Wanted: Stuart tank parts

[Ryan]

I have the opportunity to buy a Stuart tank project. I would like to know how hard it would be to find the following which the tank is still missing.

The drivers/gunners hatches.
The engine top cover/deck
The engine rear/access door.
Oh yeah, and a turret.

[Scrivo18]

All very difficult to get and as for the Turret.. nearly impossible I have never seen one by it self

Scrivo

[Niels V]

no need for a turret http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/i...recce-vehicle/

[Steve Greenberg]

Hello,
I agree with Tim, even in the US the turret is going to be very difficult to find. The The engine top cover/deck & engine compartment doors can be reproduced.
The front hatches will be a bit harder to make. It the Stuart a M3 or M3A1? If you go get the Stuart I do have a few misc. spare parts.
Good luck,
Steve

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Ryan,

Go for it, but haggle down on the price because of the missing turret - they are nigh impossible to find. In Australia after WW2 many tanks had their turret taken off to be sold for scrap, the hull being turned into farming equipment of some sort.

As Niels pointed out the good news is all Stuart variants were turned into turretless Recce tanks - see this thread: http://www.mapleleafup.net/forums/sh...ad.php?t=14212

Hanno

[cletrac (RIP)]

In Canada a lot of old turrets ended up on weapons ranges like Suffield to be used as targets.

[Ryan]

Thanks guys.
It has a non original engine too. Not run in years. Really not sure how much to offer. Pretty cool sitting in the drivers seat though and holding the steering levers.

[Mrs Vampire]

Hi Ryan can you post a picture ??

I think I could give you a fairly accurate run down on what you need and what you are being offered is worth.

A Tub is worth a couple of thousand so its important to see how much you have.
The Turret is makable and the mantlet castable. It is only a matter of your resources. If Its a Flat top Turret your biggest problem is pistol ports and Mantlet. The front hatches are likewise castable its just a mater of who wants to be the first to do it.
The days of finding those things is most likely past... The next phase is yet to begin; that is when the main bits that all the Stuarts turning up now are missing are made new.

[Ryan]

Hi Gina. Sorry I won't post a picture because it's not mine and not on my property. Wouldn't be right.

[chris vickery]

How long is a piece of string?
Hard for others to make an assessment without much info, especially lack of photos. I am sure a serious seller would not mind a few pics taken...

[Mrs Vampire]

Fair enough ... I thought you might have had permission as you were contemplating purchase.

Without seeing what is on offer then its very hard to evaluate just what lies in front of you and what the remnants are worth.

Its a "How long is a piece of string " question without that.

But good luck with it.

Chris posted before I saw yours ...two minds with but a single thought

[Richard Coutts-Smith]

Here you go Ryan, some assembly required...

M1a1 Stuart with turret, uncut hull, Guiberson Diesel, hull is bare but cut hull part of deal $ 65,000, M3a1 Stuart with turret uncut hull most parts available $65,000.

(Narre Warren)
Rich.

[Mrs Vampire]

both sound like good deals and should return around 130K when completed.