(PICS) "After the Storm" (1/32)

Very Impressive. It is very simple yet very effective. Great job.

I love "blasts from the past". I never build the Grant, but I did nearly every German Monogram kit. I too think they were underappreciated and were a good value for the buck. They went together pretty well as I recall too. Anyway, nicely done and the figure is very nice. Thanks for sharing.

very nice job on this and nice story line, ground work looks great as does the figure, very well done i really like this dio, thanks for the look. 

Hi Fish head!

I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one thinking that the M3, especially the Grant version, is a beautiful tank. As you say, it's assymetrical shape and it's high profile makes it so distinct.

When I got my hands on the Monogram kit I immediatly wanted to built it as a captured german tank (beutepanzer), but as I serched the internet I found out that the general opinion on "expert" sites and forums (for example www.afrika-korps.de) was that the germans never used captured M3 Grants in battle. As most people pointed out, there are photos showning germans inspecting abandoned Grants, but no photos of them using the tank. (Photos of Mathaildas, Valentines, Stuarts and Crusaders in german service are plentiful) Just when it seemed that I would have to give up my cherished idea - least I wanted to build an historically contra-factual diorama - I found a single entry in the war diary of 6th Royal Tank Regiment. The regiment was a part of the 4th Armd Bde in 7th Armd Div during the first battle of El Alamein in July 1942, six weeks after the first Grants hade seen combat at Gazala. On July 16th the entry in the regimental war diary says:

"Regt moved out of leaguer and took up same position as yesterday. Reports of various parties of tanks and MET to C Sqn’s front which were engaged when possible. One enemy tank and 3 lorries destroyed. B Sqn also had small parties of tanks and MET to their front, including two captured Grants."

That made me one happy modeller! That was all the info I needed to begin building the diorama!

Regarding your last question, I don't really have a strong opinion. Maybe it was abandoned due to lack of fuel, since the german supply system almost broke down after the defeat at El Alamein, when the long retreat towards Tunisia began? Or it simply broke down after it had made it's contribution to the german effort (as the markings on the 75 mm gun barrel indicate, it knocked out a good three enemy tanks before it jumped into it's grave). What do you think happened to it? I'm open for suggestions.

Regards,

/Tony aka bultenibo

 

 

 

I've always liked the Grant and it's cousin.  I never knew they were put to German markings.  A very nice conversation piece in that sense. 

I know a lot of folks call this an ugly beast, but I always thought it was impressive and looked powerful with the turret gun and the heavier duty swivel barrel off-center.

I remember building the American Lee tank when I was 12 and visiting my dad in Alaska for a summer (1977, can't remember the kit maker, but it was Monogram or Revell I think).  It was my favorite of all the Allied armor.  Didn't even know about serious diorama work and such, just knew I wanted to see what it would look like in action.  Made a little barbed wire scene with a German minefield warning sign, a wooden box I filled with dirt and rock and twigs.  I had to leave it behind when returning to Oregon/home.

Thanks for sharing!  Any idea why they left it sitting?  Is this "post-surrender"?  Stupid question I guess...

Excellent all round dio from the base upwards. Very impressed with the figure, great skin tones and I like the 5 "O"clock stubble.

Good work and nice idea.

Rich