The etched parts are okay but show their age on some of the finer parts but are still quite adequate for the job.
I don’t have the earlier sets on hand to check if any updates have been done but this is really irrelevant as we look at the contents of this set which consists of 79 parts in light cream resin and as mentioned are perfectly cast as well as the etched fret in thicker metal than normal.
For the vehicle itself there are new interior floor panels that fit into the kit floor (part C28) which requires you to remove some plastic and other details to accept the new resin floor panels and there are additional storage boxes and fuel tanks for the rear plus a new bulkhead between the rear and front compartments plus new front crew seats.
There is a new driver’s armoured panel with the cut-out for the gun and at the front there is a new front bumper and the roller supports and roller to replace the winch with the Tamiya kit as well as fender head light guards provided in etched metal to add good definition.
The remaining parts are for the 75mm gun which is very nicely detailed with the lower gun support having separate hand wheels and other details plus a two part barrel with the muzzle hollowed out and separate lower cradle. There are alternate parts to show the breech opened or closed plus numerous other smaller detailed parts that make up a very busy looking assembly.
The large gun shield is entirely in etched metal with the two side and upper panels having small ridges along the edges to fit together for a more positive join while on the insides are separate flange joins with rivet head details that not only add this detail but add strength to the shield joins and is well thought out.
There are additional smaller etched parts to add to the inner walls but you will have to add the many small external rivets yourself as these are impossible to include with the normal etching process. Small indentations are in the shields to indicate the location and spacing of the rivets which will help when adding these from either heated sprue or using a left over kit such as a Tamiya M3 Stuart to donate the rivets.
The instructions are in the form of a double sided ‘letter’ sized page with small exploded view drawings showing the assembly of the parts plus some additional notes and you will need to study these carefully before assembly to fully familiarise yourself with the assembly.
Even though we are in urgent need of new state of the art US Half-Track kits thankfully there is plenty of reference available for the vehicles which will be of assistance when building this set with some listed below.
While the set is designed primarily for the Tamiya M21 kit you can use the standard M2A3 Half-Track (Kit #35070) but additional work will be needed in the rear compartment for the new parts.
Conclusion:
A very nicely detailed conversion set to built this important variant of the
Half-Track with the gun assembly being quite complete and the large etched
shields are very well done despite the need to add your own rivets.
Some experience working with resin and etched parts will help as this set is not for the beginner but it is good to see this set available again under the Trakz label.
Highly recommended.
The resin parts: Click on thumbnails for larger view
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See the M2/M2 Halftrack subjects page for reviews of other sets available.
References:
Half-Track A History of American Semi-Tracked Vehicles R.P Hunnicutt ISBN 0-89141-742-7 |
U.S. Half-Tracks Their Design and Development David R.Haugh Darlington Productions ISBN 1-8992848-02-3 |
M3 Infantry Half-Track 1940-73 Steven J. Zaloga, Peter Sarson Osprey New Vanguard 11 ISBN 1-85532-467-9 |
U.S. Half-Tracks in Combat 1941-1945 Steven J. Zaloga Concord Armor at War #7031 ISBN 962-361-654-6 |
M3 Half-Track in action #2034 Jim Mesco Squadron Signal Publications ISBN 0-89747-363-9 |
Militaria 25, Half-Track, Volume1 Wydawnictwo |
Thanks to ModelMecca/VLS for the review sample.
Page created 8 May 2005