AFV Club M3A3 Stuart question

From Tanks in Detail #2, M3-M3A1-M3A3 Stuart I to IV, by Jonathan Forty:

"The M3A3 was produced almost exclusively for Lend-Lease and saw service with the British and Commonwealth armies in Italy and northwest Europe and Asia, as well as with the Soviet and Chinese armies."

I have been unable to locate any text or photographic evidence referring to US use of the M3A3 other than the prototypes or tanks used in trials before approval for manufacture.

Sorry...

It is ok to do a British Commonwealth tank
we did have big white stars too, its just that some were painted out. (because targets wernt popular)

Apparently the British decals included are missing some markings, but that is what I will be doing. I am actually just annoyed at the fact that the picture displayed is not what you get when you buy it. (go to www.greatmodels.com and search for av35053. The tank has USA painted on the side, for goodness sakes!!) Well, I guess it is my fault for not doing my research prior to purchasing.

you cauld send it back?

you cauld add a quad anti aircraft gun on the tuuret ring to turn it into a yugoslavian version or a Pak 50mm, ive got photos of these somewhere (i think)if your interested in them?

No M3A3's were ever used by American forces in combat. A few were used in training only. This was because the US decided to stay with the M5/M5A1.

AFV must have based their early model prototype on the US Training versions. Not only does the example photo used show an American M3 complete with USA on the hull, but their box for the track bogies set has a picture of the same tank. http://www.squadron.com/ItemDetails.asp?item=AC35056

Steve Zaloga's built the model in two articles in Military Modelling magazine. one as the tank and another as the recon version, and hes not mentioned anything bad or wrong with the kit

on the box cover, its used by the french in Moroco
http://www.jbwholesalers.com.au/reviews/afvclub/afv35053.htm

Carlos D'Arcy built in Military Miniatures in a recent article and said it was one of the best kits that he had ever done. That's where I saw the confusion about the decals. He claims that the decals provided do not match the references and that the rear fender decals were MIA. Other than that he said it was a great build.

Captian- the French tank has USA on it- was it just not repainted and pressed into service right after delivery? That is the same tank that is pictured as a model on Greatmodels site and the bogie wheel set too.

250 M3A3's were held for training in the US. The blue drab USA number was on the side of the hull and two small stars were on the rear overhang to each side of the stowage bin. There were also stars on the turret's front sides. A larger star was on the upper front slope between the view ports. These tanks were rebuilt in Betendorf Iowa after WWII and sold as surplus.
All M3A3's were sent overseas with the blue drab USA numbers, as these were put on at the factory prior to delivery to the military.

Hope this helps!

Ron

It does! Thanks

The one that is pictured at Greatmodels and on the box top (the one with USA on it) were used with the Chinese in Burma, 1945. Apparently they did not add any markings of their own. I got the kit last night and it is really a nice kit. Here's hoping the do an M5 Stuart too