In Box Review of Trakz Armor Products 1/35th Scale
Resin U.S. M3 75mm GMC Half-track Conversion
Kit no. TX 0116
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
DML Dragon made this version as kit no. 6467.
The kit was sent by VLS to Cybermodeler, where I was once on the staff. Mike Benolkin sent it to me as a gift back in 2005 when I worked with him there. It was never reviewed on Cybermodeler.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
DML Dragon made this version as kit no. 6467.
The kit was sent by VLS to Cybermodeler, where I was once on the staff. Mike Benolkin sent it to me as a gift back in 2005 when I worked with him there. It was never reviewed on Cybermodeler.
HISTORY:
The M3 Half-track, known officially as the Carrier, Personnel Half-track M3, was an American armored personnel carrier half-track widely used by the Allies during World War II and in the Cold War.
Derived from the M2 Half Track Car, which was developed from the Citroen-Kégresse half-track, the slightly longer M3 was extensively produced, with about 15,000 units and more than 50,000 derivative variants manufactured (most of which were interim designs).
The developers attempted to use as many commercial parts as possible. There were also several dozen variants for different purposes. The M3 and its variants were supplied to the U.S. Army and Marines, as well as British Commonwealth and Soviet Red Army forces, serving on all major fronts throughout the war.
Its variants were produced by a large amount of factories, like International Harvester, and were designed for a large variety of uses, from Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon to self-propelled artillery. Although at first unpopular due to its lack of significant armor and a roof to protect from shrapnel, it was used by most of the Allies at some point in the war.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Half-track armored personnel carrier
Place of origin: United States
Wars: World War II, Chinese Civil War,Korean War,Vietnam War, Laotian Civil War, Cambodian Civil War, Suez Crisis, 1958 Lebanon crisis, Six-Day War, 1973 Arab–Israeli War,Lebanese Civil War
Manufacturer: Autocar, Diamond T, White Motor Company
Weight: 20,000 lb (9.07 metric tons)
Length: 20 ft 2 5⁄8 in (6.17 m) with roller
Width: 6 ft 5 1⁄4 in (1.96 m)
Height: 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m)
Crew: 1
Passengers: 12
Armor: 0.25–0.50 in (6–12 mm)
Engine: White 160AX of 147 hp (110 kW) at 3,000 rpm
Power/weight: 16.2hp/metric ton
Transmission: Spicer 3461 constant mesh
Suspension:Front: semi-elliptic longitudinal leaf spring
Rear: Vertical volute spring
Fuel capacity:60 US gallons (230 liters)
Operational range: 200 mi (320 km)
Speed: 45 mph (72 km/h) on roads
Steering system: Steering wheel
The M3 Half-track, known officially as the Carrier, Personnel Half-track M3, was an American armored personnel carrier half-track widely used by the Allies during World War II and in the Cold War.
Derived from the M2 Half Track Car, which was developed from the Citroen-Kégresse half-track, the slightly longer M3 was extensively produced, with about 15,000 units and more than 50,000 derivative variants manufactured (most of which were interim designs).
The developers attempted to use as many commercial parts as possible. There were also several dozen variants for different purposes. The M3 and its variants were supplied to the U.S. Army and Marines, as well as British Commonwealth and Soviet Red Army forces, serving on all major fronts throughout the war.
Its variants were produced by a large amount of factories, like International Harvester, and were designed for a large variety of uses, from Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapon to self-propelled artillery. Although at first unpopular due to its lack of significant armor and a roof to protect from shrapnel, it was used by most of the Allies at some point in the war.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Type: Half-track armored personnel carrier
Place of origin: United States
Wars: World War II, Chinese Civil War,Korean War,Vietnam War, Laotian Civil War, Cambodian Civil War, Suez Crisis, 1958 Lebanon crisis, Six-Day War, 1973 Arab–Israeli War,Lebanese Civil War
Manufacturer: Autocar, Diamond T, White Motor Company
Weight: 20,000 lb (9.07 metric tons)
Length: 20 ft 2 5⁄8 in (6.17 m) with roller
Width: 6 ft 5 1⁄4 in (1.96 m)
Height: 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m)
Crew: 1
Passengers: 12
Armor: 0.25–0.50 in (6–12 mm)
Engine: White 160AX of 147 hp (110 kW) at 3,000 rpm
Power/weight: 16.2hp/metric ton
Transmission: Spicer 3461 constant mesh
Suspension:Front: semi-elliptic longitudinal leaf spring
Rear: Vertical volute spring
Fuel capacity:60 US gallons (230 liters)
Operational range: 200 mi (320 km)
Speed: 45 mph (72 km/h) on roads
Steering system: Steering wheel
THE KIT:
Trakz Armor Products was a model company somewhere here in the USA. Their address is nowhere on the box.
The kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts of the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a color photo of the conversion made up. The half-track is overall olive-drab with white circled star on the sides of the hull and top of the hood, with a white USA on the sides of the hood.
One side panel says the kit is for modelers over 10 years of age in English, French and German.
The kit contains 3 zip-locked cello bags full of light tan resin parts, a brass PE fret in a sealed cello bag and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single sheet printed on both sides in 8 1/2" x 11" format, folded twice to fit the box.
The face side begins with a list of references on the M3 halftrack and thanks to people that helped with developing the kit.
A very jumbled and crowded illustration of the parts is given with number arrows to each part.
Below this is the first 2 assembly steps.
The reverse side of the instructions gives a balance of a total of 5 assembly steps and the copyright date of 2000.
It says here that because of limitations of photo etching the exterior bolts on the shield could not be reproduced. Use sprue to simulate bolts.
The first zip-locked bag holds: the floor section, ammo storage shelf, gun cradle parts, 2 sets of elevation and traverse control wheels, a knob, 2 seat cushions, small main gun fittings.
Trakz Armor Products was a model company somewhere here in the USA. Their address is nowhere on the box.
The kit came in a shrink-wrapped end-opening type box. I am no fan of this type of box, because invariably parts of the decal sheet find their way past one of the end flaps to become lost forever. Give me a tray and lid type box any day of the week.
The box art shows a color photo of the conversion made up. The half-track is overall olive-drab with white circled star on the sides of the hull and top of the hood, with a white USA on the sides of the hood.
One side panel says the kit is for modelers over 10 years of age in English, French and German.
The kit contains 3 zip-locked cello bags full of light tan resin parts, a brass PE fret in a sealed cello bag and the instructions.
The instructions consist of a single sheet printed on both sides in 8 1/2" x 11" format, folded twice to fit the box.
The face side begins with a list of references on the M3 halftrack and thanks to people that helped with developing the kit.
A very jumbled and crowded illustration of the parts is given with number arrows to each part.
Below this is the first 2 assembly steps.
The reverse side of the instructions gives a balance of a total of 5 assembly steps and the copyright date of 2000.
It says here that because of limitations of photo etching the exterior bolts on the shield could not be reproduced. Use sprue to simulate bolts.
The first zip-locked bag holds: the floor section, ammo storage shelf, gun cradle parts, 2 sets of elevation and traverse control wheels, a knob, 2 seat cushions, small main gun fittings.
The second zip-locked bag holds: main gun barrel sections, elevation gear, main gun tray, 5 storage lockers, fighting compartment forward wall, main gun mechanisms.
The third zip-locked bag holds: another floor section, ammo, more gun cradle parts, driver's compartment front wall, 2 jerry cans, 2 fuel cans and a cylinder.
The brass PE fret is the gun shield parts.
Pour lugs are on all the parts to be sawed or sanded off. Super glue is to be used for assembly as liquid plastic cement does not work on resin.
There are no clear parts, crew figures or decals included in the kit.
Recommended.
There are no clear parts, crew figures or decals included in the kit.
Recommended.
Most likely, I will never build this kit. It is for sale for a decent offer.