M3A1 Stuart Tank 1:35

25,000 produced during WWII. Mine will represent an American tank used in Tunisa during 1942.

Completed the hull:....



..... and started weathering the interior:

Can you make it look like it was recycled metal from China ?

Looks like a good start to me.

I made this as a Stuart honey (turretless) for my "coutances" diorama....... Fantastic kit to do, I'd make another... And I just might now I've seen this.

Looking good so far mate, so many little extras you can scratch up too if you're inclined.

YES, interior is really good as many kits omit anything inside. I suppose it makes sense since a) who's going to look inside and b) that's where we put the fire crackers!
Most excellent work, as you always do.

Looks great Al.

You really are expanding your horizons away from cars. Nice work Al, really nice work.

Thanks for your kind comments guys!!

Interiors of tanks can vary quite considerably and this on is no different:...





... so I'm just doing a Frankie. LOL

Seats installed and extinguisher. I made cusshions for the front seats by covering the rather 'square' looking kit offerings in a thin layer of BluTac, then molding and painting. I did the same with the 'centre console' too.

Nice work Al. Those are pretty good reference pictures.

Thanks Buck.

Yes they are good ref. photos but you need to bare in mind that they are restored tanks, not back in the day tanks.

I added and weathered the kit ammo boxes then gave the crew some AM sleeping bags and a bucket too you know what in!! LOL

Man a four man crew must have been real cosy in there!!!

Skid wrote:Man a four man crew must have been real cosy in there!!!

Hi Al,

I bet they didn't eat many baked bean or ate many sprouts...

Looking very nice so far Sir...

Andy...(now watching and ready )

Thanks Andy.

I bet they didn't eat many baked bean or ate many sprouts... wrote:

Moving on to the upper hull, I attatched all the little doodads. Most of which are tiny, so the 'tags' where they were attached to the sprue, still need cleaning up, once the MEK has fully cured.



However, I made a right pigs ear of the turret main hatches. I got one in upside down but didn't realise until I came to do the other one. Then I had to remove the first one and turn it over. Hooray for MEK. Would have been nigh on impossible with CA. Looks a bit messy but should clean up a bit when full cured. Pain and weathering will help too.

I'd originally wanted both hatches closed but because of the MEK on the other side, had to sand it away, together with the exterior hinges. Oh! well!!!

Upside down hatches........I think we have all had mini disasters like that. I think that would be an interesting new thread for our members - Our biggest disasters.

Very interesting,
Thanks, Skid.
Old as I am, I've never seen the interior of a tank.

Since this one is being represented from the North African, Tunisia Campaign of 1942, I figured sand would get into the interior, so I gave it a wash with MIG Productions Africa Dust.

Oh yes,  I'm liking this!


Edit*
Just noticed that some holes need filling in a couple of the ammo cartridges in the racks, sorry to point that out so late after all that good work Al.

Excellent detail and weathering really make the realistic view of this interior. Great work, Al.

Thanks guys.

Colin..... I noticed the injection pin marks in the cartridges but since they will be hard to see when the upper hull is in place, I decided to leave them as is.

I wasn't to happy with the sand on the seats and padding, so I added a little more. Looks much better now methinks!

Skid wrote:
Colin..... I noticed the injection pin marks in the cartridges but since they will be hard to see when the upper hull is in place, I decided to leave them as is.

Cool, that's what i did, because it didn't click at the time to fill them..... bit of a shame as i built a turretless "honey" and you can see in ...... doh!!!

Hahahahaha! Still, It's a very cool build and we can see how "desert" weathering could apply to car and truck dios of today, thanks!

The kit includes a turret with 'basket' but the basket squished the cushion I added:





No matter, I simply shortened the basket and will re-do the cushion:







Now the turret fits properly:





However, looking at the only two ref. photos I have been able to find of this tank, I cannot possible see how a 'basket' could fit in:





So unless someone has, or can find an interior photo, showing the 'basket' in place, I think I am going to leave it out.