PMMS
Formationa

M5A1 Conversion
for AFV Club M3A3

1:35 #F036

First Look Review by Terry Ashley
Formations
AFV ClubRob from Formations has come to the rescue of Allied modellers (again) with this comprehensive M5A1 conversion based on the excellent AFV Club M3A3 Stuart (Kit #AF 35053) to produce the first M5A1 kit with accurate hull dimensions.

The conversion will build an early production M5A1 with all the parts in resin required for the conversion with others such as the suspension, turret and many small details from the AFV Club kit, there are also a couple of alternatives to make a initial production M5A1 without lower escape hatch and the later production vehicles with the hatch.

The set contains 52 parts in light cream resin plus a short length of wire and MV Lenses for the head lights with the resin cast to a high standard without any blemishes and just the usual casting blocks and some thin resin film to be removed for the parts before assembly.

Lower Hull Tub:
FormationsThis is a single large casting that includes the tub with both sides, front and rear hull panels and lower sponsons included with excellent details on the five sides and importantly is cast perfectly square without any warping. The method of casting results in just two relatively small casting blocks on the top of the rear sponsons and some minor excess resin along the upper edges but these are very easy to remove with model knife and light sanding. The detail starts with the rear panel having the engine door hinges and underside intakes included and on the front the rounded final drive housings and towing shackles included which will need drilling out if you don’t add the AFV Club kit eyes.
The hull sides have the locating points for the AFV Club suspension as well as nice weld beads on the sides and also along the upper hull/sponson join with the final drives as separate parts with very crisp details.

The bottom of the hull has extensive details including the engine access panels, suspension troughs and the many rivet heads and weld seams and it seems a shame this is mostly unseen when the model is finished. There is also an option for the initial production A1s that didn’t have the crew escape hatch but the two reinforcing strips as per the M3/M3A1 with the area being cast smooth with alternate parts for the reinforcing strip or escape hatch, whichever you choose to fit.

Upper Hull:
FormationsThis is again a large single casting except for the glacis and rear intake grills which are separate parts and again the hull and glacis are cast perfectly square without any warping and most importantly has the correct rear hull dimensions for the M5A1. There are a couple of small casting blocks to be removed from the rear hull with the one on the rear panel being close to the cast on detail and care is needed when removing this so as not to damage the details while the one on the left rearside panel is much thicker than the hull wall and again take care as any excessive force will be transferred to the thinner hull wall and damage may result. The excess resin film on the hull front and inside the crew hatches, turret ring and engine intake panels are very easy to remove.

The separate engine intake grills are noteworthy as these allow you to use the resin items with nice grill pattern included or any of the available etched screens such as those from the Eduard set #35492 which fit perfectly.

The detail of the hull is excellent with very crisp details that include all raised weld seams on the hull top and importantly also on the hull sides along with the rivet head details and separate parts for the fuel filler caps and head lights while the many AFV Club kit parts such as turret ring, crew hatches, taillight, tools and grab handles are used with the fit of these parts to the resin parts being very good.
Just a quick note on the AFV Club crew hull and turret hatch periscopes, these had the wire bush guards which weren’t on the M3A3 parts and you will have to add these yourself from wire for the best appearance.

The detail on the glacis is as nice as the hull with nice weld seams and recessed bolt head details with bases for the lights included while the front bolted retaining strip is a separate part to help when fitting the hull parts together. The two front fenders are also included as separate parts and include the tie down cleats on the top and support brackets on the underside for good detail definition. The only additions would be to add etched head light bush guards but the plastic kit guards can also be thinned for a good scale appearance.

The Turret:
One part is included for the turret in the form of the small bracket that fits between the two crew hatches which was missing from the AFV Club kit but apart from this the kit turret is used as it comes in the kit but as mentioned the periscope bush guards will have to be added and also the track grouser locations were different from that on the M3A3 turret.

Suspension/Running Gear:
FormationsIncluded is a set of solid stamped road wheels often seen on M5A1s and these included the detail on the rear sides as well as the grease nipples and small bolts around the inner rim for easily the best wheels of this type available today, these are also available in a separate set (#F037) which also have the later idler wheels that can be used on other M3/M5/M8 kits.

New solid plate drive sprockets are included with very nice details on the outer and inner faces of each sprocket and there is also new modified re-enforced idler wheel mountings to replace the kit items and finally new return roller mountings with the correct cut-out are included.

Resin parts
Click for larger view

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Instructions:
These consist of four ‘letter’ sized pages with text notes and diagrams showing the location of the parts as well as tips of assembling the set and were quite legible and easy to follow but of courser as with any resin set study the construction sequences and test fit often.

Conclusion:
This is a superbly detailed conversion set that takes advantage of the best M3/M5 suspension set available in the AFV Club kit as well as using the kit turret with all the features of the early M5A1 captured perfectly with the fit of the resin to resin and resin to plastic parts being very good.

The set as with any major resin conversion is not for the inexperienced builder but having said that there are no real issues with this set as most parts simply replace the kit parts without any real surgery required.

Highly recommended.

Click for part one of the kit construction dealing with the lower hull and suspension.

References:

M5A1 Stuart Kagero Photosniper 18
Krzysztof Mucha, George Parada. Kagero Press
ISBN 83-89088-04-5
book
STUART A History of the American Light Tank
R.P.Hunnicutt. Presidio Books
ISBN 0-89141-462-2
book
M3 & M5 STUART Light Tank 1940-1945
Steven.J.Zaloga. Osprey New Vanguard 33
ISBN 1 85532 911 5
book
STUART U.S.Light Tanks in action #2018
Steven.J.Zaloga. Squadron Signal Publications
ISBN 0-89747-084-2
book
Check the Formations website for details of other update sets available and thanks to Rob for the review sample.



Page created 5 January 2005

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