m3 Stuart -Japanese captured version?

QUOTE: Originally posted by mamacat 811 i must dis agree with latch66 that may be what the steel tubing may be but the whitish object within the framing is in question. it has no open to and definetly is not steel or any other metal if it is it has been painted a bright color to show up white on a black and white photo.

QUOTE: Originally posted by mamacat 811 sorry must disagree again (nothing personal) it is impossable that the light can take the same form and brightness even though the tanks are at different distances from the camera also in the whole picture the fourth tank down hase an empty set of tubing on the rear end.

QUOTE: Originally posted by latch66 Glad we could help Bean! What kit are you using for your model? The new Academy, or the old Tamiya?

QUOTE: Originally posted by Poniatowski Interesting. Now you've gotten me curious also! Hey, why would they put infantry in baskets? Didn't trust them to hang onto the tank? Thought they might get nervous and get the tank 'dirty'? The very back of a tank (not the back deck, but behind the tank) is no place to ride! Dusty, bumpy, dirty, dangerous, lurches up and down, I'd think a basket was for stowage, not grunts. I'm going to take a look at some photos also, reply on Monday if this tread is still alive! Ron

QUOTE: Originally posted by Captain Caveman Flying planes into ships is dangerous too LOL! It certainly was!! I met a former Kamakazi (obviously didn't do his mission). He's now a Japanese National Treasure.. a ceramist. Gives one an idea of how much the war wasted in potential human talent. Ron. So, the basket thingie was REALLY for troops!!?? Can't type... laughing. I hope they didn't have anybody who drove like me back then!! Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 16, 2004 1:26 PM Off subject all over the place today, but if anybody is interested in looking up this artist, Yukio Yamamoto (not the movie maker) a good site is: http://www.newcenturycampaign.com/Schools/SchoolsList.cfm?c=41#About_Yukio I'll take a look at that Stuart photo this weekend too. Ron Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 16, 2004 1:30 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by Poniatowski QUOTE: Originally posted by Captain Caveman Flying planes into ships is dangerous too LOL! It certainly was!! I met a former Kamakazi (obviously didn't do his mission). He's now a Japanese National Treasure.. a ceramist. Gives one an idea of how much the war wasted in potential human talent. Ron. So, the basket thingie was REALLY for troops!!?? Can't type... laughing. I hope they didn't have anybody who drove like me back then!! LOL re: basket thingie !!!!!! i can just picture guys flying off at the first hard turn or sudden stop ! not LOL re: wasted talent... truly a tragedy of any conflict ! frosty Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 16, 2004 2:10 PM QUOTE: Originally posted by Poniatowski Interesting. Now you've gotten me curious also! Hey, why would they put infantry in baskets? Didn't trust them to hang onto the tank? Thought they might get nervous and get the tank 'dirty'? The very back of a tank (not the back deck, but behind the tank) is no place to ride! Dusty, bumpy, dirty, dangerous, lurches up and down, I'd think a basket was for stowage, not grunts. I'm going to take a look at some photos also, reply on Monday if this tread is still alive! Ron LOL! I hear you! The information in Steve Zaloga's book, "Tank Battles of the Pacific War" claims that the Japanese used some "racks" on the back of Chi-Ha's to transport troops. I am assuming (I gotta be careful with that one!) that the "baskets" on the captured Stuarts are for the same thing. My reason is because you see so little extra gear hanging off a Japanese tank. Apparently they were not like all other tankers in this respect. Most pictures of Japanese tanks show no extra gear hanging on the outside, in or out of "baskets". But, I could be wrong. It won't be the first time or the last! The picture off the webpage is so bad, that to me it was worth it to go to the picture in the books. It's not of great quality either, but it sure is a lot better than the one off the web. It's definitely some form of "basket". Whether for troops or gear, that will be left up to the modeler and the "experts". I wouldn't push the argument either way until I had either another photo showing otherwise, or some valid written documentation. Either way. This is going to be a cool build Bean, so please post pictures when you are done! Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 16, 2004 2:30 PM I agree whole heartedly: Any stuart captured by the Jap Army would be the best tank in their service. Maybe the basket was used to carry pieces of the soldiers after encountering the rightful owners of the tank OOOoohrah I bet seeing a Stuart with a meatball painted on the side really rousted the Americans to fight even harder. Captured vehicles in WW2 has always been an interesting topic. There are so many ways to "use" those captured vehciles. So are you bulding your kit to match the photo? WIll there be a diorama? Post some more pics when you get it going :) Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 16, 2004 5:54 PM Muzzleflash, If you find any additional info on this or other Japanese armor, please let us know. I would love to get some additional information on Japanese armor. (OK, OK....It's true. I like the weird and unusual stuff!) Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 17, 2004 12:41 AM The Academy -honey- kit gives you an option for 4 different versions of this tank the first two are the lend-lease 'honey' versions (an earlier and later version), the other a U.S. version and the Japanese captured version. At first I liked the earlier -honey- version, then the later version but the Japanese captured version became more and more interesting, there's a certain kind of mystery about it. I also noticed a spare wheel on the sprue with a "center lock", It would be perfect for the spare wheel in the photo. Here's some info I got from the net: -The Stuarts were the best tanks the Japanese ever had in WW2 they were superior in both firepower and armour compared to any Japanese tanks -A lot of Stuarts were captured by the Japs -One Stuart was successfully landed in the Bataan peninsula and saw action along with two chi-ha's My theory about the mysterious-basket-thingie: The Japanese occupation of the Philippines was short and hasty, they have always been expanding from one place to another faster than they can move their stuff around. They pushed back the allies to the Bataan peninsula. And brought in more infantry and equipment and since there were a lot of stuff to be transported they would need whatever vehicle that was available back then to transport their stuff around. They might not have used the infantry behind the tank tactic since the 'basket' has wires or rods on both top left and right corners and would be a hassle or should I say a struggle to get in. Also if you look closely on the photo the lowest part of the basket is mounted rear fender high. The basket look way too high to climb into and being asian we aren't the tallest of beings, you'd be like a baby strugglin' out of your crib trying to climb on to that one. Muzzleflash- I am just starting to cut the parts from the sprues. I don't think I'll build this to match the photo but I'm planning to make a diorama for this. I'm still thinking about how it should be but I would like it to look mysterious and lonely. I would like to build this with the hatches open but from reviews I've seen the kit came with the incorrect interior so maybe I should try re-arranging or even scratchbuilding mine. I just hope it turns out fine. (I can almost see the mess on my workbench) Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 17, 2004 12:48 AM Also check this site out http://member.nifty.ne.jp/takixxx/ it's pretty cool and has lots of info regarding the IJA but I've seen no photos of captured Stuarts. Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 17, 2004 3:46 AM I have two japanese resin figures that would look great next to a tank. I was not sure what I would build and put them next to, but now I'm thinking maybe a captured item.... post some pics when u get it going. Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 17, 2004 7:00 AM QUOTE: Originally posted by muzzleflash88 I have two japanese resin figures that would look great next to a tank. I was not sure what I would build and put them next to, but now I'm thinking maybe a captured item.... post some pics when u get it going. O.K. Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 17, 2004 3:36 PM Try the following link if you haven't yet - http://member.nifty.ne.jp/takixxx Apparently the webmaster has info not available anywhere else, at least in the west. Edit : I didn't read the posts on page 2 - I see you already pointed the way. Under AFV there is a pic of a captured M3 - real nice. Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, January 17, 2004 7:08 PM Cool Site Tappie, Thank you for sharing. Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 18, 2004 10:30 PM Thanks Tappie, I was also checking the pages on that site but forgot to check the AFV page. There's just so much info on that site. About the camo on that Stuart http://member.nifty.ne.jp/takixxx/m3.html , what do you guys think the colors were? Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 19, 2004 9:36 AM Took a look at the photo this weekend and I agree with Latch's intepretation of them. No matter what, I cannot concieve of any troops riding off of the back of a tank. There is soooo much dirt, rocks and crud being tossed up, any troops riding back there would certainly arrive in the battle worse for ware. UNLESS.. (a crucial unless here) it was used only for assults when the troops could kneel in the basket, use the tank for cover and supply some additional firepower at LOW speeds (walking speed). IN which they'd only have to put up with the dust kicked up by the radial and its exhaust. Otherwise, it's just for transporting equipment... maybe. Perhaps. Kinda. Cool camo schemes though, eh? Ron Reply Edit Anonymous Member since November 2005 Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 19, 2004 8:27 PM Yeah, I must say the camo scheme Japan used really looks cool. Reply Edit JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login Register SEARCH FORUMS FREE NEWSLETTER SIGN UP By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy. FORUMS PRODUCT REVIEWS READER GALLERY HOW TO VIDEOS SHOP ABOUT US FREE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER SIGN UP By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy. 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