Mirage 72803 1/72 M3A1 Middle Tank

The M3A1 (Medium) tank is one of the most extraordinary American tanks and one of the most unusual constructions in the history of the tank as such. This tank was created as a result of an experiment aimed at examining the possibility of making a homogeneous cast element of the upper part of the tank's hull.

Until now, that is until 1941, tank hulls were made of four (SOMUA S35) or two parts (Renault R35, Hothkiss H35) and tanks with armor of this type were produced only in France. The "experimental" M3A1 "Lee" tank allowed for the improvement of the tank armor casting technology, which was later used in mass production.

M4A1 "Sherman" tanks and made available to the Canadian RAM plants, which, based on the hull structure of the M3A1 "Lee" tank, soon built their "own" Canadian tank.

Specifications

• Height: 43.1 mm

• Length: 78.5 mm

• Width: 38.4 mm

• Number of plastic parts: 120

• Number of photo-etched parts: 9

• Number of rubber elements: 2 (tracks)

Painting schemes (2 types)

• M3A1 (Medium) "Lee" early production series from Armored Force School & Replacement Center, Fort Knox, 1942

• M3A1 (Medium) "Lee" early production series from a photo shoot at the Aberdeen Proving Ground, 1942