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First off, thank you guys for gold! It means a lot to me!
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I kept this under 700 parts for the mobile people, I might make a version that isn't mobile friendly later.
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This is a largely modified version of the M3 Stuart that was a collab between me and SkullHunter, an EXTREMELY skilled builder who sadly dissapeared. His part that he made was the awesome looking tracks and some of the details on the front. I made the body, put in the rotating turret and the guns. I added most of the details including:
- The flag
- The gas can
- The star/stripe
- All of the little bolts
- The bolts in the tracks
- Handles, little boxes, hinges
Still, I wish he was still here and we could've finished this collab together, but I'm happy with it.
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Controls:
WASD - Moving. I tried to keep the speed close to the actual thing, and I guess it's close enough. I hope you like the turning system!
VTOL - Turret Roll
Trim - Turret Elevation
AG1 - Lower Gun (Can't Move.)
AG2 - Turret Gun (Moves with VTOL/TRIM, along with the main turret.)
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The M3 Stuart.

The M3 Stuart, formally Light Tank M3, is an American light tank of World War II. It was supplied to British and Commonwealth forces under lend-lease prior to the entry of the U.S. into the war. Thereafter, it was used by U.S. and Allied forces until the end of the war. The name "General Stuart" or "Stuart" given by the British comes from the American Civil War Confederate General J. E. B. Stuart and was used for both the M3 and the derivative M5 Light Tank. In British service, it also had the unofficial nickname of Honey after a tank driver remarked "She's a honey". To the United States Army, the tanks were officially known only as "Light Tank M3" and "Light Tank M5". Stuarts were the first American-crewed tanks in World War II to engage the enemy in tank versus tank combat.

Observing events in Europe, American tank designers realized that the Light Tank M2 was becoming obsolete and set about improving it. The upgraded design, with thicker armor, modified suspension and new gun recoil system was called "Light Tank M3". Production of the vehicle started in March 1941 and continued until October 1943. Like its direct predecessor, the M2A4, the M3 was initially armed with a 37mm M5 gun and five .30-06 Browning M1919A4 machine guns: coaxial with the gun, on top of the turret in an M20 anti-aircraft mount, in a ball mount in right bow, and in the right and left hull sponsons. Later, the gun was replaced with the slightly longer M6, and the sponson machine guns were removed. For a light tank, the Stuart was fairly heavily armored. It had 38 mm of armor on the hull front, 44 mm on the hull bottom, 51 mm on the gun mantlet, 38 mm on the turret sides, 25 mm on the hull sides, and 25 mm on the hull rear.

Internally, the radial engine was at the rear and the transmission at the front. The prop shaft connecting the two ran through the middle of the fighting compartment. The radial engine, having its crankshaft high off the hull bottom, contributed to the tank's high silhouette. When a revolving turret floor was introduced in the M3 hybrid and M3A1, the crew had less room. In contrast to the M2A4, all M3/M5 series tanks had the rear idler wheel in a trailing (ground contact) position.

To relieve the demand for the radial aero-engines used in the M3, a new version was developed using twin Cadillac V-8 automobile engines and twin Hydra-Matic transmissions operating through a transfer case. This variation was quieter, cooler and roomier. Owing to its automatic transmission, it also simplified crew training. The new model (initially called M4 but redesignated M5 to avoid confusion with the M4 Sherman[7]) also featured a redesigned hull with sloped glacis plate and driver's hatches moved to the top. Although the main criticism from the units using it was that the Stuarts lacked firepower, the improved M5 series kept the same 37 mm gun. The M5 gradually replaced the M3 in production from 1942 and, after the M7 project proved unsatisfactory, was succeeded by the Light Tank M24 in 1944.


The British Army was the first to use the Light Tank M3 as the "General Stuart" in combat. From mid-November 1941 to the end of the year, about 170 Stuarts (in a total force of over 700 tanks) took part in Operation Crusader during the North Africa Campaign, with poor results. This is despite the fact that the M3 was superior or comparable in most regards to most of the tanks used by the Axis forces. The most numerous German tank, the Panzer III Ausf G, had nearly identical armor and speed to the M3 (the M3 actually had thicker front and turret armor, while the Panzer III had slightly thicker side armor), and both tanks' guns could penetrate the other tank's front armor from beyond 1,000 meters. The most numerous Italian tank (and second most numerous Axis tank overall), the Fiat M13/40, was much slower than the Stuart, had slightly weaker armor all around, and could not penetrate the Stuart's front hull or turret armor at 1,000 meters, where the Stuart's gun could penetrate any spot on the M13/40. Although the high losses suffered by Stuart-equipped units during the operation had more to do with the better tactics and training of the Afrika Korps than the apparent superiority of German armored fighting vehicles used in the North African campaign, the operation revealed that the M3 had several technical faults. Mentioned in the British complaints were the 37 mm M5 gun and poor internal layout. The two-man turret crew was a significant weakness, and some British units tried to fight with three-man turret crews. The Stuart also had a limited range, which was a severe problem in the highly mobile desert warfare as units often outpaced their supplies and were stranded when they ran out of fuel.

On the positive side, crews liked its relatively high speed and mechanical reliability, especially compared to the Crusader tank, which comprised a large portion of the British tank force in Africa up until 1942. The Crusader had similar armament and armor to the Stuart while being slower, less reliable, and several tons heavier. The Stuart also had the advantage of a gun that could deliver high-explosive shells; HE shells were not available for the QF 2 pdr mounted by most Crusaders, severely limiting their use against infantry. (however, by late 1942 the Crusader received the QF 6 pdr gun, significantly improving its anti-tank characteristics and giving it HE capability). The main drawback of the Stuart was its low fuel capacity and range; its operational range was only 75 miles (cross country), roughly half that of the Crusader.

In the summer of 1942, the British usually kept Stuarts out of tank-to-tank combat, using them primarily for reconnaissance. The turret was removed from some examples to save weight and improve speed and range. These became known as "Stuart Recce". Some others were converted to armored personnel carriers known as the "Stuart Kangaroo", and some were converted command vehicles and known as "Stuart Command". M3s, M3A3s, and M5s continued in British service until the end of the war, but British units had a smaller proportion of these light tanks than U.S. units.

The other major Lend-Lease recipient of the M3, the Soviet Union, was less happy with the tank, considering it under-gunned, under-armored, likely to catch fire, and too sensitive to fuel quality. The M3's radial aircraft engine required high-octane fuel, which complicated Soviet logistics as most of their tanks used diesel or low-octane fuel. High fuel consumption led to a poor range characteristic, especially sensitive for reconnaissance vehicle. Also, compared to Soviet tanks, the M3's narrower tracks resulted in a higher ground pressure, getting them more easily stuck in the spring and autumn mud and winter snow conditions on the Eastern Front. In 1943, the Red Army tried out the M5 and decided that the upgraded design was not much better than the M3. Being less desperate than in 1941, the Soviets turned down an American offer to supply the M5. M3s continued in Red Army service at least until 1944.
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Variants:

M3 (British designation "Stuart I")
5,811 vehicles were produced.
1,285 M3s had Guiberson diesel installed and were called "Stuart II" by British.
Late production M3s were fitted with turret developed for M3A1, though without turret basket. These tanks were dubbed "Stuart Hybrid".

M3A1 (Stuart III)
4,621 were produced from May 1942 to February 1943.
New turret with turret basket and no cupola. Gun vertical stabilizer installed. Sponson machine guns were removed.
M3A1s with Guiberson diesel were called "Stuart IV" by British.

M3A3 (Stuart V)
3,427 produced.
Put into production to integrate hull improvements brought by the M5 into the M3 series. Turret with rear overhang to house SCR-508 radio. Welded hull with sloped armor, 20° in from the vertical, on front and sides.

M5 (Stuart VI)
2,075 produced.
Twin Cadillac engines. Redesigned hull similar to M3A3, but with vertical sides and raised engine deck. Turret as for M3A1.

M5A1 (Stuart VI)
6,810 produced.
M5 with the turret of the M3A3; this was the major variant in US units by 1943.

75mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8
1,778 units produced.
Based on M5 chassis. The gun was replaced with the 75 mm M2/M3 howitzer in open turret and a trailer hook was fitted so an ammunition trailer could be towed. Provided fire support to cavalry reconnaissance squadrons.

75mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8A1
M8 HMC variant based on M5A1 chassis.

T18 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage
Self-propelled gun based on M3 chassis. 75 mm M1A1 pack howitzer was mounted in a boxy superstructure. The project started in September 1941 and was abandoned in April 1942. Only two were produced, 75 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage M8 was chosen to be produced instead.

T82 Howitzer Motor Carriage
Self-propelled 105 mm howitzer based on M5A1 chassis. Development began in 1943. Two prototypes built and tested in August 1944 at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Project was discontinued on June 21, 1945.

T56 3in Gun Motor Carriage
Self-propelled gun based on M3A3 chassis. The engine was moved to the middle of the hull and a 3-inch gun was mounted in a superstructure in the rear. The project started in September 1942 and was abandoned in February 1943.

T57 3in Gun Motor Carriage
Variant of T56 with Continental engine of the Medium Tank M3. Also dropped in February 1943.

T27 / T27E1 81 mm Mortar Motor Carriage
M5A1 with turret replaced by superstructure in which an 81 mm mortar was installed. Also carried .50 cal Browning M2HB machine gun. The project was abandoned in April 1944 because of inadequate crew and storage space.

T29 4.2in Mortar Motor Carriage
Design similar to T27, with 4.2 inch (107 mm) mortar. Was abandoned for the same reason.

T81 Chemical Mortar Motor Carriage
M5A1-based 4.2 inch (107 mm) chemical mortar carrier.

M3 with Maxson Turret
Anti-aircraft variant developed in 1942. Was armed with four .50 cal. machine guns in a turret developed by Maxson Corp. The project was rejected because of the availability of the M16 MGMC.

40 mm Gun Motor Carriage T65
Anti-aircraft vehicle based on lengthened M5A1. Was armed with Bofors 40 mm gun. Was ordered into production, but on Light Tank M24 chassis, so became the M19 Gun Motor Carriage.

20 mm Multiple Gun Motor Carriage T85
Anti-aircraft vehicle based on same chassis as T65 (M5A1). Was armed with quad Oerlikon 20 mm cannons.

M3/M5 Command Tank
M3/M5 with turret replaced by small superstructure with a .50 cal. machine gun.

T8 Reconnaissance Vehicle
M5 with turret removed and mounting for .50 cal machine gun

M3 with T2 Light Mine Exploder
Developed in 1942, was rejected.

M3/M3A1 with Satan Flame-gun
Ronson flamethrower installed instead of the main gun. 20 tanks were converted for US Marine Corps in 1943.

M5A1 with E5R1-M3 Flame Gun
Flame thrower was installed instead of the hull machine gun.

M3A1 with E5R2-M3 Flame-gun
Flame thrower was installed in place of hull machine gun.
M5 Dozer
M5 with dozer blade. Turret was usually removed.

M5 with T39 Rocket Launcher
T39 launcher with 20 7.2" rockets mounted on the top of the turret. Never reached production.

M5A1 with E7-7 Flame Gun
Flame thrower was installed instead of the main gun.

M5A1 with E9-9 Flame-throwing equipment
Prototype only.

M5A1 with E8 Flame-gun
Turret replaced by boxy superstructure with flame thrower in a smaller turret. Prototype only.

Stuart Recce
Reconnaissance vehicle based on turretless Stuart.

Stuart Command
Stuart Kangaroo with extra radios.

Stuart artillery tractor
Another turretless variant similar in appearance to the Recce and Kangaroo. Used to tow the Ordnance QF 17 pounder.[34] Not to be confused with the US M5 Tractor.

X1A
Based on M3A1, this design had new engine (280 hp (210 kW) Saab-Scania diesel), improved suspension, new upper hull armor, fire controls and DEFA 90 mm gun in a new turret. 80 vehicles were produced.

X1A1
An X1A with improved suspension with three bogies (instead of two) each side and raised idler. Didn't reach production.

X1A2
Based on the X1A1, this version retained almost nothing of the original Stuart as even its hull was redesigned. The vehicle weighed 19 short tons (17 t), had crew of 3, was armed with 90 mm gun and powered by Saab-Scania 300 hp (220 kW) diesel. 30 vehicles were produced in 1979–1983.
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And before you start asking, "Which variant is this?", it actually is a combination of many of them. It is about 1/3 M3 Stuart, 1/3 M3A1 Stuart, and 1/3 M5 Stuart. I just looked up pictures and found things of each one that I liked.
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I hope you guys enjoy this build! I spent a lot of time making this and getting it to perfection!
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Always remember - keep your eyes in the sky!
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