior would be nice. Not to mention crew figs who actually fit the interior!

Very good news, and evidence that Academy listens..... I'll be picking one up.

My kit finally came today. For those worried about the square hole in the hull bottom, it is plugged with a hatch. No motorization. The turret appears to match up with photographs, including looking straight down. Hull shape seems to match up as well. In addition to the old accessory sprue, there is a new sprue with multi part .50 cal barrels, opened at the bore, and the rest molded similar to what Dragon and Tasca have done. It looks very nice. The only downside I can see aside from the mantlet are the tracks-the same stiff vinyl material. The photo from which the box art was taken has wading trunks installed on both M10s. A pity it wasn't included with the kit parts. Etch light guards and Cartograff decals. Marking scheme is very dark in my instructions.