Frank: She's lookin' good! Now you just need a wash and some dust, dirt and grime! 

Well. this is wherer we are. The decals I bought from Company B are very delicate and they were a tiny bit out of register. Another thing, if these home made decals get the least bit misshapen, they don't come back. I'm going to have to scavenge a couple of stars from an airplane kit for the stars that go on the upper turret. Anyway, the bogies, drive gears, and idlers are on and so are the tracks. The instructions say to use a heated screwdriver to melt the tabs to com=nnect the ends of the tracks. I didn't trust myself so I glued the ends with Gator Grip and they are holding. Now I can beging detailing and weathering this little desert rat. Get it good and dirty. I'm thinking I might put on the closed hatch instead of the open hatch. I'm going to look for some tank crew figures at Modelpalooza in a few weeks so until then the hatch stays open.

This has been a fun and simple build. I'm gonna hafta try my hand some other arnor pieces down the road.

These "Lulubelle" decals from Company B are the home-made type. Another first for me on this build.

Yeah, Stik, some of the M-3 pictures I have downloaded are of extememly dirty, dusty M-3 tanks. I've thought about buying a set of Flory Washes just for this build. What I've seen on YouTube and the guy's website, well, it looks like good stuff for weathering. Can't seem to find a vendor on this side of the Pond, though, who carries the stuff.

I'm going to get the decal-ing done and attach the bogies and tracks then worry about weathering the tank.

Davja, you need to go ahead and finish building your M-3. It's a fun, easy build.

fotofrank

It has just occurred to me that I've never really built a kit like this. How do I detail it? Is everything supposed to be O.D.? What about the tools? The shovel? Bolt cutters? The axe? Tow cable? It looks like therre are five gas filler caps. Jeepers. And I still need to do the MSGT. Joe Gunn figure.

 

You won’t go wrong with everything in OD, including tools. But if you want to add a little splash of color aside from markings, tools that have wooden parts could have those areas in natural wood. The metal portions of the tools are usually painted black, but will wear with use. Gas filler caps will show stains from sloppy refueling. And since your doing a tank in the desert, there will be dust. Lots of dust. And then some more dust.

Strangely enough, I have this kit qued up in the "in progress" pile.  IE. Kits I started then moved on to something else, lol.  

It has just occurred to me that I've never really built a kit like this. How do I detail it? Is everything supposed to be O.D.? What about the tools? The shovel? Bolt cutters? The axe? Tow cable? It looks like therre are five gas filler caps. Jeepers. And I still need to do the MSGT. Joe Gunn figure.

The decals for the M-3 arrived today from Company B. The choices are white or yellow stars and words. I'll be using the white ones as the yellow is a little out of register.

I'll be using some of the kit decals too. Artistic license.

Pretty sure the Aurora Stalin tank was my "first" armor build, alas, without paint at about 7 or 8 y.o. What a POS by today's standards, yet collectors pay top $$ for these kits. Haha. Good luck with the Lee, it's been fun watching her come together.

Looks good, looking forward to the new photos!

Thanks. The second coat of O.D. has been applied. The parts will sit for a couple of days while the paint cures. I used MM O.D. enamel. then I'll apply the Pledge. By then, I think the decals will be here.

Thats looking good, nice progress.

Indeed, very nice progress.

As promised, pictures of my M-3 build. It has the first coat of color after the primer coat. The second coat of O.D. will go on later today. It's too hot on the patio to paint right now, even with the little AC unit going.

All of the "fiddley bits" like bogies, drive gears, idlers, hand grips:

.

The turret:

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The rear of the hull...with the tow hooks in place:

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The hull front three-quarter view:

.

Tojo72

Progress pics ??? The world awaits 

 

Sorry, Tojo. I'll take some photos tomorrow after the second coat of O.D.

Progress pics ??? The world awaits 

Yeah, Stik, I'm almost outa O.D. enamel. Had to go buy some more earlier today. Next coat of paint tomorrow or Friday. I'm making better progess on this tank than I am on the various airplanes I have on the bench.

Should have the "Lulubelle" decals by Friday.

fotofrank

Well, the first coat of O.D. paint is on the M-3. Haven't broken off anymore parts. We're looking good.

 

Now that sounds like progress!

Well, the first coat of O.D. paint is on the M-3. Haven't broken off anymore parts. We're looking good.

Cool! Great to hear you're moving forward on this again. 

The M-3 is sitting out on the paint bench right now. Shot it with MM gray enamel primer yesterday. I'll give it a couple of days for the primer to cure then shoot the O.D. The "Lulubelle" decals should be here sometime this week.

Things are looking up. The lost parts I need to finish the M-3 arrived today. Thank you, SprueOne. Plus, Company B finally restocked the "Lulubelle" decals, so I ordered those. This is great!!

Yeah, man totally, no worries. I'll check PM...

SprueOne

 

 

fotofrank

Now I lost the tow hooks off the rear of the hull, above the tail lights. I guess they were tow hooks. I guess they come off when I was gluing the hull to the tub. Oh well. Lost to the carpet monster. I might just patch the holes with styrene from the inside.

 

 

 

 

If Tamiya customer service doesn't work, then I can send you those parts out of my kit. I've already canabalized my M3 LEE kit so a couple more parts won't hurt. You found the horn already, right? Let me know.

 

 

 

Is your offer still good? I sent a PM, but not sure if it went through. Now I've lost the left tail light off the M-3. I'll pay the postage for the tow hooks and the left tail light if you still have them. Geez! I'd better finish this tank before I lose anything else.

Patching the holes will actually look better than those clunky plastic hook looking things. Good idea.

SprueOne

 

 

fotofrank

Now I lost the tow hooks off the rear of the hull, above the tail lights. I guess they were tow hooks. I guess they come off when I was gluing the hull to the tub. Oh well. Lost to the carpet monster. I might just patch the holes with styrene from the inside.

 

 

 

 

If Tamiya customer service doesn't work, then I can send you those parts out of my kit. I've already canabalized my M3 LEE kit so a couple more parts won't hurt. You found the horn already, right? Let me know.

 

 

 

I'm back kinda late. Sprueone, I'm just going to patch the holes with scrap styrene and paint. It'll be OK.

fotofrank

Now I lost the tow hooks off the rear of the hull, above the tail lights. I guess they were tow hooks. I guess they come off when I was gluing the hull to the tub. Oh well. Lost to the carpet monster. I might just patch the holes with styrene from the inside.