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Armor/AFV
For discussions on tanks, artillery, jeeps, etc.
M-47 Matchbox
MassimoTessitori
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Italy
Joined: March 14, 2013
KitMaker: 278 posts
Armorama: 278 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 20, 2018 - 01:27 AM UTC
I've seen an old kit on M-47 of Matchbox 1/35 on sale. Does anyone know if it is a reboxing of Italeri or a different kit?
GeraldOwens
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Florida, United States
Joined: March 30, 2006
KitMaker: 3,736 posts
Armorama: 3,697 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 20, 2018 - 01:53 AM UTC
Until the current Takom kits hit the market, the M47 had only been issued by two companies. Renwal offered a 1/32nd scale kit in 1957, and Italeri offered one in 1/35th scale in 1977. All the other kits were reboxes.

Revell acquired the Renwal molds, and reissued them periodically as nostalgia pieces. They should be avoided, as the issues with the suspension are nearly unfixable.

I believe the Matchbox kit is the Renwal mold.
Bravo1102
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New Jersey, United States
Joined: December 08, 2003
KitMaker: 2,864 posts
Armorama: 2,497 posts
Posted: Sunday, May 20, 2018 - 02:39 AM UTC
It is the 1950's vintage Renwal kit. The suspension is the least of the problems. It's 1/32, not 1/35 and the kit was designed after the aribrushed photos in the M47 manual. All the proportions are off and it is more of a caricature of the tank. Compare it to a Italeri kit and you'll wonder "what were they looking at?" Airbrushed Three-quarter photos from the first edition of the manual.

Nice toy though, I built a few back in the day.
MassimoTessitori
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Italy
Joined: March 14, 2013
KitMaker: 278 posts
Armorama: 278 posts
Posted: Monday, May 21, 2018 - 12:20 AM UTC
Thank you for your answers. It is a kit to avoid as the plague, then.
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