1/35 M3 Lee Medium Tank

"A two-story tank!" That's what Japanese soldiers called this behemoth when they first encountered it in battle. The US Medium Tank M3 Lee was the first US tank produced in WWII. A stop-gap design rushed into production until more modern designs such as the M4 Sherman could be manufactured, the M3 Lee had a limited traverse 75mm gun mounted in the hull and a 37mm gun mounted in traversable turret. It was also equipped with multiple machine guns, a characteristic of many pre-war US designs. The Lee was a powerful and useful vehicle that held its own until more modern vehicles were available. Academy's Lee (early model) is the first new-tool 1/35 scale M3 Lee kit since the release of Tamiya's good ol' M3 kit way back in 1974. Parts are finely molded, and the kit has nicely detailed fighting & driving compartment interiors. Choice of short or long 75mm gun. Hull armor plating is molded as separate parts to faithfully reproduce the incredible amount of rivets this tank had. Tracks are the flexible belt type. The movie "Sahara" starring Humphrey Bogart and his M3 Lee nicknamed "LULUBELLE" will provide all the necessary inspiration you'll need to start working on this fine kit!