All Australian Staghounds were fitted with a turret stowage bin.  Two aerial mounts are also provided for the No.19 wireless sets used during the 1950s.

A conversion for the Academy kit No.1399, M3 Stuart “Honey” riveted turret that replicates the Australian Stuart tanks used to attack Japanese positions at Buna New Guinea.  British forces used the same conversion during World War II in the late North African desert and Burma campaigns.

The conversion provides:

• 2 rear stowage boxes
• 2 water cans
• 2 fire extinguishers
• forward stowage box
• collapsed machine gun mount
• turret ring
• exhaust armour
• 2 grouser storage racks with grousers
• 2 blanked off machine gun sponsons

Both riveted and horseshoe turreted Stuarts light tanks were used during the attack on Buna airfield.  These versions will be released later

This update set is for the Academy M3A1 Stuart.  This version of the Stuart was used in Australia only (as far as we can determine).  These are British modifications and were used ion the late Western Desert war and in Burma.

This provides a full length belly armour plate plus two sponson armour panels as provide to Australian M113A1s operating in South Vietnam after 1968

This provides a full length belly armour plate plus two sponson armour panels as provide to Australian M113A1s operating in South Vietnam after 1968

This provides a complete hull top that has been corrected for the riser ring and mounting plinth for the Saladin turret. Also provide is an FSV extended trim vane and a range of other kit enhancements including tow hooks, aerial based and mounts, jerrycans with separate handles, some tools and a dust boot for the 76mm gun..

By the end of the Vietnam conflict most if not all  Australian M113A1 FOV had the sponson armour fitted (welded in place). 

The belly armour could be removed and within Australia it was unbolted and put into storage.  Some belly armour was loaned to new Zealand when they sent some M113A1s to Bosnia.

No images see MA135 above.

This conversion set provides many of the items listed above in MA131 above but also includes a M3 Mid production horseshoe turret and hatches.  Two types of M3 Stuarts were used on the attack on the Japanese held airfield at Buna - the M3 with hexagonal and the mid production horseshoe turret with raised cupola.   the image shows the bullet splash ring over the M3 mid production turret.

There are two front wheels, two rear wheels and two spares tyres.  The detail of the tread has been improved and two spare tyres included.  We cannot imagine the LRDG going into the desert with only one spare.

This is the turret and turret hatches.  This will allow the modelling of mid production Stuarts as used by Australian, British, American and Russian forces during World War II.

The item provides a new hull roof with integral fuel tank inspection panel, 25mm foam roof padding, cargo hatch with filter box (both are standard to all Australian M113A1). 

Additional items include a detailed battery box, ramp pulley, radio shelves, four antennae mount units, detailed and corrected drivers seat and detailed laterals and brake levers for steering.

Whilst the integral fuel tank was replaced on the first 200-250 M113A1s in Vietnam the roof inspection plate was not changed so if you are building an M113A1 with ARN 134100 to 134269 post Vietnam  this roof will be essential.

Most people who buy this set also buy:
MA301  bolt in fuel tank or MA313 detailed integral fuel tank depending on the period modelled
AA354 Aussie Armour radio installation for M113A1s
MA134/135 for sponson and belly armour depending on the base kit (Tamiya or Academy) and period modelled.
MA137 two sponson armour plates - these are welded in place and are fitted to all M113A! FOV post Vietnam

NOW IMPROVED

MA145 Australian M113a1 rear cargo hatch with air filter box.  All Australian M113A1 vehicles are fitted with a modified cargo hatch / filter box.  This version of the hatch will fit Tamiya and Academy M113s.

© Copyright Sentinel 2000-2010. All material on this site is copyright and should not be used without the webmaster's permission or that of the contributor

Mouse House Index