“IT'S A HONEY SIR!!”
Battlefront's new M-3 Honey Stuart Box Set Review (BBX25) and Early War British Desert Decal Set (BR943)
By Max
SYNOPSIS
The long awaited box set is here and ready to review. The M-3 series was developed in the 1930's as a light tank. It was armed with a 37mm main gun capable of firing AP and HE ammunition and two to five .30 caliber M-1919A4 light machine guns.
MODEL REVIEW
Some of you may remember a few weeks back I assembled one of Battlefront's M-3 Honey miniature. It was an older casting and had some problems but the kit came out pretty nicely.
Battlefront has re-issued the kit with a new cast and some great changes. The cupola is separate from the turret so you are able to have a sturdier open hatch with hatch stop included. The AA .30 caliber MMG is new with better detail. The track sections have been redone and so has the hull.
The box set comes with five models. They are an absolute joy to put together. Very few mold lines and flash and very crisp detail. The addition of the hatch stop is a nice touch as well as the separate AAMG and now separate bow .30 caliber MG as well. There are 5 commanders miniatures included in the kit which I did not model at this time.
The box set retails for $52.00 (US) and the decal set for $12.50 (US). In my opinion this is one of Battlefront's nicest kits. The $52.00 price for five tanks breaks down to $10.40 each which is over 10% savings making this box set a bargain.
PAINTING GUIDE
I modeled these little guys with the Caunter paint scheme as I did my earlier review. I decided to use the Early War British Desert Decal sheet set to prevent me from having to paint on the white/red/white recognition symbols. The decal set was very nice except they did not come with the proper regimental decals for the Honey's.
FROM WIKIPEDIA:
The M3 Stuart, formally Light Tank M3, was an American light tank of World War II and supplied to British and Commonwealth forces under lend-lease prior to the entry of the U.S. into the war—and used thereafter by U.S. and Allied forces until the end of the war.
The name General Stuart or Stuart given by the British comes from the American Civil War Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart and was used for both the M3 and the derivative M5 Light Tank. In British service, it also had the unofficial nickname of Honey after a tank driver remarked "She's a honey". To the United States Army, the tanks were officially known only as "Light Tank M3" and "Light Tank M5".
The M3 Stuarts were the first American-manned (U.S.) tanks in World War II to engage the enemy in tank versus tank combat.
5 out of 5 Desert Rats!
