TMN: Preview: MiniArt's 35th-scale M3 Stuart Hybrid Tank

MiniArt's M3 Stuart light tank series continues with the M3 Stuart Hybrid Tank. We have the CADs & features of the kit in our preview...

Preview: MiniArt's 35th-scale M3 Stuart Hybrid Tank

M3 Stuart Late Production

From MiniArt Models

1/35th scale

Kit No. #35446

Decals for four options in the box

Photo-etch included

Product Link on the MiniArt Website

The M3 Stuart Hybrid Light Tank:

The M3 Stuart Hybrid was a unique variation of the American-built M3 Stuart light tank, combining features from different production models and adapted for service in various armies during World War II. It earned the “Hybrid” designation because it incorporated components from both the M3 and M3A1 versions, resulting in a vehicle that didn’t fit neatly into one category but still retained the Stuart’s hallmark speed and manoeuvrability. One surviving example, now preserved at The Tank Museum in Bovington, was originally gifted by the Brazilian Army, highlighting the Stuart’s widespread international use.

A Stuart Hybrid of the New Zealand Armoured Fighting Vehicles School at Waiouru

The Stuart itself was designed as a fast reconnaissance tank, armed with a 37 mm gun and light armour. The Hybrid variant often displayed a mix of early and later design features, such as the original M3’s riveted hull combined with the M3A1’s welded turret and improved internal layout. This blending of parts was not unusual during wartime production, as manufacturers sought to streamline assembly lines and incorporate upgrades without halting output. Despite its relatively light armament compared to German and Soviet tanks of the era, the Stuart Hybrid was valued for its reliability, ease of maintenance, and ability to operate in diverse environments ranging from North Africa’s deserts to the jungles of the Pacific.

The Tank Museum’s M3 Hybrid features an M3 hull and an M3A1 turret, which has had the raised cupola removed. It is one of the 211 fitted with the Gulberson T-1020 diesel engine rather than the petrol engine. It was donated to the museum by the Brazilian Army in 1990.

In service, the M3 Stuart Hybrid played a supporting role rather than acting as a frontline battle tank. Its speed made it effective for scouting, flanking manoeuvres, and infantry support, though it was vulnerable against heavier enemy armour. Countries like Brazil, Britain, and Australia employed Stuarts extensively, often modifying them further to suit local conditions. Today, the Hybrid stands as a fascinating example of wartime improvisation—an intersection of necessity and innovation. Preserved museum pieces allow us to see how armies adapted equipment to meet immediate needs, and the Stuart Hybrid remains a testament to the flexibility of Allied tank production during World War II.

In 1943, the 9th Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifles (Armoured) took part in some extensive manoeuvres in the Manawatu with the armoured brigade of the 4th Division. This Stuart Hybrid "Connie" is from B Squadron.

The kit from MiniArt

The M3 Stuart Hybrid represents a version of the famous light tank, combining early and late production features used across multiple WWII fronts. This detailed 1:35 scale model kit accurately reproduces the distinctive hull and turret design seen in U.S. and Allied service, including North Africa and European theatres.

The kit features:

Realistic surface and assembly details