Rubicon Models M8 Scott

Plastic is more and more present in wargaming, and with the popularity of the setting and scale, it is no wonder that companies like Rubicon keep releasing new kits. This time, i'll be covering the M8 Scott / M5A1.

This kit gives you the option to build a M5 Stuart Light Tank (the mid version) or the 75mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8, aka the M8 Scott. They use the same chassis, but the M8 had an larger, open topped turret and the drivers hatches relocated from the hull to the glacis plate. This kit has a sister boxed set, that gives you the M5 Stuart mid and late build, as well as the reece / kangoroo version of it.

Inside the kit you'll find the two main sprues, along with the instruction leaflet and a decal sheet.

The sprues are compact and properly filled. The cast is great and with a low amount of mold lines, just the plastic is a bit shiny and it might be usefull to give it a slight wash with luke-warm soap water.

In this review, i decided to build the M8 scott with the howitzer turret and that is where i started with the build. The gun is movable and can be angled.

Next up are the track sections, that are quick assembled. The track and wheels are one piece and get additional parts for the suspension.

The tracks are added to the hull, which consists of 4 parts, the lower hull, a inner part with structure and side parts.

On top of the chassis / hull, goes the upper plate and here you have two options. You could build the M8 scott hull, with the drivers hatches in front, or the M5 hull with the hatches on top. Technically you could magnetize them and have exchangeable builds.

Added to the nearly finished hull are some small details, like the hedge cutter and tools.

Next up the turret, which is open and has space to fit crew members in it and you can see the floor of the tank.

The M8 Scott is a small vehicle as you can see from the comparison with others scout / light vehicles like the Daimler AC or the universal carrier. And the comparison next to a big cat, the Tiger himself.

Assembled and from different angle, the M8 scott.

Conclusion
Yet another nifty kit. One of the big advantages of Rubicon Models are the multiple options in each kits, like this one covers the M8 Scott and M5 Stuart. The build is easy, casting and fit are good. And at a price of 25 Euro it might be a bit expensive for its size, but with 19 GBP (~25 Euro) for a competitive resin kit, plastic might be in favor of many players / kit builders.

The M8 scott or M5 stuart can be used by Allied armies of the United States, as well as Britain, Canada, Poland and France, as well as the Yugoslav partisans. After World War 2 even China used it. The M8 was used by the US Army and Free French in Italy and Northwest Europe, and by the US Army in the Pacific. Eventually replaced by the M4 (105mm) and M7 Priest, it saw service after WW2 with the French Expeditionary Force in Vietnam & Algeria.

Link: Rubicon Models