M3 Stuart - O.O.B. Build

Kim Branders
well done Dave, looks extremly good. Grtz Kim

Steve Wilson
Nice Build Dave...

Dave Creel kirjailija
Thanks, no bells or whistles on this one ... just plain jane.

Hauke Krapf

Dave,

you have done an "interesting" paint job! It's some sort of getting used to, but interesting!
Are you aware of the kit's tweaks? The worst one are the tracks!
Check with your pictures No. 7! Looking closer at the tracks you'll discover that these tracks will NEVER work!
The end connectors are in the center of the track links!!!!
The end connectors are called end connectors as the track links are connected be them!
But how should this work, if the end connectors are located in the center of the track link? By miracle or maybe by the word-famous SIEMENS air hooks?

On the other hand. This kit replicates an the engine deck of an diesel powered M3A1, as indicated by the longer hose that runs from the air clraner to the mesh in the engine deck. M3A1's had an welded hull and the the engine compartment armor was fabricated of ONE steel plate covering the engine deck and the rearr plate. The armor plate was bend to shape and this created an curved appearance of the rear plate, not three armor plates connected in angles.

In case that you'll have additional questions, please feel free to contact me.

Best regards

Hauke Krapf

Bill Gilman
I don't build armor, but I think this looks rather nice. Another good job!

I should try to build an armor kit, it would get me away from having to fill all those annoying seams! 🙂 🙂 🙂

Hauke Krapf


Bill,

"Annoying Seams?" You'll find them on armor models too!

If you'll like to build an armor model, go either with one of the new TAMIYA models or getting one of TASCA's Shermans.

The TASCA Shermans, they are a joy to build!

Greetings

Hauke

Dave Creel kirjailija
It is nearly impossible to shave seams off of rubber tracks. As I stated initially, this was done as an "Out Of The Box" build ... no aftermarket tracks were available in the mid-70s so, what you see is what you get. If you count the rivets on the hull, you may find some inconsistencies as well ......
Thanks, Dave

Gerald
Very nice Dave

Dave Flitton
Is the tank Black or is that my computer monitor? Yes, the Tamiya tracks are wrong but they look great!! Nice weathering, althoug h I would "silver-up" the metal parts that actually hit the ground or scraped against other metal parts, unless you meant the tank to look like it hasn't moved in months, then cool!

Dave Flitton
If it is a tank in the Philipinnes , then nevermind. It's hard to keep anything in the wet tropics from rusting up.

Dave Creel kirjailija
Guadalcanal ... thanks. And the color is a bit dark in my pics. It is actually RLM 2025 Marine Corps Green. It oxidized terribly, therefore the light shading.

Dave Flitton
Guadalcanal....nasty on tanks!!!! Excellent OOB build!!

Dave Creel kirjailija
Thank You Dave, much appreciated. I was limited in this build to no Celluclay or I would have "Muddied" her up something terrible ... to the point where mold seams on the track would not be visible.

Markus Kutsch The Plastic Bench
For that the kit is so old,its a wonderful work,Dave.I got some "work intense kits" in my stash to (with photoetch and friul tracks and so on)but iam avoiding to build them because they are so time consuming.

Hauke Krapf
Dave,

By counting the rivets on the hull you may unearth some inconsistencies. That?s not the point!

Dave, I never challenged your craftsmanship or the outstanding paint job you have done with your model!

It?s my belief that we, as modelers, are striving to represent a reduction of the original vehicle, aircraft or whatsoever. Showing the LIGHT TANK M3, that?s the correct nomenclature IAW TM 9-726, with these ?horrible? tracks is NOT a reduction of the original, for sure.

It?s Mr. Tamiya?s conception, or should I call it ?imagination?, that the light Tank M3 is running on SIEMENS air hook tracks!

Dave, if you are happy with the model, that?s OK for my.

It?s your model and as I mentioned it prior, I don?t challenge your craftsmanship or your painting skills. You have done a great job; that's out of question!

On the other hand; my objection is substantiated and not just grumbling! These are the technical, historical facts that can?t be rejected. If you check with TM 9-726 LIGHT TANK M3 and the Hunnicutt Stuart book, you?ll find proof for my statements.

It?s a question of stand, or should I call it orientation. I spent a lot of hours in researching prior to modeling in getting as most as information of my future project. Even the historical context should be considered.

I?ll give you an example.

Years ago I saw a 1/35model of a SHERMAN III, M4A2 by US nomenclature.

The modeler?s craftsmanship and the paint job very were good. But, - this gentleman had decided to replicate his SHERMAN III as a vehicle of the Guards Armoured Division.

This is some sort of anachronism, as the Guard Armoured Division used ONLY SHERMAN V, 75-MM Gun Tanks, not considering the Firefly Tanks that were either SHERMAN VC or SHERMAN IC Hybrids. And not considering the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment of this division, that was equipped with Cromwell Cruiser Tanks. SHERMAN IIIs were used by 27th Armoured Brigade, disbanded in July 1944 due to heavy losses, 8th Armoured Brigade and 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade. These were the only Brigade/Dicision sized units, which used SHERMAN IIIs during the NWE Campaign.
Taking in account the technical and historical facts are the factors, which distinguish a correct model from fun one. Please don?t get me wrong. If you have fun in building models out of the box, that?s fine. You must enjoy your build!

I?ll take a different approach, as you might have noticed. I do not claim that my approach is the only true, but I believe that the implications of technical and historical specifications can?t be negated easily, if you want to represent your model in its historical context.

Grtz

Hauke

Mike Kryza
Hello Dave - I like your "little" tank. There was a time we were happy to get such kits, we went home and build them. And today... I'm not a rivetcounter and I will not become one and in this way it is nice to build from time to time one of the old goodies with all mistakes...😉. Modeling will be fun and nothing more. Dave - go on in your way.
Greetings - Mike

Burkhard D
In the early days of the rec.models.scale newsgroup whenever a discussion about 'serious modeling' versus 'modeling for fun' came up, someone used to post this quote:

"It is the mark of an instructed mind to rest satisfied with the degree of
precision which the nature of the subject permits and not to seek an exactness
where only an approximation of the truth is possible." [Aristoteles]

🙂

Frank Krause
Again a nice one, Dave! Love it!

Dave Creel kirjailija
Thanks all, I appreciate the attention. With all due respect to Aristoteles, I have a quote as well - "No matter how extensively you research, regardless of the attention to detail, despite one's best efforts, someone will always find something wrong with it." That's mine but please, feel free to use it. [Razorboy] 🙂

Bill Gilman
You may have seen this one before:

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🙂 🙂 🙂

Wilfried Bogaerts
🙂 🙂 🙂

Markus Kutsch The Plastic Bench
Yeah ,thats one for a lonley saturday night (oneeeee,twwoooo...... ) 🙂

Dave Creel kirjailija
Hahahaha! I'm stealing that one!!!

Frank Krause
Instead of sheep counting... great!

Hauke Krapf

Bill,

great comment! It's hilarious! I'm with Dave. "I'm stealing that one!"