Guys...

I'm thinking of placing my first Mato purchase, and I'm wondering... in addition to a metal-track'd M41A3 Walker Bulldog, and its upgrade spring set (as recommended, right?) I'm debating which of the metal-track'd Pz 3 chassis to get... the Pz. 3, Pz. 3H, or StuG 3?

I know the StuG has the IR, but having no others, thats not a big option unless the other Ottawa guys wanna start gathering... All 3 can take the schurtzen, but only the turret oners can take the crew that sit in the side-hatches... (a sit of an up-sell point)

OR... should I go for a Sherman, and convert her to a M50 or M51? (from what I've seen, the 50's had the T23 turrets, the 51's had the added-bustle ones like the one Dave Mitchell did, but thats just my possibly flawed observations.)

Opinions?

stug
its one of their best tanks
I love mine

I have 2 HLPZIII's, one with all plastic and the other with an aluminum hhull and all metal accessories. Love noth of these tanks. I also have a Sherman I am doing now. I just got some paint on her tonight. It's a good runner out the box and the tracks are bullet proof. I am waiting on the upgraded electonics though.

Go for the stug. It looks great, and you can get all those aftermarket metal upgrades, suspension arms, wheels rear idler adjusts.

I like Sherman tanks but if its your first Mato tank then stay away from the Sherman , the electronics suck.
I love my Stug, it a good runner and I have had no problems with it. The Pz 3 and 3 H are a good looking tanks and I have had vary little problems with them.
If your tank comes with the RX 18 board it will be reliable and fun, the older boards have their share of problems. ( problems = not fun !)
One plus is that the Mato HL tanks come with metal gears, not the 3 to 1 brass gear set but they will do .

As regards IDF Shermans, M-51, carried the 105mm D-1000 and had modified T-23 turrets. Most were converted from M-4A1 and A3, some with VVSS, some with HVSS, mixed with a big assortment of A4s and A2s. Any Sherman carrying the 75mm 75-50 gun was an M-50, irespective of the chassis. All M-50 and M-51s had the large turret counterweight overhang. Standard, unmodified M-4A3 & M-4A1s 76mm were designated M-1s and were referred to as Super Shermans, (not the M-50 or M-51s) and remained unmodified except for some stowage items.

I have converted two Mato Shermans to IDF and they run pretty well out of the box. Tracks and suspension are nice, but if you want optimum performance, a swap to HL electronics is a good idea. If you want to convert to Israeli Sherman, that turret counterweight is a chore as is the extended mantlet. I did two with sheet styrene and one with resin..IMHO styrene is easier and a lot less messy. My M-51 was made from an older Tammy Sherman. I used aluminum 17 pounder gun tubes for the 75-50 guns and a Pershing gun tube for the M-51. The huge 105mm muzzle brake must be scratch built, but the 17 pounder gun muzzle brake can be Dremeled and modified with no problem. Dave did an absolutely superb job on his M-51 The markings came from a tank in a private collection.

Dang Joe, the " M50" is turning out awesome. I guess i gotta get my but in gear. Kinda got lazy when you weren't around. Had nobody too B#$(& at. LOL

Joe's IDF Sherman is an M-1. The photo on the Latrun Museum Website is incorrectly labeled M-50. Joe's doing a good job and it's lookin' mean. I have faxed the museum for clarification and also have more photos of the same tank, corectly identified.

es, my mistake. It's an M1...thanks Bill for clearing that up. Seems that info on the net is not so accurate.

stug is a solid runner. If you dont wabnt a infrantry support tank destroyer I figure either of the other p3 chassis would be fine.

id recommend anything like the panzer lll or stug, same chassis just different upper, u can buy the panzer lll then buy the upper half of the stug later on if u wanna change things up cause it will screw right up to ur original stock holes, either way u go uve got a nice tank, personally my panzer lll i broke in the metal gearboxes and as of today she still runs great and ive had this tank a few years i think now havent had a single issue, matomart is all i deal through, packages always come in perfect condition to me.