ESCI – 8356 – 8068 – 8038 – Armored Scout Car M3 A1

Description:

Armored Scout Car M3 A1

Also entitled Recce Vehicle M3 (code 8356) and French and Russian White M3 (code 8068).

ESCI, and ESCI-Ertl, released this kit under three different code numbers, updating decals in each change, but keeping always the same plastic kit inside. Initially released as an M3A1, though always was an M3, the two last releases, the French and Russian White M3 and the Recce Vehicle M3 corrected this, a mistake that Italeri did again releasing it as M3A1 which is not correct. The decals varied from U.S, Canadian and British markings in the original release, to Free France and Soviet in the 1985 update to back to U.S, Canadian and British in the ESCI-Ertl release in 1989.

The kit is not a bad kit, though has some odds, as the machine guns, to start they should be three, not two, and are bit basic detailed in the kit, headlights, moulded as bumps in the fender and the gun rail, all the machine guns (the two .30cal, but kit only has one) were mounted in a rail that allowed to reposition them on any side of the vehicle, has a wrong section. The lack of radio equipment is a also a bad thing.

Same kit was later released under Italeri brand as Italeri – 7063 – M3A1 Scout Car.

Despite the odds, it’s still an interesting kit 40 years after, and after-market or 3D printed items allows to correct the flaws of the kit.