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Plus Model 1/35 U.S. Troop Carrier Halftrack Engine Set (White 160AX Engine) |
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Reviewed By March Aldrich, #39295 |
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kit number price |
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Before beginning the review of this fine kit, a brief
history lesson is in order. The White Motor Company was responsible for
the shared production of 17,004 M2/M3 series production vehicles and
solely responsible for the production of 8,423 M2’s and 3,984 specialty
vehicles (M4/M21/T21/M3 (75mm)/T30). I am sure that this is the reason PlusModel chose the White 160 AX engine as their latest release. The above numbers came from the excellent Squadron/Signal book, M3 Halftrack, Armor number 34 by Jim Mesko. In fact, on page seven of this tome is a photo of the exact engine being removed from an M2 for maintenance. This excellent kit consists of one double sided instruction sheet, 17 brass etched parts, and 37 high quality tan resin pieces. Five of the resin parts are used to replace the kit’s (I assume Tamiya) hood covers. Four resin and photo-etched parts are used to replace the handles and lock hooks for the hood covers. You also get one resin firewall that is beautifully crafted. There are two resin pieces for the radiator and fan shroud and a photo-etched fan. The remaining 25 resin and 13 photo-etched parts are used to construct the engine itself. The only items you really need to add are some wiring for the electrical. The instructions state that the engine was painted camouflage and that the builder should go to their website for further details. The website, www.plusmodel.cz, was quite impressive. It is broken down into English and Czechoslovakian and the photo gallery consists of numerous shots of a built-up kit and of an actual M3 preserved in a museum. This is another beautiful kit and would do wonders to anyone wanting to include an M2/M3 series vehicle with an opened engine. I just wish I was able to fine a local distributor for these kits. There were a few companies on the internet that carry Plusmodel but none of them are carrying this item yet. |
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