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In-Box Review
135
M3 Lee Exterior PE Set

by: Vinnie Branigan [ TEACHER ]

introduction
Earlier this year there was a lot of anticipation for the Academy release of the M3 Lee. Generally it lived up to expectations, but due to the limitations of injection moulding, there are many parts that could be replaced by photo etch for a more in-scale appearance. Enter this set from Eduard.


the set
The set consists of two reasonably-sized photo etch frets. The instructions, which are of the usual line-drawing type offered by Eduard, run to 3 sides.

As is usual with Eduard sets, each piece of the base kit that has to be altered in some way, is called out in red if it has to be removed, or green if it is to be filled, or by the letter R if it's simply replaced.

The first parts to be offered as replacements re the two short front fenders. Since these display strengthening ribs, these can be made by rolling a ballpoint pen along the rib detail on the Eduard metal part. It's a system that works well and looks realistic. Since the front fenders are replaced, then all the attached detail is replaced too. Things such as the tool brackets, attachment brackets and brush guards for the headlights are offered as replacements, and look much more in scale than the kit parts.

Various small fittings along the sides of the lower hull are replaced along with the grouser boxes, which of course means they can then be left open or even damaged realistically. There are also small hasps and padlocks for the escape hatches, although of course, the padlocks do look a little 'flat' and 2-dimensional?

For the rear of the hull there is a new stowage/tool box with it's attendant locks, hinges and hasps, various small fittings again, including a new bracket and face for the rear reflector, and a complete replacement for the engine grill which looks superb.


in conclusion
A very useful set which offers many improvements over the kit parts, and is very easy to fit, not needing much in the way of removal of kit parts, c=since most are direct replacements. Highly recommended.


My thanks to Eduard for the review sample.

SUMMARY
A useful, cheap set which will definately improve the look of the finished model.
  PARTS INCLUDED:90%
  EASE OF USE:90%
Percentage Rating
90%
  Scale: 1:35
  Mfg. ID: 35913
  Suggested Retail: $12.95
  Related Link: Eduard
  PUBLISHED: Sep 26, 2006
  NATIONALITY: United States
NETWORK-WIDE AVERAGE RATINGS
  THIS REVIEWER: 87.97%
  MAKER/PUBLISHER: 88.59%

Our Thanks to Eduard!
This item was provided by them for the purpose of having it reviewed on this KitMaker Network site. If you would like your kit, book, or product reviewed, please contact us.

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About Vinnie Branigan (Teacher)
FROM: ENGLAND - NORTH WEST, UNITED KINGDOM

Copyright ©2021 text by Vinnie Branigan [ TEACHER ]. All rights reserved.



Comments

Ahem, I think it's the electronic tipographical gremlin that visited the site... Those are the photos of the Hotchkis kit, not of the Lee.
SEP 25, 2006 - 09:07 PM
Very true! Damn Gremlins..... :-) Nice to see that someboy's paying attention though...............sorted. Vinnie
SEP 25, 2006 - 09:14 PM
Thanks for the review Vinnie! Seems quite useful set, not overloaded with unneeded details. However, I have one concern re the rear stowage boxes. In Eduard's instructions they seem to be the same size as the kit parts. The kit stowage boxes never existed, so why replace incorrect plastic part with PE part which is as incorrect as the former? Cheers Greg
SEP 26, 2006 - 03:49 AM
I noticed this too, but decided against saying anything since I don't have enough references on the M3 Lee. I was under the impression that they existed, but that the size was wrong. I'd love to see what Eduards references were? They often quote thier references on the instructions sheets, but in this case they haven't. Vinnie
SEP 26, 2006 - 03:54 AM
Ofcourse they existed and quite surely they had different dimensions Here are the dimensions I've just measured from plans in Militaria book "M3 Lee/Grant" : Width= 14mm, Lenght= 30,5mm, outer wall Height = 9 to 13mm, inner wall Height = 8 to 4 mm. EDIT: measurements in 1:35 ofcourse Greg
SEP 26, 2006 - 04:06 AM
Those stowage boxes are off in placement, if not dimension. For the correct boxes, the rivets on the rear corner and lower edge are covered by the box -- it does not fit "inside" them as the instructions show. A few of the other details are suspect as well, but it is hard to tell with the small images. If you want to do a nice M3 Lee (but not perfect) get the Armoured Brigade Models kit(s). I'm working on one now between other projects and it is pretty nice and matches my references very well.
SEP 26, 2006 - 09:07 AM
Well, it wouldn't fit inside the rivets on the rear if it had correct dimensions, so not just the placement is wrong. Academy stowage boxes are 10mm high and ~24mm long. Vinnie, could you measure the parts in Eduard's set? Cheers Greg
SEP 26, 2006 - 02:49 PM
25.5mm long and 10mm wide Vinnie
SEP 26, 2006 - 03:01 PM
Thanks for the measurements Vinnie! Looks like Eduard omited the reference while making the boxes and used Academy part as a template? I wonder why they went that way? Cheers Greg
SEP 26, 2006 - 03:25 PM
   
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