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An alternative option I forgot to mention is to replace the springs (A21 and A22 in step 4, BTW) by smaller ones. The real halftracks initially didn't have any at all, but due to problems with the track coming off when the suspension compressed, 2nd Armored Division decided to try adding a spring in the autumn of 1942, before it was deployed to North Africa. In late November '42, this was made official and to be installed on all halftracks, while in July 1943 it was replaced by a larger device with two concentric coil springs — which is what Dragon gives you. These were all to be installed in the field, BTW, so they would (eventually) appear even on vehicles that had already left the factory some years before.

Quick photo of the early spring from Hunnicutt's Half-Track: A History of American Semi-Tracked Vehicles, where I got the above information:

IMG_2220.jpeg
 
Hmmm, since I'm considering swapping the fighting compartment with the British 'rounded ' variant, I wonder if there are other brit modifications I should consider, or how your info plays into that!
 
Yes: don't. You've got a kit of an M2 halftrack, which didn't exist in a "British 'rounded ' variant" :)

Potted history of US halftracks: the M2 halftrack was designed as a general-purpose vehicle and the M3 as an APC (officially, they were the Half-track Car M2 and the Half-track Personnel Carrier M3). The M3's body is longer than that of the M2, has different interior arrangements and a rear door that the M2 lacks (a supposed M2 with a rear door is actually an 81-mm Mortar Carrier M4), while the M2 (and M4) have hatches in the sides that the M3 lacks. These were all made by Autocar, Diamond-T, White and others, but because there was a need for more halftracks than these could produce, International Harvester Corp. (IHC) was also asked to build them. However, IHC adapted the design to its own production capacities and preferences, which produced the M5 and M9 halftracks. The M5 is the equivalent of the M3, the M9 of the M2, and these are the ones with rounded rear corners because the side and rear are made from a single plate of steel. There are many other differences between IHC halftracks and those of the other manufacturers, which means you can't just round off the rear corners on an M3 to make an M5.

What's more for your particular idea is that first of all, the M9 is a "long-body" halftrack like the M5, rather than being shorter like the M2 is relative to the M3. Furthermore, there were no "basic" M9s made at all, only M9A1s, with the ring-mounted machine gun over the front passenger seat. On the inside, the M9A1 is much like an M2, but on the outside, it is 100% indistinguishable from an M5A1: it has a rear door but no hatches in the sides, for example. If you can't see inside the rear area, you cannot tell if a halftrack is an M5A1 or an M9A1.

The US Army standardised on the M2/M3 series (and their derivatives) for use in Europe, so as to avoid the logistics of supplying spare parts for the M5-series as well. They did, however, supply the M5-series and most of its derivatives (chiefly the M9A1 and the Multiple Gun Motor Carrier M14) to the British — and ended up using a few M5s itself as well in Europe, but not a lot. (The US did use the M5 for training in the USA, though.)

Also speaking against your idea is the fact the British didn't use any American halftracks in North Africa, to the best of my knowledge :) They did in Italy and in North-West Europe, including M14s converted into APCs, command posts, ambulances, etc. as well as M5s, M5A1s and M9A1s.
 
Thanks! Saves me a whole lot of head scratching!
Guess I'll need to find out if it was American M2, or M2A in operation Torch landing in Morrocco, with flags to 'appease' the Vichy defenders, or possibly in Tunisian action later on, I'm thinking in a torrential downpour, or thereafter.
 
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And my

HK119 Pocher 1:8 Scale Lamborghini Aventador LP 700-4 Giallo Orion

If it ever gets here !!!! Coming from China now taking a nap in Budapest for last 3 days (Sigh) :eek::confused::rolleyes:

lambo.jpg
 
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And now think about the fact that 1:16 scale tanks are becoming more and more popular. Mostly Second World War so far, but Das Werk is going to release a Leopard 2A7, which in 1:35 is already a little bigger than your Chieftain. Now imagine it over twice as long, wide, and high …
 
And now think about the fact that 1:16 scale tanks are becoming more and more popular. Mostly Second World War so far, but Das Werk is going to release a Leopard 2A7, which in 1:35 is already a little bigger than your Chieftain. Now imagine it over twice as long, wide, and high …
That is a lot of work, I don't have so much time to spend on model kits, and don't have the patience all so.
 
Thanks, I am truly sick. I just ordered 2 brand-new Acadamy Wirbelwind for $22.00. That's $11.00 each. I can sell them at a show for $20.00 each. I also ordered the new Ryefield King Tiger (regular version) for $34.99. I can't pass up a deal!


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I think you need another Tiger or two. Just sayin.
 
I went on a trip to the Overloon war museum today, and in the museum shop came across a good number of AFV Profiles booklets from the early 1970s. I bought four that I think I didn't already own (which is harder than it seems, because I have nearly the entire series). As they cost a euro each, I'm not all that concerned about buying doubles :) At the model shop across from the museum, I also picked up two sets of useful crew figures:

IMG_2281.jpeg
 
Yes and no :) They are a good introduction to the subject, but they're short (24 pages) and around 50 years old by now, meaning a lot of information in them is out of date due to newer research. However, a lot of it is also still completely sound, not to mention sometimes things you will be hard-pressed to find in modern-day publications which tend to be more "high-speed".

One of the copies I got today says it costs "five shillings" and another "35p/$1.50" which should tell you something about their age :) (Also, that the price went up by 40% in just a few years: 35 new pence = 7 old shillings.) I bought them because I'm a bit of a sucker for old AFV books, and also because I have nearly the whole series complete but not quite.
 
I went on a trip to the Overloon war museum today, and in the museum shop came across a good number of AFV Profiles booklets from the early 1970s. I bought four that I think I didn't already own (which is harder than it seems, because I have nearly the entire series). As they cost a euro each, I'm not all that concerned about buying doubles :) At the model shop across from the museum, I also picked up two sets of useful crew figures:

View attachment 137042
Nice haul Jakoo
 
Thanks, I am truly sick. I just ordered 2 brand-new Acadamy Wirbelwind for $22.00. That's $11.00 each. I can sell them at a show for $20.00 each. I also ordered the new Ryefield King Tiger (regular version) for $34.99. I can't pass up a deal!
Based on your stash you seem like someone qualified to ask...

Where is Takom on the chart compared to Tamiya, as a manufacturer?
 
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