AFV Club M5A1 Stuart Light Tank

Kerry COX
So far, from what you have posted Robert. It looks crisp and clean with as much detail you could want to begin with. 👍
No doubt there is a plethora of after market gear for that sharpness, especially for the tie down cleats in image 40.
"Aber" from Poland make some. Part number 35 A59 👍
But over all, it looks like being a joy to build. 🙂
Thanks for the visual review.

Robert W Martel
The box bottom is a bit flimsy, but the top is quite sturdy, so stacking shouldn't be an issue if done properly.
The kit detail seems very nice, but if you look closely at some of the pieces, they look all scratchy (super fine) in some areas, maybe from the molds being re-worked??
It is a Light Tank, the main gun barrel (37mm) is aluminum and pretty small. Detail on the hull pieces is quite nice inside & out. I'm not sure I will like building a multi part hull, but I'm supposing it wouldn't be so detailed otherwise. The main part being made of 6 pieces.
Detail on the small parts is very good. The machine guns look great! The PE grills look good. the decals look nice, though I didn't open the bag, there are 6 versions, including 33rd Armored Regt., 3rd Armored Div., Normandy July 1944. Probably the one I'll choose.
The instructions are booklet (yea!) type and look fairly straight forward, but we'll see once we get going on it! I'm not looking forward to slicing off tiny bolt heads from the sprue, then gluing them along the perimeter of the PE grills !! as there are no plastic ones! We'll see how that goes, they're TINY !!
The rubber tracks look really good. I don't see a single defect on any of the outside links, a few marks on the inside shouldn't show. But, the spare track links have big sink marks in every single one,,, disappointing !, and nothing showing how they go together. The rubber/vinyl tracks are supposed to be glueable, using "instant" glue. There are 4 Black "poly" bushings P1, but I only see where 2 are used for the drive sprockets.
The colors are all in Mr. Color, no Model Master or Vallejo or FS numbers, but it's "Olive Drab (2)", "Khaki Green" and a few other basic colors. The plastic color will do for the OD for me!
There is some nice detail in the turret, nice breach, radio gear & misc., but nothing below that. No crew. And, the antenna to be made from stretched sprue,,,, Come On !! I haven't had any luck stretching sprue yet ! They couldn't have included a short piece of brass or steel wire ???? I have some!
All in all though it looks real nicely detailed, with lots of small parts to fiddle with. Should build a nice Stuart with some patience!
I'm not overly impressed,,,, so far at this point, the Hobby Boss kit seems the best, but as they say, the proof is in the building. We shall see!

Robert W Martel
Kerry you are right, that particular piece didn't impress me either. There are what look like some kind of handles on the PE, but there are only 9 of them and I can't see where they go on the instructions!
But all in all looks very nice.

Kerry COX
Robert. I had a look at the image of the PE and yes, the 9 'cleats' are there, but I think you will, if you do install them, you will need a lot more than that. That is why I posted the Info for the type I have used. 👍
If I may pass on a tip with the stretching of the spru.? 🙂
I always, when heating the piece over a small flame, let the heat gradually build whilst turning/twisting it between your fingers, I wait till i see the plastic is 'hot', which is just as it 'melts', but it should start to develop a 'gloss' look, then, stretch S L O W L Y , pulling until it resists and stops by it's self, then, H O L D it for quite a few seconds until it is actually cool, as this will prevent it wanting to 'curve', keeping the tension on it and then, still holding it, lay it on your cool work surface, just to make sure the cooling is complete. Then snip off the end 'handles' and then, figure out the base diameter you cut, and go from there. 😉 Good luck. 😉 let me know. !! 🙂

Robert W Martel
Kerry,
That's what I figured, there aren't enough ! But typically I'm not going to spend the extra $ and time, I'll just highlight them some way, and that'll be that.
As for the sprue stretching, Thanks for the tip. I've tried it a half dozen times or so and haven't had any luck, but I'm guessing it's easy once I get the trick of it! Twisting it might be the thing. I'll give it another go sometime. I have all kinds of wire I could use too.
Too me it just seems a NO Brainer to include an antenna !! ??

Kerry COX
Fair call mate. 🙂
They are hard to do anyway. ;-/

Robert W Martel
I'm sure it will be a while before I tackle this one. I'll probably be doing the Monograms first. I really only started with this one because it was the cheapest of the lot. I think it went pretty well for a beginner.
If I can make them all look as good (maybe a bit better), I'll be stoked !! Cheers Kerry

Kerry COX
Robert. For a 'cheapie', it certainly has some serious detail about it.
Is the Revelle a better quality .?
Keep us up to speed on what your getting into please mate. 🙂 👍

Robert W Martel
10-4. And for it's age too. The Monograms actually look pretty decent too, especially for old stuff! Monogram always did have good detail. Certainly not the same league, but respectable!
I'm getting close to finishing the current projects, so new ones to choose soon. Can't wait!!

Kerry COX
Roger that good buddy. 🙂