Kit, Academy 13206, US Medium Tank M3 Lee

MRC/ ACADEMY


13206, US Medium Tank M3 Lee. 1/35th-scale injection-molded styrene plastic kit. Contains: 417 styrene parts, two vinyl track lengths, two water-slide decal marking options and 12 pages of instructions in 19 steps. Price: $42.00 USD.


When Academy’s US rep first spoke to me at an early AMPS East show several years ago about doing this kit, my eyes lit up. I immediately grabbed hold of Cookie Sewell, who also brought Steve Zaloga into the conversation. They both saw this as an opportunity to be a part of ensuring that a state-of-the-art, accurate plastic replica of this popular subject would hit the shelves. We were insistent that the kit be based on NOTHING other than proper, basic research, accurate engineering drawings and measurements taken from an actual vehicle; both “Steves” subsequently played an active part in that. We were all particularly adamant that Academy never ever bother to look at the old Tamiya kit. You know what? Academy listened!


So, finally we have a brand-new injection-molded styrene kit of the early version of the US Army’s first production-standard medium tank to mount a 75mm gun. Is this kit “perfect”? Hell no! Nothing is. Is this kit the horrible product that many were bemoaning on the internet, before anyone saw an ACTUAL production sample? Of course not. Will this review be based on proper data and over 45 years of modeling experience? You’d better believe it!


From the ground up, we have T41/51-type rubber block tracks molded in typical vinyl, as a single length for each side. They are properly detailed and include the end connector/guide horns in the proper place. New drive sprockets are provided of the “open” type, but without the beveled insides of the teeth. Solid drive sprocket types, as well as open types with the bevel are also provided on the only two sprues that are holdovers from previous M4 kits. Two types of road-wheels and idler wheels are also provided, again from the same sprues seen in previous kits. They feature the welded, or “fabricated” five-spoke types or the pressed six-spoke types; the latter feature separate rear inserts for “all-around” detail.


Two complete sets of Vertical Volute Suspension System (VVSS) bogie trucks are included; one is from, as you might imagine, Academy’s previous M4 kits. These can be used to depict a later M3, or to correct the Tamiya M4; Academy is taking care of you kit-bashers! The second set is new and is of the type that features the return roller in the central position above the truck unit. It depicts one of several types, but also contains the only major error in the kit. According to the references cited below, the bogie trucks themselves, parts E1 and E21, are too tall. If one were to lay the parts on the plans cited below, the distance from the axle for the return roller (a reference point) and the bottom of the bogie truck, is too great. The only easy way to correct this is to opt for an after-market replacement, or (easier still) ignore it; whatever course is taken will be up to the individual modeler.


The hull is very nicely depicted and is replicated using a slide-mold. There is some very nice rivet detail (NOT bolts!) on both sides of it, as well as on the belly. There is an unusual oval-shaped hole in the middle of the belly plate that is provided to accommodate the interior floor plate, which has a “plug” to fit the opening. This is a rather odd way of doing things and will give the “fastidious modeler” more work to do than is necessary. A bit of putty and some sanding will take care of this, but (unless there is some obscure engineering issue here) there is no reason why this should be present in the first place. The rear hull plate features separate engine access hatch doors and has the type of exhausts that were seen on the earlier versions of the M3. These included rather thick pipes that emerged from the rear plate as an “elbow’ and culminated in a cylinder. At the bow, there is the so-called “three-piece bolted” transmission/final drive cover. This has some nice detail including some foundry casting numbers and drain plugs. The prototype item is a casting but there is no texture; the modeler needs to add this for maximum visual accuracy. Also, the mold seams on the parts that represent the bolted flanges (B47 & B48) should be left intact; these were two parts, with a gasket in between.


The entire superstructure consists of multiple parts, since Academy opted to use conventional molding techniques, rather than a more costly multi-part slide mold. The superstructure roof and engine deck are one part. Added to it are a total of 11 other major parts (NOT including a bunch of detail parts). The modeler must be very careful when cutting, trimming and dry-fitting these items, in order to have everything line up properly. I did it and had no problems; the parts fit is fine, simply proceed with caution. There are two knock-out pins on the visible surface of the rear superstructure part, B1. They cleaned up with ease. I noted only one tiny discrepancy in this area, comparing the kit parts to references. The rivet pattern on the starboard superstructure plate (part F7) does not match references, although, curiously, the drawing in the instruction step is correct. It should not be too difficult to shave off the very few offending rivets and put them in their proper places.


All hatches are separate parts and can (naturally) be depicted opened or closed. Where it counts (especially on the large side doors), there are no knock-out pins; where they are present, they are easy to deal with. There are separate view-ports for the side doors, as well as the slanted port-side superstructure plate but these have no internal detail; the rear-facing port is molded in place, but does have internal detail on the corresponding internal bulkhead/engine firewall part. The separate driver’s visor is detailed on both sides and will only need some ejector pin marks removed. The mount for the hold-open rod is provided, but the rod itself is missing. The pot that holds the antenna base is provided, but the US-style antenna base itself is missing.


Another point is the separate engine deck plate, part B18. It is slightly smaller than references indicate it should be (making the second access plate larger than it ought to be). It also has the screening molded into the part; most modelers would probably want to replace it with suitable screening material or wait for an after-market accessory manufacturer to produce the part. The detail parts for this area are all nicely represented, except for the tools. Many are misshapen (why didn’t Academy include the small “accessory” sprue seen on all of their previous Sherman-based kits?), and although there are separate tow cable ends, there is no string or wire to complete the assembly. Head-lamps, tail-lamps and horn are all included as are brush guards; the latter will benefit from after-market replacement etched brass parts. Two pre-bored 75mm gun tubes are given; one is the short type, the other the long type. Drawings indicate the length of both gun tubes is correct, and they both have a very subtle flare at the bore ends, which I believe is a first for a styrene rendition of this item. If desired, the modeler may add the oft-seen counterweight to the short gun tube, but it will have to be sourced elsewhere since Academy does not provide it.


The turret is very well done and is properly sized and contoured. The enormous bulge on the side wall, below the commander’s cupola is something of a mystery. Save yourself the trouble of wondering about it and simply remove it; there is enough “meat” on the part to allow the modeler to simply grind it away. When you’re done with that, the turret itself could use some texture to represent a casting. Regarding this issue, Steve Zaloga related the following to me:


“The square shape under the cupola on the turret casting is grossly exaggerated. I looked at my photos of the APG vehicle and while there is a casting variation there, it is nowhere so pronounced. (Also, it is accompanied by a similar flat strip around the 10 o'clock position).”


The separate mounting plate for the 37mm gun is properly represented as is the gun mantlet for the 37. However, the gun tube itself is a bit too long; it will need replacement or it can simply be cut down since the excess length is all towards the front end. It is rendered with the bore already opened up, via slide molds. The cupola exterior is also nicely represented with separate hatch lids and well-done .30 cal. MG, but it has no internal details, which is rather odd since the kit itself has a fairly complete interior. It is also missing the little hook-like protrusions that acted as rests for the opened hatch lids.


The turret interior is almost totally bare, except for the main and co-axial armament, which is missing the deflector for the spent 37mm rounds. There is no ammo feed system for the co-axial .30 cal. MG, as well as the commander’s cupola MG. There is no internal view-port detail either in the cupola or within the main turret. On the other hand, the turret basket is very complete and includes the rotating floor and walls, with stowage boxes and 37mm ready rounds in various racks.


The hull interior provides a transmission and drive shaft as well as floor and engine compartment bulkhead/firewall. The 75mm gun has very complete details including gunner’s seat and gun mount, as well as elevating and traversing hand-wheels. Ammo storage for the 75 is contained on one locker, which has molded-on projectile base plates; there are only 20 rounds shown when there should be 41. On top of that locker is a tray containing drum magazines for the stowed Thompson SMG, which itself is not provided. A “Tommy-Gun” and a stowed .30 cal. MG tripod should be mounted above the rack. The driver’s station has a very nicely done and includes elevated seat, foot pedals, hand controls and linkages. His instrument panel has very fine details on the dial faces, but the configuration does not match the panel shown in photos of the radial engine M3s interior. Perhaps the panel belongs to a type with a different engine? The radio operator’s seat is there but it lacks details such as a back rest, while the SCR-508 radio set is rather nice. The two fixed .30 cal. MGs mounted behind the glacis are extremely over-simplified and lack any ammo trays or feed system. Much of the internal details seen on the inner walls are not present, but most would be unseen even with all hatch lids and doors left open. If the modeler wished to, he certainly could have “fun” adding all the small bits! Prior to that, there will be a number of knock-out pin marks that will need to be filled. The nicely detailed rear bulkhead/firewall part finishes the compartment, along with the floor plate. This last has a superfluous escape hatch molded on; it should be removed from any M3 series tank that had the superstructure side doors in their original operational condition.


I constructed the entire superstructure and hull, in order to get a basic impression of parts fit. With care the many parts that make up the superstructure will fit extremely well. The same goes for the hull, especially when it comes to fitting the fender parts and the transmission cover. Patience and basic modeling techniques will see the modeler through. Molding overall is crisp with especially sharp rivet detail on the hull and superstructure parts; the only area where this is compromised a wee bit is on the angled sections of part B23, the superstructure rear plate. The rivets are a bit “stretched” in order for the part to be able to be removed from the mold. Furthermore, this part will require extra care in fitting since it tends to “bow” a bit. The instructions are in the drawn style and are quite busy, especially in the interior. There is a tiny leaflet included to correct items in steps one and 16.


Two sets of water-slide decal markings are provided and they are crisply rendered. They give both the later white stars as well as the earlier yellow stars with turret stripe of the Armored Force; registration numbers are in blue drab. Steve Zaloga has graciously chimed in with information regarding the kits markings and how they relate to the specific configuration of features on a particular tank. To quote:


“The kit seems to represent a relatively early M3, (not one of the very early M3s, which lacked the rear stowage bins). The problem with this configuration is that it is inappropriate for the Tunisian decal options (and really only appropriate for a Stateside M3 or early British Lee). The wheels on both of these tanks are the usual spoked type, not the odd initial stamped type seen on a handful of 2/13th Armored M3 tanks.


"Kentucky" is from 2/13th Armored Regiment and so the short M2 75mm gun is appropriate. The photo shows Kentucky with the counter-balance under the 37mm gun, which I don't know is included in the kit (it’s not, FD). However, the rear hull details are too early for this tank, showing the initial style with the cylindrical exhausts. This configuration was a problem as it overheated the armor plate immediately above, creating a scalding hazard for the crew. The intermediate configuration (appropriate for Kentucky) was the use of short stub exhausts out of the same rear hull plate as the early configuration, but to move the usual square pattern air filters to the outside (as on the M4). Somebody posted a useful photo of this configuration on ML a week or so ago. The final configuration was to move the two exhaust ports up under the overhang (like the Tamiya M4 kit with the square air filters in the usual spot. A minor detail: the decal for “Kentucky” should read W.309.513, not W-309513.


“After Effect” is from Co. A, 751st Tank Battalion, as seen in Bizerte. It is a later production tank, though the photo I have of it does not show the registration number clearly. It is not W-309316, which is too early for this configuration. This tank has the longer M3 gun and the 37mm gun should have the counterweight. It's impossible to be sure of the rear configuration lacking photos or registration number, but it is at least the intermediate exhaust configuration like “Kentucky”, and possibly the later configuration. Other tanks of this company have later features like the external grouser boxes but this doesn't prove anything one way or the other. However, it hints that "After Effect" could have the later stowage features. In terms of markings, I am inclined to believe that the number “3” should be red with a white outline (the kit-provided number is black/white, FD), but this is conjecture. The forward star is painted over, the rear star is white.”


Thanks Steve!


So, what do I conclude? Well, obviously the kit is not what “perfectionists” have been waiting for, since the only major error I could find (the bogie trucks) will be hard to fix, barring an after-market product. The minor errors (engine deck plate sizes and slightly wrong rivet pattern on the starboard superstructure side plate, 75mm ammo storage) are relatively easy to fix or ignore. There are also many omissions, such as: US antenna base, hold-open rod for drivers view port hatch lid, counter-weights for the 37mm and 75mm guns, internal detail for the turret shell and commander’s cupola, external rests for the opened commander’s cupola hatch lids, tow cable and various internal stowage items, etc. The tools need replacement as well. However, in my opinion, the overall accuracy of this kit certainly makes it a worthy addition to the Allied modeler’s stable. For the most part, I think the vast majority of you guys will be more than happy with this kit.


Highly recommended.


Frank V. De Sisto


References consulted for this review included, but were not limited to:


• US Army Ordnance Department technical drawings for the M3 Medium Tank.
• Aberdeen Proving Grounds Museum drawing set for the M3A1 Medium Tank.
• “Sherman: A History of the American Medium Tank”, by R.P. Hunnicutt.
• Osprey New Vanguard 113, “M3 Lee/Grant Medium Tank 1941-45”, by Steve Zaloga.
• Concord 7051, “US Tank Battles in North Africa and Italy 1942-45.
• Squadron Armor in Action 33, “M3 Lee/Grant”, by Jim Mesko.
• Correspondence from Steve Zaloga and Steve Sewell.


Thanks also to Roy Chow for kindly offering to supply me a set of Ordnance Department plans of the M3, and to Mike Salzano for lending me his set of APG Museum plans for the M3A1.


Model Rectifier Corp. is the North American distributor of Academy kits. Available from retail and mail order shops. For images see Academy’s site at: www.academy.co.kr.


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