Out of Box Review: Italeri 1/35 M24 Chaffee Kit # 6431
Normally I like to compare different manufacturer’s interpretation of the same prototype. Today we have
a twist on that theme. It is the same manufacturer, but with different issue dates. The new issue listed above
and the original issue by Testor/Italeri in 1986 as Kit # 810.
The older kit was issued under the joint label of Testors/Italeri while today’s kit is just Italeri. That
older kit came in the style of box where the parts carton tray was inserted completely into a sleeve cover
box with open flaps at both ends. The new issue comes in a standard shoebox package.
ONE POINT FOR THE NEW KIT!
The earlier issue coverbox has eleven different pictures of a completed model. The new kit cover has a
good color drawing on the top with four completed model pictures on the sides.
ONE POINT FOR THE OLD KIT!
Opening both boxes, I compared kit instructions. The older kit had an excellent prototype history and
stats on the vehicle. The newer kit had the most inaccurate prototype history of any instruction sheet I’ve
ever read. For example, the M24 was created as a result of the inferior performance of the M8 and M20
Greyhound in combat with the Germans! It also said the M24 had a 76mm cannon! In deference to world
political correctness, the new kit instructions come in six languages. The older one is only in English.
TWO POINTS FOR THE OLD KIT!
In comparing the plastic used in the kits, the older version is a Forest Green, roughly FS 34128. The new
issue kit comes closer to reality with an Olive Drab, about FS 34098.
ONE POINT FOR THE NEW KIT!
Since the same moulds were used on both kits, the casting quality is equal. More on this later.
The decals did have differences as one would expect. The old kit had decals for one version each of U.S., British, French, Italian and Japanese vehicles. The new kit has only U.S., British and French markings.
However there are two versions of the U.S. markings.
EVEN!
Both kits come with silver colored rubber band tracks with a single glue connection point. The older kit
tracks represent post war M85E1 rubber chevron style treads, the new kit tracks are molded as original issue T72E1 steel pin type.
EVEN!
Now as to the molding specifically. In the old kit, Italeri blatantly raise-molded the company name and
logo on the underside of the lower hull. That error was not repeated on the new kit. The new kit has an
additional sprue and a few new additions to old sprue ‘A’. It is understood that the old kit was patterened
after an Italian post war M24. Thus the old lower hull had molded into it on the lower front plate, pads
for mounting a dozer plow. The new kit has those two items as additional parts if you wish to use them.
Sink holes were present on the old kit’s drive sprockets. Although the new still kit has those bad sprockets,
the additional sprue has corrected ones! Both kits still have fender brackets with prominent mold release marks. The new kit’s additional items include a windshield bracket (and clear insert) for the driver, new
M72E1 spare tracks in injection mold, tarps and storage boxes.
TWO POINTS FOR THE NEW KIT!
Unfortunately the new kit doesn’t correct all errors. The drive and idler sprockets still don’t have lightening
holes. The two inch smoke mortar outlet is still covered with the post war second radio antenna.
OK so what’s the bottom line? Old Kit 3 points, New Kit 4 points. Since I have both kits, I get to take
the best from both kits and build my desired version (early). Priced around US $24, it should show
Tamiya that better pricing makes for a better bottom line.