The Modelling News: Preview : MiniArt's 35th scale Japanese M3 Stuart w/crew

Our first closer look at the newly announced items in MiniArt's new 2025 catalogue—we show you details of their 35th scale Japanese M3 Stuart (with crew included). We look at the real things—the art, info, plastic, etch, decals, & colour profiles in our preview...

Preview : MiniArt's 35th scale Japanese M3 Stuart with Crew

Japanese M3 Stuart w/crew

From MiniArt Models

1/35th scale

Kit No. 35454

Decals for four options in the box.

Five figures included.

Photo-etch parts included.

Product Link on the MiniArt Website

The subject: captured M3 light tanks in Japanese service.

Japan captured several dozen M3 tanks during the war. All of these tanks had their sponsons removed and covered up, and there is no known image of a Japanese M3 with a.30 calibre machine gun installed. Although some M3s may have retained their machine guns, there is no photographic evidence to support this claim.

This captured M3 Stuart flying a Japanese flag was repaired and pressed into service with the Japanese 4th Tank Regiment, and later it was transferred to the 7th Tank Regiment.

Twelve captured M3 tanks were used by the Japanese military, likely as part of the 14th tank regiment before the disastrous Operation Imphal or as part of the 12 M3s that were repaired in the Philippines. The first recorded use of a M3 tank was during the Battle of Corregidor Island, which marked the final obstacle in securing Luzon Island and Manila Bay, thereby eliminating the American presence in the Philippines.

The caption on this photo exclaims that this captured M3 was knocked out by an airstrike. It looks like a great diorama idea!

The landings of infantry began on May 5th, 1942, and fighting continued until the 6th. At 9:30 AM, a M3 tank, accompanied by two Chi-Ha tanks, landed on the beaches as part of the 7th tank regiment. However, four Ha-Go tanks intended to land with them never arrived. Faced with thousands of Japanese troops, the island's defenders were surrounded and cut off from reinforcements, and the arrival of Japanese armour further weakened their position. They surrendered at 1:30 PM.

Two Japanese soldiers posed on top of an abandoned M3 Stuart tank. Note that the MG in the hull sponson was removed and the port was plated over. Also, the front hull MG is missing.

It is believed that the use of a M3 tank, likely captured during the occupation of the rest of the Philippines, contributed to the American surrender. Here, a group of Japanese soldiers posed on another captured M3 Stuart tank.

The M3s captured from the Philippines were used throughout the war. Five of them were captured in operational status, while 12 were restored. Of these, four were deployed with the 100th division in Mindanao, an unspecified number were deployed to north Luzon for garrison and airfield duties, and five were deployed to the Dutch East Indies.

The 3rd company of the 7th Tank Regiment pressed a number of the captured M3 Stuarts into service in April 1942 to make up their losses during the campaign. Here they are lined up for a victory parade in Manila in May 1942, after the fall of Corregidor to the Japanese.

The last large unit of M3 Stuarts were used during Japan's incursion into India during Operation Imphal. The 1st, 2nd, and 3rd companies of the 14th tank regiment each had a platoon of M3s, totalling 12 tanks (four per platoon). Due to a lack of supply and training, the M3s were used recklessly, and the combined Indian and British forces' superior medium tanks ultimately led to the destruction or abandonment of all M3s. When Japanese forces withdrew back to Thailand, the 14th tank regiment was crippled and disorganised. The 7th Tank Regiment's Light M3s fought hard during the 1944/45 Phillipines campaign but were finally destroyed due to the massive superiority of the attacking US troops.

This captured M3 Stuart was the only tank that was part of the defences of Manila. It was recaptured by units of the US 1st Cavalry Brigade in front of the Manila Hotel. The Japanese removed all the weapons, and camouflage paint was added with a rising sun flag on the hull.