M3/M3A1 Half-Track Personnel Carrier - M21 MMC TS1 Plastic 170118

[elias.tibbs]

Thanks for the reply!

Will need a few M21 for my armoured infantry company

[Rubicon Models]

With our digital sculpting in full swing, we are reviving some shelved projects
that require figures.  This is the 3D prototypes for the 81mm M1 Mortar and
its components...


Enjoy!

[Pinky]

Looks good.  2 comments - the end of the mortar ammo tube should be hollow, rather than having a protruding disc.  And I don't recognise the radio type - the portable infantry radio was taller and narrower, with a lid on the top.

[Rubicon Models]

Looks good.  2 comments - the end of the mortar ammo tube should be hollow, rather than having a protruding disc.  And I don't recognise the radio type - the portable infantry radio was taller and narrower, with a lid on the top.

1. The ammo tube has a tube cover that is removable... cannot mould them hollow using a two-part mould.

2. The radio you are referring to is an EE8 phone used by most 81mm Mortar sections.  The SCR536 also emerged from time to time, but rarely...  We probably will not include the portable radio (2 parts) due to limited sprue space.  The EE8 (together with the handset) is too small to be a standalone item in 1/56 scale.

[Pinky]

I was referring to the SCR-300, which was the standard portable field radio. 

[ultravanillasmurf]

Nice.

Will this be a standalone set to add to a separate M3 half-track kit or an all in one kit (M3 plus mortar sprue)?

[Rubicon Models]

Will this be a standalone set to add to a separate M3 half-track kit or an all in one kit (M3 plus mortar sprue)?

It will be an expansion set much like what we did with the SdKfz 251 series.  This expansion sprue will include:
- canvas tops for both M3 & M3A1
- M21 MMC expansion kit (with 2 crew)
- M1 Mortar on ground in firing position (with 3 crew)

[stevepalffy]

Is there a chance open doors / Windows for M3 half tracks ?

[Rubicon Models]

Is there a chance open doors / Windows for M3 half tracks ?

Those are multi-slide moulds, quite expensive to make.  When we design the M3,
already decided not to have open windows or doors because this is a wargamer
models; need to minimize part counts.

[ripley]

One of the joys of a one piece body mold , Steve . It can be done , but lots of room for error  and cutting your fingers with your Xacto blade / saw      . Much easier to get the BA halftrack which has the cab sides as flat pieces and hack away . Maybe in the future if Rubicon produce a M5 / M9 halftrack , they might rethink the mold design and give us open doors . Their first tanks didn't have open hatches , the newer ones do so they are improving 

[Rubicon Models]

3D prototypes of our M21 Mortar squad...








Enjoy!

[Yaquir]

Very, very excellent!

[Pinky]

Agreed - these are excellent looking figures!

It's a slightly pedantic point, but a mortar squad won't normally include anyone using binoculars because are mortars are indirect fire weapons.  A figure using a radio to obtain fire coordinates is more likely.  He's a very useful figure, however, so it doesn't matter. 

[elias.tibbs]

we can pretend that's they're firing at less than 500m and checking the ranging in :p

Although radio arms would be cool for the 5000m firing...

[Foz]

I know this is out now, but I couldn't help but put in a cheeky prod for the M5/M5A1 half track.  Some folks didn't use the M3 :-(