From: Think Tank Subject: Think Tank Vol. 0047 07/08/2000 Think.tank@tesco.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS' INDEX 1: Tamiya 1/16 Tiger I 2: M3 scout car 3: White Scout Car 4: M113 5: 47 degree glacis Shermans with applique armour -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD INDEX 1: Next issue -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MODELLERS -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: John Harris [john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk] Subject: Tamiya 1/16 Tiger I I understand that the kit (or a mock-up) was displayed at a recent Japanese Hobby Show (there are pictures on the HobbyLink Japan site), so I don't think many will have "laid eyes" on it. I understand from a UK trader that the "basic" model will be around £700 and the version with all the "whistles and bells" will be over £1,000. I also gather only 100 models will be made available in the UK. I must admit that I'm not convinced, while a 1/16th model is considerable bigger than our 1/35th and 1/76th models, a running example will be too small to operate sensibly on grass and will pick up untold (and non-scale) fluff running on carpets. Regards John Harris john@ukmilmod.force9.co.uk UK Military Modelling http://www.ukmilmod.force9.co.uk But I bet all the modelling magazines will contain lengthy build articles on it, for the benefit of all the vast number of their readers who will actually buy one ;-)). Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) From: Grant Parkin [granty_p@hotmail.com] Subject: M3 scout car In reply to Daniel Taylor's request for help, there are some (not very good), overhead shots of the M3 scout car in the book WWII AFVs by George Forty, published by Osprey Automotive (1996), on pages 110 & 113. The internal layout seems to be similar to, if not the same as, the M2 half-track, minus side storage boxes. As for 1/76 plans, there is a plan view of the M3 in an old Airfix Mag. intended for wargamers to scratchbuild this vehicle. As a break from surfing the web, I recently scanned this plan, printed one out and then spent about half an hour cutting and gluing paper together, (ah!, the good old days). The result isn't bad, considering! Please BEWARE, this plan is faulty, one side of the vehicle is higher than the other, and I'm not too sure about the overall dimensions. I've checked my (littered) library but can't find any other decent sources of information, e.g. old Profile Publications etc., etc.. Has Tankette never had a plan of this vehicle? Hope this helps Daniel. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) From: john.baumann@talk21.com Subject: White Scout Car In response to Dan Taylor's request, this must be one of the few machines that Geoff Lacey hasn't yet produced plans on! For those of us young enough to remember, Tankette volume 7/5 featured the M3A1 in 1/76 scale by Steve Zaloga. The best set of drawings I possess came from the now defunct US Journal called AFV G2 volume 5/4. These come in 1/24th which I had reduced. I can provide either or both. John -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) From: Jon Barker [jon_barkerm113@hotmail.com] Subject: M113 I have found a reference in Jane's World Armoured Fighting Vehicles (1979) that says "a number of countries have fitted the SS11 A.T.G.W. to the M113". Does anyone know how the missiles were mounted, also which countries did this? Any help would be appreciated. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5) From: Listmaster Subject: 47 degree glacis Shermans with applique armour Most tankies probably know that the early Shermans with dry ammunition stowage and 56 degree glacis plates were considered inadequately protected against armour piercing rounds and consequently, many were uparmoured in a major programme before Overlord with additional plates on the hull sides (over the ammunition stowage (presumably to make the German gunners better able to spot the areas worth shooting at) and in some cases, the driver's hoods. However, when production switched to the 47 degree hull front, wet stowage was introduced, with all ammunition on the 75mm and 76mm-armed vehicles stowed below the sponsons, to further reduce the risk of secondary explosion in the event of a hit. This obviated the need for applique armour on the upper hull sides as the 75mm-armed tanks no longer had ammunition there to protect. According to Hunnicutt (p.222), the 47 degree glacis post-dated the addition of applique armour to the earlier hulls. This would make sense, as the uparmouring would be quicker to do as an upgrade than a redesign. The question is, "Why did the factories produce or modify 75mm-armed Shermans with 47 degree glacis plates with applique plates on the hull sides?" Before you say, "they didn't", look at page 32 of Michulec's book "Armour Battles of the Eastern Front" in the Concord series. The vehicle at the top of the page is definitely a 75mm-armed vehicle with a one-piece glacis and hull side applique armour. Other shots also exist and given that the Russians would not have bothered protecting something that was not there, the only tentative solution I have at this time is that the 47-degree hull was being produced before the wet stowage arrangements were finalised, so the plates were needed for the same reason as they were on the 56 degree hulls. Any (more expert or otherwise) views would be welcome ;-).. Robert -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TRADERS, ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTICEBOARD -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) From: Listmaster Subject: Next issue I am away next weekend so the next issue will again be a Monday affair. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Robert Lockie (Think Tank Listmaster) Visit the Miniature AFV Association website at http://homepages.go.com/~mafva/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- End of Volume