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M551 Sheridan (1/16): Your Opinions on the Kit?

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 5:33 am
by Mithras
I'm actually rather fond of the M551. It seems to have been a controversial release for Tamiya... but I guess some people like the standard bread and potatoes sorts of things, which is totally fine.

I'm wondering about the quality of the kit. How is it? How's the build difficulty? Could it be adapted to combat? I've built more than a few 1/35 tanks, but obviously 1/16 is a new thing, as is the mechanical bit.

Re: M551 Sheridan (1/16): Your Opinions on the Kit?

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 5:48 am
by Kaczor
The owners complain about weak tracks. But apart from that, it's Tamiya - it assembles like Lego bricks. Just buy the "full option kit", not the "display kit". It seems that the set includes a "mushroom" for IR combat.
phpBB [video]


PS. I moved the thread from "Tamiya builds" because that's where we'll discuss construction reports, not questions.

Re: M551 Sheridan (1/16): Your Opinions on the Kit?

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 6:44 am
by Meter rat
Pitstain did a very entertaining video series on this tank.

Re: M551 Sheridan (1/16): Your Opinions on the Kit?

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 7:42 am
by tomhugill
Mithras wrote:I'm actually rather fond of the M551. It seems to have been a controversial release for Tamiya... but I guess some people like the standard bread and potatoes sorts of things, which is totally fine.

I'm wondering about the quality of the kit. How is it? How's the build difficulty? Could it be adapted to combat? I've built more than a few 1/35 tanks, but obviously 1/16 is a new thing, as is the mechanical bit.
Nice kit, but as the other have said if.youre driving really hard the ends of the tracks tend to split. I'm not sure if there are any aftermarket yet

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Re: M551 Sheridan (1/16): Your Opinions on the Kit?

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 9:17 pm
by Mithras
Notes appreciated. Looks like an interesting build. The split track issue does concern me.

Re: M551 Sheridan (1/16): Your Opinions on the Kit?

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2023 11:06 pm
by ColemanCollector
I can remember when Tamiya announced the Sheridan. I think the "controversy" was that while the RC tank world was screaming for more mainstream stuff like a Centurion, M60, T72, T90 (HL hadn't released their Soviet T stuff yet), or anything WWII British, Tamiya decides on the Sheridan. Not sure how sales have been, but while Tamiya is way above my budget comfort level, the Sheridan is the last choice on my Tamiya wishlist.
But oh well, any new tank release is a good tank release. Kind of...
Mike.

Re: M551 Sheridan (1/16): Your Opinions on the Kit?

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 12:09 am
by lmcq11
I've built it, nice model

viewtopic.php?t=29850

Re: M551 Sheridan (1/16): Your Opinions on the Kit?

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 12:40 am
by MrChef
lmcq11 wrote: Thu Nov 23, 2023 12:09 am I've built it, nice model

viewtopic.php?t=29850
Yeahhhh that's all you did. Built it.

If you were any more humble about your "builds" you'd be a Tibetan Monk. :haha: :clap: :)

Re: M551 Sheridan (1/16): Your Opinions on the Kit?

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 1:12 am
by tankme
Good luck finding a full option kit as the Sheridan has now been discontinued and they aren't even on eBay very often. The ones that have seen in retail stores...if you can find one...have been going for stupid prices. If I hadn't bought a static version last year I would've tried for the one in Sept on eBay that went for right around $1000 for a full option. People do battle them, but like others have said, the tracks are kinda weak.

Re: M551 Sheridan (1/16): Your Opinions on the Kit?

Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2023 5:59 am
by Kaczor
While the models are still available, obtaining spare parts is almost impossible.