CS M8 Stuart winter variant pics (2 Viewers)

[joesgis]

After work today I enjoyed putting together the CS M8 Stuart that I was lucky to acquire at the Westcoaster. And as promised, I took a bunch of pics for everyone throughout the process. First off, congratulations to CS for another bombastic release. I have thoroughly enjoyed many of CS's offerings, but their first foray into Allied armor might be their best AFV yet. As much as I like most of CS's previous vehicles, IMHO, this one is simply their best. CS really brings a subject to life, and their design, sculpting and painting of the M8 Stuart is impeccable. In particular, the figures really stand out. I had yet to see CS figures "in the flesh" painted at this level, even though I had read much on the forum about their measurable improvement in painting. They really are clean and well defined, yet maintain the gritty CS spirit and realism. I think it's important to note that this vehicle feel quite sturdy and, for a lack of better words, durable. It is well put together. I really enjoy the "playability" and versatility of CS's AFV's. Included is what has become CS's signature, the thrown track option. For those of us who want to display the vehicle disabled, I thought it might look a little odd w/ the three crew members on the vehicle in full battle mode, even though it cannot move with its tracks blown up. Well, apparently CS thought of this in advance as well and included a separate machine gun for people who want to show the vehicle disabled and ditched by the crew. (The other option is to install the outboard figure who comes as one piece with the machine gun already attached to his hands as you'll see below.) So here are the pics for your review and enjoyment. Oh, one last thing....this year I decided to focus most of my toy soldier budget on figures as opposed to AFV's. After all, that's where it all started for me; I've always been primarily interested in the "people". By doing so I'm hoping to save a bit on space and of course money. So when I went to this year's Westcoaster, I decided I would walk away with no more than one AFV, if any at all. I was tempted by an extraordinary number of amazing new and old vehicles by all of the amazing manufacturers out there, and anyone of them would have been a fine choice. In the end, I decided on the CS M8 Stuart, and I'm not sitting here with that awful feeling when you wished you had selected something different. I'm quite happy with my choice, and I hope others find these M8's equally impressive so that CS is encouraged to continue producing Allied armor. Quite frankly, I really feel like I gained a substantial addition to my collection, and I feel like I did so at a tremendous value.
One thing I'm hoping Brian could clear up is the number of these made. The certificate of authenticity states 300 pcs were made, and I'm wondering if that's per variant. I think not because I'm almost certain Brian mentioned at the Westcoaster that he was making 170 pcs. per variant. Perhaps Brian will clarify. In any case, thank you CS, and keep up the great work!!

Box top...

View upon opening:

Pic or cert of auth + stowage & extra machine gun

Check out this nice interior...

more pics to follow...

 

[joesgis]

Here she is set up w/ and w/out thrown track....

Thrown track feature from another angle...

Looking down into the turret..

 

[joesgis]

The figures....

You gotta love this guy! (Box is not included in the set, and was made by War Torn Worlds)...

...closer...

 

[joesgis]

..lastly...fully loaded and ready to do some damage!...

I hope you enjoyed the pics, and I hope they help you decide, whichever way that might be, if you are sittin' on the fence. IMHO, she's a beauty and a must have.

Joe

 

[Jagdpanther]

It does look good! I may have to go and order one.

 

[desk11desk12]

Here are some shots of the M8. I like the OD version but the Battle of the Bulge version will not disappoint. There is improvement in the faces of the figures and they don't look so grim anymore. The figures are a little larger than most of us are used too but the animation iin them is still great.

The M8 model is very good. My bias is in the quality of Figarti tanks but the price point on CSC M8 is hard to beat. I'll be picking up the OD version form TSSD.

Carlos

 

[desk11desk12]

 

[The Collectors Showcase]

..." I think not because I'm almost certain Brian mentioned at the Westcoaster that he was making 170 pcs. per variant. Perhaps Brian will clarify. In any case, thank you CS, and keep up the great work!! "...

In reply to Joe's notation on the numbers of the run above: We do 300 of each variant. So when we describe the limited edition being 300 this applies to each variant. So in the case of the Hanomag 251 we just issued, this was 300 winter versions, 300 Normandy and 300 DAK.

Alot of collectors have noted an increase in quality and various changes to the products from build to build. This caught alot of collectors by suprise as we've moved foward. The techniques that we use for production allow for quick style and sculptural modification. As we've moved forward we've been very focused on customer feedback. This has been used to great effect as we are seeing increasing sales worldwide with every issue. There is just no doubt listening to the customer is the way forward and we thank all of you guys for your great reviews and positive input.

We look forward to so much fun and great product as we move into 2010.

The Westcoaster was a great show, thanks for everyone that came by. Onward, onward!

Tally Hooo!

warm regards,

Brian

 

[kx1a]

Just received my Normandy version of the M8 HMC today. Carlos' pics and joesgis description say it all. A very nice piece indeed although a little bigger than I had expected. Like the idea of a separate machine gun for static display. Added comparison pics with other Stuarts from K&C.
Bill

 

[lancer]

Good grief. The CS Stuart makes the KC Stuarts look hughley underscale. If the CS is a true 1/30, the KC Stuarts looks 1/32, at best. At any rate, you sure can't put them in the same display. -- lancer

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Good grief. The CS Stuart makes the KC Stuarts look hughley underscale. If the CS is a true 1/30, the KC Stuarts looks 1/32, at best. At any rate, you sure can't put them in the same display. -- lancer

I'm pretty sure the K&C hedge cutter Stuart is only 1:32, but I am surprised that the older K&C Stuart is noticeably larger than the hedge cutter version.

Terry

 

[maddadicus]

I was in Gettysburg and had decided to buy one of these, until I saw its size. It is a wonderful piece and I felt conflicted not getting one. But I am a stickler that any vehicle from any mfg. has to fit in next to each other..Michael

 

[The Collectors Showcase]

I was in Gettysburg and had decided to buy one of these, until I saw its size. It is a wonderful piece and I felt conflicted not getting one. But I am a stickler that any vehicle from any mfg. has to fit in next to each other..Michael

Great comparison photos! You sure can't put them together!

But there you have it, the cat is really out of the bag. As many collectors have already realized, with K&C you get a 1/30th scale figure and more of a 1/35th scale vehicle, why is that? It's simply not for us to comment on.

Creating correctly scaled vehicles for a 1/30th scale world was nearly impossible for years unless a company wanted to spend thousands for a short run vehicle. So other methods were found: vehicles were and are vastly undersized for a reason.

But now, for the first time collectors that have 1/30th scale figures such as K&C can acquire correctly scaled vehicles from us, its a big benefit not a detraction.

Happy Collecting!

Brian

 

[Go for Broke]

I congratulate CS for making a properly scaled AFV. I hope CS will start a trend with other makers, although it would make most, if not all my AFVs obsolete. Proper scaled AFVs would impressively illustrate the fear of seeing these on the field of battle.

 

[gk5717]

I was in Gettysburg and had decided to buy one of these, until I saw its size. It is a wonderful piece and I felt conflicted not getting one. But I am a stickler that any vehicle from any mfg. has to fit in next to each other..Michael

I totally agree with the above statement. My problem is my CS stuart is on the way, had I known the above I would not have ordered it.
Say what you want about true scale, K&C is the front runner and other manufactures, in my opinion, must conform to K&C,s scale.
Don,t get me wrong CS delivers an excellent product, but after seeing the big difference in size, all future CS purchases will be on hold.
Again, just my opinion.
Gary

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I totally agree with the above statement. My problem is my CS stuart is on the way, had I known the above I would not have ordered it.
Say what you want about true scale, K&C is the front runner and other manufactures, in my opinion, must conform to K&C,s scale.
Don,t get me wrong CS delivers an excellent product, but after seeing the big difference in size, all future CS purchases will be on hold.
Again, just my opinion.
Gary

It is difficult to compare between the sizes of the same AFV made by different manufacturers and even between the same AFV made by the same manufacturer. Comparing the current Stuart tank by CS to an older model by K&C at 1:32 scale is going to show a big difference in size. But so will putting the K&C Winter Tiger next to their more recent Tunisian Tiger.

From side-by-side comparisons of models and measurements of the models vs published dimensions of the AFV by myself and several other people on this Forum, a few conclusions can be drawn.

Early K&C models are generally 1:32 and go well with the Figarti 1:32. In the last few years, the K&C models have grown to 1:30 and the Figarti models are now at or near 1:30 scale. HB models are 1:30. NMA are 1:32. FL AFVs are 1:30.

I have not measured any CS models, but I understand they are 1:30 scale and should match up with the current K&C models.

When I started collecting AFVs, I thought they were all the same scale, but quickly found out they are not. It is possible to collect only one true scale, but that will cut out a lot of models. Collecting the current 1:30 scale will cut out all of the 1:32 Figarti, Early K&C and NMA. Since I have some of both sizes, I just try to keep them separate.

Terry

 

[The Collectors Showcase]

I totally agree with the above statement. My problem is my CS stuart is on the way, had I known the above I would not have ordered it.
Say what you want about true scale, K&C is the front runner and other manufactures, in my opinion, must conform to K&C,s scale.
Don,t get me wrong CS delivers an excellent product, but after seeing the big difference in size, all future CS purchases will be on hold.
Again, just my opinion.
Gary

Its great to hear all the feedback and all opinions must be respected.

Certainly collectors are now used to small vehicle and large figures. But when rolling out our product line we had a choice: continue with small vehicles with larger figures just as KC has, or finally rectifying the root problem: vehicles that are simply too small for the 1/30th world.

We decided to right scale the vehicles so that the worlds were all the same scale. I think it was the right decision and judging by the sales alot of other collectors believe so too. If a collector wishes to continue to add mini-vehicles to their 1/30th scale set-ups who is to fault them. It could be considered a style and should be viewed as that.

Listen if a person has so much invested in KC they should not be faulted for not wanting to upgrade, but my, my it looks so right! anyhow-- cheers to all!

Happy Collecting!

Brian

 

[lancer]

KC may be the biggest producer but it is completely wrong, IMO, to say other manufacturers must conform to KC size. Why conform to something that is wrong? Manufacturers such as CS are to be applauded for producing correct scale models even if it makes the KC model seem tiny by comparison. Correct scale is the whole point. KC must raise it's game and produce the correct size models. Manufacturers such as CS are doing great work and purchasing their correct size models has made buying undersize (to scale) models unnecessary. KC is no longer the only game in town. I have no doubt KC will continue to improve their offerings and that the undersize model will be a thing of the past. -- Al

 

[Phantom Warrior]

KC may be the biggest producer but it is completely wrong, IMO, to say other manufacturers must conform to KC size. Why conform to something that is wrong? Manufacturers such as CS are to be applauded for producing correct scale models even if it makes the KC model seem tiny by comparison. Correct scale is the whole point. KC must raise it's game and produce the correct size models. Manufacturers such as CS are doing great work and purchasing their correct size models has made buying undersize (to scale) models unnecessary. KC is no longer the only game in town. I have no doubt KC will continue to improve their offerings and that the undersize model will be a thing of the past. -- Al

The K&C models of the last few years are at 1:30 scale. They made this change 2 or 3 years ago. So did Figarti going from 1:32 to 1:30 scale. It appears that any AFVs made today or in the past 2 years are 1:30 scale. It's only the older K&C, Figarti and NMA AFVs (and 21st Century and current FOV) made before CS and FL existed, that are the smaller 1:32.

The question for AFVs produced today is whether the AFV is an accurate 1:30 and not whether it is 1:30 or 1:32.

Terry

 

[binder001]

Unfortunately the "interpretation of size" issue has been with 54mm for a long time, and it seems to carry over to 1/30th. It is usually translated as 1/32nd scale, but many 54mm metal and plastic figures don't match up with 1/32nd scale models. Look at the variations that we have had in figures for years. Size and proportion vary in "54mm" and in "1/30 scale". To get true scale you need to go to 1/35th models and there is still a bit of variance in the figure proportions. So I guess we have to make our decisions about who and what we choose to buy. The only problem I have with making everything to "K&C size" is that there is a lot of variance between models. Andy doesn't hold his sculptors to a very tight scale on the vehicles. They just need to look OK with the figures.

One suggestion is that when minor differences occur in vehicles that are to be in a scene, place the larger one right up front, put the slightly smaller one a bit back, and possibly on a slight rise. Don't set them fender-to-fender or the difference will be really emphasized.

Gary B.