Tamiya 1/35 M247 Sgt. York Kit Another Look
By Sundiata Cowels
| Date of Review | June 2013 | Manufacturer | Tamiya |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subject | M247 Sgt. York | Scale | 1/35 |
| Kit Number | 0126 | Primary Media | Styrene |
| Pros | Unique subject | Cons | No interior |
| Skill Level | Basic | MSRP (USD) | Out of Production |
Another Look
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To see our first look of this kit, you can read Cookie Sewell's article here.
For the past few years I've been slowly building a collection of self-propelled anti-aircraft gun systems from around the world in 1/35 scale and Tamiya's release of the M247 was on my list to purchase. Unfortunately it has been out-of-production for close to thirty years so it was with a great deal of luck that I was able to find one at a local IPMS contest earlier this year for $25 USD.
The kit consists of 5 separate parts trees, vinyl tank treads, a lower hull, vinyl wheel stoppers, 265 parts, and small decal sheet.
The instructions are in Japanese but well illustrated in the usual Tamiya fashion. The model builds up in twelve steps, beginning with the bogie wheels and drive sprocket assemblies in the first step, to mounting the upper hull deck to the lower hull and the turret to the upper hull along with some final details (such as heating and stretching spare sprue to create antennas) in the final assembly.
The molding is crisp as to be expected from Tamiya, with absolutely no flash or discoloration in the parts. As with Tamiya's earlier release of the M60A2 Starship (another Army dud) the lower hull has space for a battery operated motorized drive assembly (not included).
Features:
- Commander figure
- Moveable turret and elevating gun barrels
- Choice of open or closed hatches
- Moveable early warning and tracking radar
- Accurate T142 tank tread
As would be expected, the markings are scarce for this kit, with only black U.S. star symbols and company logos for the ill-fated test vehicle provided.
Painting diagrams in the instructions and on the box sides are for three color desert and three color woodland patterns but specific paint manufacturers or callout numbers are not provided in English.
While the U.S. Army would like to forget this dud of a SPAAG, it's nice to have memento of such a ridiculous vehicle. And you know, this kit coupled with a resin Verlinden products M60 tank engine and scratch built interior will make an interesting 'What-if' build.