Cheers MD.

Bish- Wow! That's awesome. The scene looks realistic to me, I imagine it played out quite often in WWII. I like it.

The stuff i was waiting for from the States arrived during the week, so i've been able to finish this build off. I alreadt had the figures done. After seeing this pic on the comp, i realised the eyes needs a bit of touch up.

I had also addd some more soot to the rocket launcher and everything was brought together. Afraid i forgot to take pics while i was doing the base, but it was just so manic trying to get it all done. So, excuses ashide, here are the final pics.

And there you have it. After 20 years, its about time i got this built. I am really pleased with the finish, and i do like the pine branches which is one of the items i was waiting for.

The more observant will have noticed the lack of my normal nameplate. Unfortunatly my printer has gone belly up and i won't be getting a new one until next month, so i will add that then.

All comments welcome as always.

Looking good MD.

Looks like she's coming right along Maildude, nice work. 

Bish

Nice work MD. And these lessons are there to be learnt. I have lost count of the number of times i missed the damn obvious.

 

Gotta learn somehow. Books, mags, and from the folks on here are my preferred way, but I definitely remember my mistakes.

Anyway, here is just a quick update on where I'm at so far. Some more bits and pieces glued up/on, and a mock-up to see how everything is going to look/fit together. One thing I had fits with is the sprue stub on the seat backs is where the seat cushion and seat frame meet. Difficult to remove and maintain that demarcation detail. Tedious,tedious.......

Nice work MD. And these lessons are there to be learnt. I have lost count of the number of times i missed the damn obvious.

Gamera-The kit goes together really well, the grill however is narrower than the engine panels. Now this morning at work since I'm alone and and have time to think, it dawned on me " Why didn I cement some thin styrene on each side and file out holes for the light mounts?" Answer: I've never encountered that before, such a simple remedy! I'll be prepared next time, it is what it is.

Hog-Thanks.

MD,

Very nice progress, you'll be shooting the paint soon!

That looks really good! The old Tamiya kits weren't always that accurate but they generally fit pretty well. I'd have to ask the experts but since there wasn't a motorized version of this kit it's probably one of the more accurate ones. 

Slowly progressing. Have gotten some of the cab put together. Not totally happy with the front grill fit, but it's on there now. Maybe it will look better to me once some paint gets on it. The rest of the panels and windscreen frame fit fantastically. First Tamiya kit for me, I'm impressed so far. I've started on the rear, and am about ready to bring thos parts together. 

TAD- Thanks for the info. There's nothing better than info that comes from someone who has had "eyes on target". I appreciate it.

Jack- Thanks for the tip.

Even if the intention is to display new rubber road wheels, it would be better to sand the seams off.  That detail is a product of the kit molding, and isn't to scale. You could replicate it by masking and spraying an extremely thin line of grey.

regards,

Jack

MailDude

 

I figured wear would remove the moulding seam. I didn't notice the tracks, but they do resemble the illustration on the Tamiya box art, and the rubber track supplied with the kit. I wonder if that track was common for these vehicles?

 

 

MailDude

 

I figured wear would remove the moulding seam. I didn't notice the tracks, but they do resemble the illustration on the Tamiya box art, and the rubber track supplied with the kit. I wonder if that track was common for these vehicles?

 

 

When I was in Germany, we had a couple of M2/M3s set up in front of our battalion headquarters.  Both had the solid rubber type rear track.  If I remember correctly, the roadwheels were a mixed bag.  Some had big chunks of rubber missing, others had a ridge of rubber running around it, much like in your picture.  

I guess field maintenance in WWII was conducted much like it is today.  Road wheels are replaced when they need to be when you have the replacement wheels available.  If you are short repair parts, you have to prioritize what gets replace immediately, and what can wait until you have another supply of repair parts.  It is not uncommon to see a mix of worn and battered road wheels on the same vehicle with brand new ones.

Hope that's helpful.  I'll be watching your build and may get mine started soon.....

TAD

Gamera- Thanks for the links. Those are some great reference photos, hadn't seen them yet. 

Interesting comment of the wheels G. I am now woundering if the same applied to other nations. I know the new wheels we got for our Warriors didn't have it so could be a differance in how they are made now compared to back in the 40's. It would not surprise me if the seam was common at the time. Will look into that.

Tep, thats what i did, got them all done last night.

MD: Again looks good! You're right on sanding the seams off there, I think all US rubber wheels had them, I've seen a few photos of Shermans with them. But the seams seemed to quickly get ground down and vanish by friction with the tracks. Don't think I'd leave 'em unless you're doing a vehicle fresh from the factory.

Funny about those tracks, I hadn't noticed how they seem a solid belt until you pointed it out. Anyway I did find a few good photos on Toadman's site.

Here

and Here.

Plus an earlier M2 here.

And good luck with those road wheels Bish. Personnally I just turn on the television or a movie on YouTube and try to 'get in the zone' of just sanding one and then move onto the next one automatically.

Bish

I like flitting between the two. With aircraft i can get more variety in schemes but armour gives me more variety in the dio. And with armour i don't worry as much about thing being all neat and tidy.

Doind those wheel seams can be a chore though. I am getting a head start on my other build for the 1946 GB while i have nothing to do on the hellcat tonight. Its an armour build with steel wheels and a nice seam on them. All 32 of em.

I know theres a reason i like doing German armour, but what ever it is, it ain't the damn road wheels.

 

Bish, Have fun with those wheels.

This evening I got the suspension bogies assembled. I can take the halves apart to remove the wheels, as I plan on painting them separately.

I like flitting between the two. With aircraft i can get more variety in schemes but armour gives me more variety in the dio. And with armour i don't worry as much about thing being all neat and tidy.

Doind those wheel seams can be a chore though. I am getting a head start on my other build for the 1946 GB while i have nothing to do on the hellcat tonight. Its an armour build with steel wheels and a nice seam on them. All 32 of em.

I know theres a reason i like doing German armour, but what ever it is, it ain't the damn road wheels.

Bish

 

 

MailDude

 

I figured wear would remove the moulding seam. I didn't notice the tracks, but they do resemble the illustration on the Tamiya box art, and the rubber track supplied with the kit. I wonder if that track was common for these vehicles?

 

 

 

 

 

I can't say i have noticed but then i don't pay much attention to US vehicles. they remind me of the track on the BV 206. I just did a quick search and could not find any info, but the pics all seem to have the same track. It will make painting a bit easier.

 

Hey, anything to make things easier. At least untill I get my skill set up to speed. I must say I have found this armor build a little more enjoyable than the aircraft. I'm having a blast with it so far. 

MailDude

 

I figured wear would remove the moulding seam. I didn't notice the tracks, but they do resemble the illustration on the Tamiya box art, and the rubber track supplied with the kit. I wonder if that track was common for these vehicles?

 

 

I can't say i have noticed but then i don't pay much attention to US vehicles. they remind me of the track on the BV 206. I just did a quick search and could not find any info, but the pics all seem to have the same track. It will make painting a bit easier.

Those look like new wheels, i would have thougt that wear would remove that.

But one thing i notice is the track, its not metal links but looks like a continuous rubber track.

Gamera

MD: She's looking good, you're making solid progress there.

Thanks for the compliment. I'm a little slower than most, I guess, just feeling my way along. I do have a question though. I was sanding some seams off the middle of the road wheels when I looked at some photos online.

Seams are clearly visible on some of these wheels, and some are gone obviously by wear. Question is, do you guys leave these seams or sand them off?

MD: She's looking good, you're making solid progress there. 

Making steady progress on the M21. Although everything is not glued together, just some dry fitting, this is what I have accomplished so far today. 

I found a pic online of the rear spring, and the bracket had a hole in the rear. so, I thought what the heck, drill 'em out while they are still accesible. Better to look at than a flat surface.

Thanks MD. A nice start there on the M21. You did a good job on that exhaust. I did build the old tamiya M3 many years ago, same base kit as yours i am guessing, not bad from what i recall. Good old tamiya.

Thanks steve. ye, from what i have seen, they can get pretty dirty.

hogfanfs

@Bish,

Wow! My heart skipped a beat! The weathering is spectacular! I can't wait to see this in your diorama! 

 

@Cliff,

The M3 is really coming along nicely! I'm looking forward to seeing some paint on this vehicle!

 

@MD,

Great start on the M21, and even better job on opening the exhaust! It's the little details like this that will make this build fantastic! Great job!

 

Thanks Bruce, i am hoping the stuff will be here end of next week at latest, thats the usual shipping time from the US.

Gamera

Thanks guys!

Maildude, she's coming right along! As to your questions looks like the M21 simply denotes an M3 with modifications for the mortar carrier. The chassis and cab seem to be the same.

 

 

That's what I was thinking. I actually have the Squadron Signal "M3A1 Scout Car" walk around book, and was noticing a lot of similarities in the undercarriage and such. Thanks for the advice on the paint, that's the route I'm going I suppose.