Airfix M10 GMC Tank Destroyer (A1360) - 1/35 Airfix

[Julien]

M10 GMC Tank Destroyer (A1360)

1:35 Airfix

 

 

The M10 Tank Destroyer was produced due to a US Army requirement for a Tank Destroyer force after their entry to WWII in 1941. They needed a suitable tracked vehicle with a fully rotating turret. The prototype was delivered in early 1942 and after a few tweaks production was authorised in June 1942. The official name would be the 3 Inch Gun Motor Carriage M10 due to its 3 inch or 76.2mm M7 Gun. This was placed in an open turret on a modified M4A2 Sherman tank chassis.  An alternative M10A would use the M4A3 chassis. The M10 combined thin sloped armour with the reliability of the Sherman design to produce a reasonably good tank killing platform.  Despite later and better Tank Destroyers becoming available to deal with the more potent Tiger & Panther tanks the M10  in its larger numbers would continue to serve until the end of WWII. Even though it as a good platform the design had its weaknesses. Though the armour was sloped it was still thin, the turret was open and thus exposed crews to shell and mortar fire, as well as small arms fire. While the turret could traverse 360 degrees the traverse was by hand and thus slow.  As well as service with the US Army units were supplied to the UK, Free French & Soviet forces under lease lend,  Following WWI the US Would supply them to many countries under the Mutual Defence Assistance Act.  The M10 was never assigned a name unlike other tanks/tank destroyers. 

 

The Kit

This is one of Airfix's new range of 1:35 AFV models, which is a scale that they have not entered until now due to previous management apparently? the current management are much more switched-on to the hobby, so have reached an agreement to rebox some Academy AFV kits with the Airfix touch, and we should eventually see new tools from them in due course with a little luck.

 

 

Construction starts with the wheels. The drive sprockets and idler wheels are built up then 12 wheels are made which are for the pairs in Sherman type bogies. Both solid and spoked wheels are provided (Early & late type) for this with no guidance on which ones to use? The bogie units are then built up 3 for each side.  Again for these units two types of top for these are included in the kit, with again no indication of which needs to be used! Next up we move to the main hull. The mounting points for the front and rear axles are added to the lower hull. Next up all the wheels can be added in. 

 

 

work can now be done on the nearly full interior (minus the engine compartment. Onto the lower plate the front bulkhead is mounted and then the transmission housing. The drivers position and controls are added as is a second crew position on the right. This lower plate is then fitted into the hull, and the front of the vehicle added complete with its towing hooks and shackles. For the main interior fighting compartments a raised floor is then added complete with the rear bulkhead. many internal fittings such as ammo storage are added inside. The rear of the vehicle is then built up. This now completes the lower hull.

 

 

 

Construction now moves to the upper hull. The crew hatches for the front are made up and added, these can be open or closed. The engine deck is added as is the front armour. Headlights, their guards, grab handles and other assorted fittings are then added to the outside, with tools being added to the rear. The upper and lower hulls can then be joined and the flexible track added. 

 

 

 

We now move to the turret. As this is open again a complete interior is provided. First the back end of the gun, its breech and recoil mechanism is built up and added into the lower turret section.  Crew seating and controls are added along with ready use ammo. To the top of the turret stowage bins and exterior fittings are added. The two sections of the turret can then be joined. The gun mantlet and barrel can then be added. The last thing to do is add the machine guns to the turret. A 30 cal is provided for the front and a 50 cal for the rear. The turret can then be added to the hull.

 

 

 

 

Markings

There are two decal options in the box utilising the small decal sheet, and from the box you can build one of the following:

 

•  813th Tank Destroyer Battalion, US Third Army, France 1944
•  4e Escadron, Regiment Blinde de Fusillers-Marins, St Denis, France, August 1944.

 

 

Conclusion

The M10 is a well known Tank Destroyer from WWII, and the Academy kit under Airfix's auspices is a good compromise between ease of construction and detail.  

 

Highly recommended.

 

 

Review sample courtesy of

[andyrowe]

It’s mentioned that Airfix’s new management are more switched on to the hobby for the reason that they are now releasing armour in 1/35 scale, albeit with Academy plastic. I wonder if they will now consider 1/32 aircraft as I have never understood their reluctance to tool this scale. As good as their recent 1/24 scale aircraft are, they are big models and would have a far more limited market with them than they would with 1/32 scale.

Apologies for banging on about aircraft on the armour section of the site but I do think it relevant from the marketing side of Airfix’s business that has been mentioned in this review.

[Julien]

12 minutes ago, andyrowe said:

It’s mentioned that Airfix’s new management are more switched on to the hobby for the reason that they are now releasing armour in 1/35 scale, albeit with Academy plastic. I wonder if they will now consider 1/32 aircraft as I have never understood their reluctance to tool this scale. As good as their recent 1/24 scale aircraft are, they are big models and would have a far more limited market with them than they would with 1/32 scale.

Apologies for banging on about aircraft on the armour section of the site but I do think it relevant from the marketing side of Airfix’s business that has been mentioned in this review.

Maybe start up the topic in a relevant section of the site rather than on the back end of a review?