1/87 Heiser Stuart & Chaffee

[minitnkr]

While looking for stuff to add to the Chaffee, I found another Heiser kit in the stash. The Stuart shown here will now be next. Chaffee is now ready for weather.

 

[Jakko]

Quick question: you know it looks to be a British-modified M3A3, right?

 

[minitnkr]

It does doesn't it. Likely cause it is. Currently assembling data to make it US.

 

[Jakko]

Off the top of my head, the large bin on the back of the hull is the main British feature. The US Army used very few M3A3s, preferring the M5 instead, but some did slip through, AFAIK.

 

[minitnkr]

Haven't chopped off the stern stowage yet, but ready to start construction. Uninvited visitor drops dead center foreground.

 

[Jakko]

I looked it up, and according to Hunnicutt, the rear stowage bin was added later on in production, so chances are it was also on some of the vehicles the US Army used. Though I do sort of doubt it would be, given that the M3A3 got hardly used by them, so I would guess they had mostly early vehicles. Maybe try to find photos of US Army M3A3s if you want to be accurate?

 

[minitnkr]

Front & 3/4 views only w/lots of CITB so rear bustle obscured if present. Not many pics of US M3A3s period.

 

[minitnkr]

Working Stuart, close to finish.

 

[Mini Me]

Getting closer....

 

[minitnkr]

Stuart & M4 ready for decals.

 

[adt70hk]

Nicely done Paul. I have some of the British M5 Stuarts in the nearly completed pile.

ATB.

Andrew

 

[Mini Me]

Looking good....any other Heiser's discoveries lately? Surprising what turns up when you start opening boxes. Rick H.

 

[minitnkr]

Thanks gents. No, but I did run across a bunch of "Red Ball Express" ROCO semi trailers I never finished. I think I was waiting for someone to release a decent affordable COE tractor for them.

 

[Mini Me]

At $40.00 + each, that would be a "bunch" of money! Rick H.

 

[minitnkr]

Like I said "..decent affordable..". Isn't that the engineers' long wheelbase version w/a big box?

 

[Mini Me]

Don't recall which version, just remember "Gasping" at the price without shipping cost. Rick H.

 

[JR]

Nice Paul. Watch Rick he'll have you paying out before you can mount that dead insect. Probably died of fright when Rick told you how much they were