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Review
MiniArt: Australian M3 Lee
CMOT
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ARMORAMA
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Posted: Thursday, February 20, 2020 - 08:07 AM UTC


Darren Baker takes a look at the latest offering in the M3 line from MiniArt with an Australian M3 Lee with interior in 1/35th scale.

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If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!
ALBOWIE
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Posted: Thursday, February 20, 2020 - 01:26 PM UTC

Quoted Text



Darren Baker takes a look at the latest offering in the M3 line from MiniArt with an Australian M3 Lee with interior in 1/35th scale.

Read the Review

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!




Darren, the M3's were NOT transferred from British stock and were purchased directly from US stock. This is a long held myth that will not die. Australia received both Grants and lee's in about equal numbers for Petrol variants and another third as Diesels (Grants) and covering almost all variants except the cast hull. They had modifications for Australian service including a Drivers periscope and a number of other changes like radios etc (not catered in the kit as it has the US interior Radio) . Roughly a third (200+) Lee's were received in the M3 orders by 42. 3 Australian M3 saw service all being Diesel Grants fitted with dozers in the Dutch East indies in 45. The M3's that fought against the Japanese in Burma were mainly Lee's and used by British and Indian regiments of the 14th Army. This kit is a really good starting point for such a vehicle with most of the unique Stowage required and the low profile cupola. Post war the M3's were refurbished and equipped the CMF (Reserves) alongside matildas


Al
nsjohn
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Posted: Thursday, February 20, 2020 - 01:35 PM UTC
Great review as always Darren. Steven Zaloga's Osprey book on the M3 indicates that 757 M3s were shipped to Australia, of which 238 were Lees.Interestingly, he indicates that the later Lees without the side doors were regarded by the Australians as defective for jungle fighting and at one stage were looking at rebuilding them with side doors. It would appear that very few were used in combat, and they were kept in Australia to meet a perceived threat in New Guinea.They did receive some unique modifications which were based on a combination of 8th Army and Burma experience
nsjohn
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Posted: Thursday, February 20, 2020 - 01:36 PM UTC
Blast. beaten to it by 7 minutes.
ALBOWIE
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Posted: Thursday, February 20, 2020 - 03:30 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Great review as always Darren. Steven Zaloga's Osprey book on the M3 indicates that 757 M3s were shipped to Australia, of which 238 were Lees.Interestingly, he indicates that the later Lees without the side doors were regarded by the Australians as defective for jungle fighting and at one stage were looking at rebuilding them with side doors. It would appear that very few were used in combat, and they were kept in Australia to meet a perceived threat in New Guinea.They did receive some unique modifications which were based on a combination of 8th Army and Burma experience




I believe the some of the Burma mods were based on the Australian Experience not the other way around. Australian M3 were seen with the external stowage and low profile Cupolas 12 mths before they appeared in Burma
nsjohn
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Posted: Thursday, February 20, 2020 - 03:39 PM UTC
Interesting. Zaloga is specifically refering to an anti mine netting as being based on Burma experience, and the storage being based on local demands. It may well be that the storage didn't appear until later in Burma, and vice versa for the netting
ALBOWIE
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Posted: Friday, February 21, 2020 - 01:55 PM UTC
Steve would be right on the Anti Mine netting as we didn't apply it (more like netted cages) until 45. The Stowage and the engine armoured cover showed up pretty early though. Burma Lees and probably the rarer grants did have additional Stowage boxes that fitted in behind the sponsons continuing the sides
Al
nsjohn
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Posted: Friday, February 21, 2020 - 10:32 PM UTC
Thanks Al. The whole subject of US/UK Armour is fascinating, and probably doesn't get the attention it deserves. Miniart are to be commended for producing a whole range of vehicles based on the M3. I have been waiting for the British Lee which was released yesterday, and I am now slightly poorer as a result.
CMOT
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Posted: Saturday, February 22, 2020 - 02:41 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text



Darren Baker takes a look at the latest offering in the M3 line from MiniArt with an Australian M3 Lee with interior in 1/35th scale.

Read the Review

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!




Darren, the M3's were NOT transferred from British stock and were purchased directly from US stock. This is a long held myth that will not die. Australia received both Grants and lee's in about equal numbers for Petrol variants and another third as Diesels (Grants) and covering almost all variants except the cast hull. They had modifications for Australian service including a Drivers periscope and a number of other changes like radios etc (not catered in the kit as it has the US interior Radio) . Roughly a third (200+) Lee's were received in the M3 orders by 42. 3 Australian M3 saw service all being Diesel Grants fitted with dozers in the Dutch East indies in 45. The M3's that fought against the Japanese in Burma were mainly Lee's and used by British and Indian regiments of the 14th Army. This kit is a really good starting point for such a vehicle with most of the unique Stowage required and the low profile cupola. Post war the M3's were refurbished and equipped the CMF (Reserves) alongside matildas


Al



Al: I have no way to verify the information you have provided as my reference clearly indicates that these where from British stock that was no longer needed due to Sherman production and British tank production. With that said what you say does make more sense as altering tanks you have would seem a waste and by the time these mods were introduced units were equipped with other vehicles.
ALBOWIE
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Joined: February 28, 2006
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Posted: Sunday, February 23, 2020 - 11:08 AM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text


Quoted Text



Darren Baker takes a look at the latest offering in the M3 line from MiniArt with an Australian M3 Lee with interior in 1/35th scale.

Read the Review

If you have comments or questions please post them here.

Thanks!




Darren, the M3's were NOT transferred from British stock and were purchased directly from US stock. This is a long held myth that will not die. Australia received both Grants and lee's in about equal numbers for Petrol variants and another third as Diesels (Grants) and covering almost all variants except the cast hull. They had modifications for Australian service including a Drivers periscope and a number of other changes like radios etc (not catered in the kit as it has the US interior Radio) . Roughly a third (200+) Lee's were received in the M3 orders by 42. 3 Australian M3 saw service all being Diesel Grants fitted with dozers in the Dutch East indies in 45. The M3's that fought against the Japanese in Burma were mainly Lee's and used by British and Indian regiments of the 14th Army. This kit is a really good starting point for such a vehicle with most of the unique Stowage required and the low profile cupola. Post war the M3's were refurbished and equipped the CMF (Reserves) alongside matildas


Al



Al: I have no way to verify the information you have provided as my reference clearly indicates that these where from British stock that was no longer needed due to Sherman production and British tank production. With that said what you say does make more sense as altering tanks you have would seem a waste and by the time these mods were introduced units were equipped with other vehicles.




Chamberlain & Ellis? Has been retreaded that many times since the 60's that it has become accepted , sadly. All Australian Army Armour was purchased through the British Purchasing COmmission but no hand me downs were received. Same as out matildas - ALL were purchased new and shipped direct.
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