M8 AGS and M8 III

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Looks Panda like.
https://447bg.org/tanks-vehicles/fmc-ccvl/

https://www.reddit.com/r/TankPorn/comments/x61nz8/ccvl_ags_spotted_at_the_national_museum_of/

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Zimi did acquire all of their molds. One has to wonder why they’d have the molds all this time and not be pumping out kits. :thinking: Reworking them perhaps?

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As the title states, I’d actually make TWO 1/35 M8 AGS models for sale: AGS with optional ERA and digitally reworked AGS. The BAE rework of the AGS makes for a totally different look.

This is how the M8 AGS looked like when it first started.

With ERA added

This is how it looks like when BAE reworked and redesigned it with a more digital backbone. It will be very hard to scratchbuild and replace the rounded headlights with rectangular LED headlights and to add all that surface details and bolt heads. The .50cal M2HB heavy machine gun mount is different and the turret as side bins. There is a new rear turret bin, rear infantry telephone, and frontal glacis wire cutters before the driver’s hatch.

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It would, but an enterprising modeler could reshape some mini LEDs (that could actually light up) or sit back and see what Zimi does.

The exposed portion of that engine would be an easy scratch build, especially if you could get a 3D guy to add and then slightly extrude the logo.

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True enough.

I think that the M8 AGS still has a place in armored warfare. M8 AGS is very svelte at 26 tons with Level III armor, no ERA, compared to around 40 tons for the M10 “Booker,” which is probably why the US Army decided to go with the M10…more armor protection that equates to the weight of a medium tank. I can’t imagine the US Army rolling a tank with just Level I armor.

The problem is that the USAF’s C-130J’s max payload is 22 tons…so at 26 tons, the M8 AGS won’t fit the weight requirements with Level III armor. So if the Infantry Support Vehicle is to hitch a ride on the C-17, might as well take the heavier GDLS’s M10 “Booker.” I think that the US Army picked the correct choice.

The M8 AGS III might find a home with the USMC if they ever adopt tracks again and believe the need for heavy direct fire cannon again beyond 30-50mm autocannon.

Nonetheless, it’s a very cool looking AFV, especially the “digital backbone” M8 AGS.

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That made for some interesting reading. It seems like every light tank design ends in severe failure.

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The BAE entry to MPF is “XM1302” not “M8 III”.

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Zimi models has the Xm1302 MPF on thier website

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As usual, just recently received a 3D printed M8 w/Reactive Armor to work on, but now I’ll consider waiting on the Zimi release.

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The 3D print with ERA looks the part minus the .50cal M2HB heavy machine gun and a few other rooftop details.

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Correct… there are definitely things that have to be added (lifting lugs, etc.), but you have to start somewhere, and the print is a starting point… especially when there is no kit available.

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