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New Releases: Big Stuart / Little Stuart

Posted by Doogs on
  • Six new track sets are now available in the Doogs Studios shop
  • Three 1/35 track sets for MiniArt, Tamiya, AFV Club, and Academy Stuarts and Stuart-derived vehicles
  • Three 1/16 track sets for Classy Hobby Stuarts (and M8!)
  • Track sets include fresh and worn T16 rubber blocks, as well as T36E6 steel cleat tracks
  • Integrated pin design and included assembly aids let you get these tracks together fast!
  • (Minimal) glue required

1/16 Stuart Tracks

DS116022 – T36E6 Steel Cleat Tracks

DS116023 – T16 (Fresh) Rubber Tracks

DS116024 – T16 (Worn) Rubber Blocks

In 1/16, Stuart tracks are sufficiently large enough to capture details you rarely see on model tracks – such as cast steel texture – which has been added to the track cores, end connectors, and T36E6 links.

1/35 Stuart Tracks

DS135028 – T36E6 Steel Cleat Tracks

DS135029 – T16 (Fresh) Rubber Tracks

DS135030 – T16 (Worn) Rubber Tracks

Which Tracks for Which Stuarts?

Unlike Shermans, which had a chaotic amount of track types, Stuarts are pretty straightforward. For the most part, you’ll want to go with T16s or…T16s.

M3 Stuart of any kind? T16. Well, except for some very early ones that had some vaguely T54E1-looking steel chevron thing going on. But Tamiya’s M3? MiniArt’s various M3s? Academy’s Stuart Honey? T16s all around.

Even with later M5 Stuarts and the M8 HMC, T16s remained a common sight. But Stuarts in service from the latter half of 1944 onward often wore T36E6s as well.

Why? Well, the T16 was known for delivering a smooth ride (why do you think the Brits called it the “Honey”?), but rubber blocks can become real useless real fast in mud, snow, and other poor traction situations. T36E6s basically said “fuck your comfortable ride and fuck these cobblestones, it’s traction time”. And tankers, caring far more about traction and maneuverability than cobblestones, were big fans.

For modelers, T36E6s also have the advantage of just looking chonkier and cooler. And while I’m biased, it’s probably a good idea to pick up a set or 6 for whenever MiniArt steps into their M5 Stuart era.

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