In Box Review of Tamiya 1/35th scale
U.S. M8 Armored Car Greyhound
Kit. No. 35228
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1998
Kit. No. 35228
By Ray Mehlberger
I paid $32.00 for my kit at a local hobby shop that went out of business.
Available at Hobby Linc for $32.80 or at Squadron for $34.00 or at Kit Linx for $34.39 or at Mega Hobby for $36.55 or at 1001 Hobbies for $52.99 and at one location overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright: 1998
Kit. No. 35228
By Ray Mehlberger
I paid $32.00 for my kit at a local hobby shop that went out of business.
Available at Hobby Linc for $32.80 or at Squadron for $34.00 or at Kit Linx for $34.39 or at Mega Hobby for $36.55 or at 1001 Hobbies for $52.99 and at one location overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
The M8 light armored car is a 6×6 armored car produced by the Ford Motor Company during World War II. It was used from 1943 by United States and British forces in Europe and the Pacific until the end of the war. The vehicle was widely exported and as of 2006 still remained in service with some countries.
In British service, the M8 was known as the "Greyhound", a nickname seldom, if ever, used by the US. The British Army found it too lightly armored, particularly the hull floor, which anti-tank mines could easily penetrate (the crews' solution was lining the floor of the crew compartment with sandbags). Nevertheless, it was produced in large numbers. The M8 Greyhound's excellent road mobility made it a great supportive element in the advancing American and British armored columns. It was marginal cross country, especially in mud.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Armored car
Place of origin: United States
In service: 1943–present
Wars: World War II, Chinese Civil War, Korean War, April Revolution, Greek Civil War, First Indochina War, Cuban Revolution, Algerian War, Congo Crisis, Vietnam War, Cambodian Civil War, Laotian Civil War, Guatemalan Civil War,Colombian conflict, Internal conflict in Peru,Iran-Iraq War
Designer: Ford Motor Company
Designed: 1942
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Produced: March 1943 – June 1945
No. built: 8,523 M8, 3,791 M20
Mass: 17,400 lb (7.89 metric tons)
Length: 16 ft 5 in (5.00 m)
Width: 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
Height: 7 ft 4+1⁄2 in (2.25 m)
Crew: 4 (commander/loader, gunner, driver, assistant driver)
Armor: 0.375–1 in (9.5–25.4 mm)
Main armament: 1× 37 mm gun M6 with 80 rounds
Secondary armament: 1× .30 caliber (7.62 mm) Browning M1919 machine gun with 1,500 rounds, 1× .50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning M2HB machine gun with400 rounds
Engine: Hercules JXD 6 cylinder 4-cycle inline gasoline engine of 110 hp (82 kW) at 3,200 rpm
Power/weight: 13.94 hp/metric ton
Transmission: Synchromesh of 4 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Suspension: Leaf spring
Ground clearance: 11+1⁄2 in (0.29 m)
Fuel capacity: 56 US gallons (210 liters)
Operational range: 350 miles (560 km) on road
Maximum speed: 55 mph (89 km/h) on road
Steering system: Steering wheel
The M8 light armored car is a 6×6 armored car produced by the Ford Motor Company during World War II. It was used from 1943 by United States and British forces in Europe and the Pacific until the end of the war. The vehicle was widely exported and as of 2006 still remained in service with some countries.
In British service, the M8 was known as the "Greyhound", a nickname seldom, if ever, used by the US. The British Army found it too lightly armored, particularly the hull floor, which anti-tank mines could easily penetrate (the crews' solution was lining the floor of the crew compartment with sandbags). Nevertheless, it was produced in large numbers. The M8 Greyhound's excellent road mobility made it a great supportive element in the advancing American and British armored columns. It was marginal cross country, especially in mud.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Armored car
Place of origin: United States
In service: 1943–present
Wars: World War II, Chinese Civil War, Korean War, April Revolution, Greek Civil War, First Indochina War, Cuban Revolution, Algerian War, Congo Crisis, Vietnam War, Cambodian Civil War, Laotian Civil War, Guatemalan Civil War,Colombian conflict, Internal conflict in Peru,Iran-Iraq War
Designer: Ford Motor Company
Designed: 1942
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Produced: March 1943 – June 1945
No. built: 8,523 M8, 3,791 M20
Mass: 17,400 lb (7.89 metric tons)
Length: 16 ft 5 in (5.00 m)
Width: 8 ft 4 in (2.54 m)
Height: 7 ft 4+1⁄2 in (2.25 m)
Crew: 4 (commander/loader, gunner, driver, assistant driver)
Armor: 0.375–1 in (9.5–25.4 mm)
Main armament: 1× 37 mm gun M6 with 80 rounds
Secondary armament: 1× .30 caliber (7.62 mm) Browning M1919 machine gun with 1,500 rounds, 1× .50 caliber (12.7 mm) Browning M2HB machine gun with400 rounds
Engine: Hercules JXD 6 cylinder 4-cycle inline gasoline engine of 110 hp (82 kW) at 3,200 rpm
Power/weight: 13.94 hp/metric ton
Transmission: Synchromesh of 4 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Suspension: Leaf spring
Ground clearance: 11+1⁄2 in (0.29 m)
Fuel capacity: 56 US gallons (210 liters)
Operational range: 350 miles (560 km) on road
Maximum speed: 55 mph (89 km/h) on road
Steering system: Steering wheel
THE KIT:
Tamiya is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer based in Shizuoka City, Japan.
They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit come in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of an M8 Greyhound armored car, posed against one of Tamiya’ SIGNATURE all-white backgrounds. That they use for the majority of their box arts.
The car is overall olive-drab, with a large white star on top of the hood, white 4 triangle 5C on the left side of the nose and white A-31 on the right side. Small white LIFT HERE high on the right top edge of the hood. White USA, over stenciled 6040919S in the center of the sides of the hull and a large white cross on the sides of the rear fenders.
There is a small side view of the car in the upper right corner of the box art, over: Highly accurate static display model. Interior and exterior detailing. Realistic chassis undersurface and suspension. Includes a lifelike crew figure.
The lower left corner of the box art says: Ready to assemble precision model kit. Modeling skills helpful if under 10 years of age. Cement and paint not included.
One side panel of the box shows a color illustration of a side view of the M8 with a cutaway showing the interior with all white walls. Followed by a paragraph all in Japanese and color illustrations of a standing U.S. soldier, who is looking through a pair of binoculars. He wears an olive-drab uniform, steel helmet, pants bloused at the bottom over low shoes and a pistol holster on his belt. Next are illustrations of a steel helmet, over the binoculars and the pistol holster. Followed by Tamiya’s street address in Japan.
Tamiya is an old prolific plastic model manufacturer based in Shizuoka City, Japan.
They make all manner of plastic model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit come in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid box.
The cover art shows a color illustration of an M8 Greyhound armored car, posed against one of Tamiya’ SIGNATURE all-white backgrounds. That they use for the majority of their box arts.
The car is overall olive-drab, with a large white star on top of the hood, white 4 triangle 5C on the left side of the nose and white A-31 on the right side. Small white LIFT HERE high on the right top edge of the hood. White USA, over stenciled 6040919S in the center of the sides of the hull and a large white cross on the sides of the rear fenders.
There is a small side view of the car in the upper right corner of the box art, over: Highly accurate static display model. Interior and exterior detailing. Realistic chassis undersurface and suspension. Includes a lifelike crew figure.
The lower left corner of the box art says: Ready to assemble precision model kit. Modeling skills helpful if under 10 years of age. Cement and paint not included.
One side panel of the box shows a color illustration of a side view of the M8 with a cutaway showing the interior with all white walls. Followed by a paragraph all in Japanese and color illustrations of a standing U.S. soldier, who is looking through a pair of binoculars. He wears an olive-drab uniform, steel helmet, pants bloused at the bottom over low shoes and a pistol holster on his belt. Next are illustrations of a steel helmet, over the binoculars and the pistol holster. Followed by Tamiya’s street address in Japan.
The other side panel of the box shows a color 3-view of an M8. It Is overall olive-drab, with a large white outlined star atop the hood, white 2 triangle 92R on the left side of the nose and white C-30 on the right. Large yellow C- on the sides of the front fenders, white U.S.A. 6033442-S in the center of the sides of the fenders, followed by a large yellow 30 and white COLBERT. It has a small white star on the back of the right fender.
It was with the 2nd Armored Division, 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion,C Company, 3rd Platoon.
Followed by a repeat of Tamiya’s street address in Japan.
It was with the 2nd Armored Division, 82nd Armored Reconnaissance Battalion,C Company, 3rd Platoon.
Followed by a repeat of Tamiya’s street address in Japan.
The inside of the tray has black and white photos of 22 pages out of Tamiya’s magazine that they publish. On the 4 walls there are illustrations of Tamiya paints, tools and airbrush equipment.
WHAT’S IN THE KIT:
This kit holds 6 olive-drab parts trees and a length of white string in 4 sealed clear cello bags, the decal sheet, and a tree of black vinyl washers.
I have added a set of brass PE by Eduard.
This kit holds 6 olive-drab parts trees and a length of white string in 4 sealed clear cello bags, the decal sheet, and a tree of black vinyl washers.
I have added a set of brass PE by Eduard.
The instructions consist of a single-sheet that accordion-folds out into 10 pages in 6 ¾” x 10 ¼” page format.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the history of the M8 in 8 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions, illustrations of tools and cement, a paint color listing and PRECAUTIONS in multiple languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2, through to the top of page 9, gives a grand-total of10 assembly steps. The assembly and painting instructions for the figure appears in the 10 step.
The bottom of page 9 has a 4 view profiles illustrations for painting and marking of a M8, that is overall olive-drab, with a large white star, outlined in a circle, atop the hood and the rear deck. White USA over 6040919S on the center of its sides, followed by a white star.
It was with the 45th Armored Division, 25th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized A Troop,1945, Spring Czechoslovakia.
Page 10 is a further painting and marking guide. It show two 3-views of M8’s.
Down the left column is decal application instructions in 4 languages, including English.
Both 3-views are overall olive-drab.
The first one has a white star on the sides of the turret. On the front end of the sides is a white AUSTIN, over THE PRESSURE FR60 REAR 50, white USA 6035718-S in the center of the sides and a white star on the back of the right finder.
It was with the 7th Armored Division, 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized A Troop, 1944. August France.
The second 3-view has a rectangular insignia, with a white diamond in the center, bordered by blue and red corners, on the left end of its sides, followed by a small black square with a white letter R on it. A white bar with black MF4427 on the center of its sides, followed by diagonal narrow bars of red, white and blue. A black rectangle with white SAINT MIHIEL on it on the front end of its sides.
It was with the Free French Army, 5th Armored Division, 1st REC. 5th Squadron, 2nd Platoon, France 1944.
Unfortunately there is no page in the instructions with the parts trees illustrations on it. Bad move Tamiya.
Trees are alphabetized.
There are 2 identical olive-drag letter A parts-trees. They hold: the wheels, leaf springs, etc. (41 parts ea.)
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the cover art, over the history of the M8 in 8 languages, including English.
Page 2 begins with READ BEFORE ASSEMBLY instructions, illustrations of tools and cement, a paint color listing and PRECAUTIONS in multiple languages, including English.
The bottom of page 2, through to the top of page 9, gives a grand-total of10 assembly steps. The assembly and painting instructions for the figure appears in the 10 step.
The bottom of page 9 has a 4 view profiles illustrations for painting and marking of a M8, that is overall olive-drab, with a large white star, outlined in a circle, atop the hood and the rear deck. White USA over 6040919S on the center of its sides, followed by a white star.
It was with the 45th Armored Division, 25th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized A Troop,1945, Spring Czechoslovakia.
Page 10 is a further painting and marking guide. It show two 3-views of M8’s.
Down the left column is decal application instructions in 4 languages, including English.
Both 3-views are overall olive-drab.
The first one has a white star on the sides of the turret. On the front end of the sides is a white AUSTIN, over THE PRESSURE FR60 REAR 50, white USA 6035718-S in the center of the sides and a white star on the back of the right finder.
It was with the 7th Armored Division, 87th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, Mechanized A Troop, 1944. August France.
The second 3-view has a rectangular insignia, with a white diamond in the center, bordered by blue and red corners, on the left end of its sides, followed by a small black square with a white letter R on it. A white bar with black MF4427 on the center of its sides, followed by diagonal narrow bars of red, white and blue. A black rectangle with white SAINT MIHIEL on it on the front end of its sides.
It was with the Free French Army, 5th Armored Division, 1st REC. 5th Squadron, 2nd Platoon, France 1944.
Unfortunately there is no page in the instructions with the parts trees illustrations on it. Bad move Tamiya.
Trees are alphabetized.
There are 2 identical olive-drag letter A parts-trees. They hold: the wheels, leaf springs, etc. (41 parts ea.)
Olive-drab tree letter B holds: the parts of the figure (divided into separate parts of head, full body and arms), drive shafts, seats, exhaust, shovel etc. (48 parts)
Olive-drab tree letter C holds: the bottom, top and sides of the body of the car etc. (16 parts)
Olive-drab tree letter D holds: the floor, turret parts and gun etc. (47 parts)
Olive-drab tree letter E holds: a machine gun and ammo box etc. (8 parts)
The black vinyl tree holds 4 washers.
The decal sheet for the 3 vehicle options.
There is a small sheet in the box, that is printed on both side with IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THIS kit on it. In multiple languages, including English.
The detail is very good.
Recommended.
The detail is very good.
Recommended.