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Forums - Modelling / Kits |
The kits forum is for the discussion of model kits. Typically questions on availability or certain subjects and quality of existing kits are posted here. Short reviews are good here too. |
| Topics | 1212 |
| Messages | 7401 |
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| Subject: | Re: Italeri M-47 upgrade kits |  |
| Date: | Sep 4, 2005 |
| From: | Gerald Owens | |
I got the Eduard photoetch set last month and was less than impressed. They provide the early Sherman-type periscope guards instead of the late style shown in the kit, but do not offer the early-style wire guard needed for the commander's periscope, just an etched replacement for the perfectly adequate kit part, representing the late-style sheet metal guard.
Most annoying, however, is the design of the grab handles on the tool boxes, which Eduard represent as flat sheet metal strips which must be folded to shape. Unfortunately, the real handles are steel rod, not sheet metal, and the parts should have been etched in profile, but this would have taken up more space on the brass fret--I suppose Eduard was trying to do this one on the cheap. So that means I am back to trying to fold eight identical handles (with four 90 degree bends each!) from wire stock, the very kind of job I buy photoetch sets to avoid. And since I want to do a US Army version, which should have the early production features, I also have to make up the wire stowage brackets for the turret side, also not included in the Eduard kit (Italeri's kit is based on the late-model M47 as supplied to France and Italy). And I guess I'll have to make the darn commander's persicope guard from wire and hope butt-jointed superglue joints will hold.
The only bright spot about the set is that it does include the very fiddly headlight guards, which would be very difficult to do in styrene. I can only hope that perhaps Part or Aber will step in and do a better set.
On the other hand, the AFV Club 23-inch workable track is very nice and is correct for an early M47. The shape of the rubber chevron was slightly altered in later years to eliminate a weak corner area that usually broke off, and that is the pattern shown in Italeri's kit. |
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