f matthews

Another one of Miniart’s excellent Grant kits that I recently finished up. This is a non-interior kit, but is heads and shoulders above the other manufacturers’ Grant kits out there. Highly recommended. I finished this one in the desert pink and charcoal grey scheme for late 1942/early 1943. Masterclub tracks were added, which are extremely well done, although the kit tracks, while a little more time consuming, are also quite good.

This kit was my first armour kit when I returned to modelling in the early 1990s. A fun build although mine only had the OTM PE set (that was cutting edge back then). I have a Miniart 122 in the stash that is so much nicer. Great build log you have going-I’m watching for sure.

In the first months of T-60 production, Soviet factories were disrupted severely by the German advance. Factory No.264 outside of Stalingrad, which would end up as the second highest producer of T-60 tanks, took a while getting up to speed and was assembling T-60s from components coming from other factories that had been packed up and sent deeper into the country as they were getting overrun. I converted a Miniart early Plant No.237 into a screened (uparmoured) early Factory 264 T-60. The unique armour plates (rounded at the bottom) of the particular vehicle I was modeling are not included in Miniart’s early 264 kit, so I added sheet brass armour plates to the turret and converted the hull to a welded one, as was produced at Factory 264. The Miniart T-60 kits are really well done, very detailed and a pleasure to build. This is my fourth build of the seven gun tanks, so perhaps I’m in need of some counseling...

Looking good!

That is very good information. I was thinking about one open/one closed. The top section part with the air filter and radiator hose was damaged in both sprues, but I’ll see if there is a way to make that part removable.

I’m building the Bronco Airborne Recce/Signal set right now. Bronco has done a great job on these Jeeps. Yours looks fantastic!

THANKS!

I’ve never participated in a Group Build before, but I’m keen to build a Pz. III and have a few (and StuG IIIs, etc) in the stash, so I’d like to give it a try. I’m a but of a slow builder with too many projects going on, but a Pz III of some sort was in my plans for sometime in 2021.

Awesome work-the display is brilliant. Agreed that Miniart strikes a perfect balance with these kits. They give you a nearly-complete, very detailed interior, but it’s not exhausting as many full interiors can be. One of my all-time favorite kits-I’ve built four already and will definitely do at least one more this year.

Still easier than a T-54/55!! Looks great.

Thanks! I like the offbeat stuff that most people don’t build-that way they look like I know what I’m doing more than if I was building a Tiger, Sherman or Panther!

I was able to complete more projects in 2020 than I have since the 1990s. -Bronco A13 Mk I -Miniart Grant Mk.I -Miniart T-60 GAZ Screened -Bronco Hungarian CV-35.M -Miniart T-60 Stalingrad Prod. 1/72 Italeri AB-41 -Bronco PzKpfw. 35(t) -Miniart T-60 Plant No.264 Early Prod. -Miniart Grant Mk.II Hopefully 2021 can be as productive!

Looks pretty nice and you’re doing a fantastic job of it. I am currently building the Bronco Recce/Signals Ford GPs and have been similarly impressed. Both look like great kits. I have had some Tamiya Jeeps (the newer ones) in the stash for years, but somehow in over forty years of armour modeling, this is my first Jeep(s) build.

The most important thing to get right if you want the actual/accurate colour grey-DO NOT USE BLUE!

I REALLY like these kits. After building the T-55, I think you’ll find this a breeze. I’m hoping to build the whole series of the Miniart T-60s and am about 1/2way through the ones I’m planning on doing (the gun tanks and a TACAM). Of course, my modeling “plans” will require that I live to 120 years and still manage to maintain my abilities and eyesight! You’ll enjoy this one and I’ll be sure to watch-you do a great build log. Two of mine have complete interiors, one, I built with only what would be visible and the third has hatches closed so no interior (the 2-tone camo one). With no interior built, I finished one in less than a month-lightning fast for me.

The jack block was usually mounted under (but sometimes on top of) the 2 jerrycans on the rear left fender. The spare wheel in front was something I left off of my Barbarossa 35(t). The mount I did was just a flat thin rectangular of scrap PE with a rod and a wingnut.

Here are a few items I found. The first is in Nuts & Bolts: French Campaign: Barbarossa:

Spare tracks were typically mounted on the very rear section of the right fender. There was fairly uniform stowage for these tanks depending on the campaign (below is Barbarossa-Polish and French campaigns had different fuel can and other stowage locations). If you can find a photo or two of the vehicle you want to model, check out the stowage-particularly the jerrycan placement.

Been working on this one for a little bit after finishing the Miniart Mk.I in the Spring. Nice kits-getting close to wrapping this one up before the end of the month.

I’ve built a couple of the CMK kits. They are simple and straightforward, but appear to be accurate in most respects and build up ok, but need some detailing (gun barrels, etc). The resin CMK cans are nice-they are included in the command tank version as well. I’ve seen some excellent build-ups of it that are better than what I was able to accomplish with mine. I traded off the Academy kit, which is more detailed than the CMK, as soon as I got the Bronco kit. The Bronco kit is extremely well done. The interior can be skipped if you prefer, which cuts the assembly in half (at least). The CMK kit is also the same kit that Tamiya reboxed under their own line, which says to me it’s an a decent kit. The CMK boxings are much less $$ though!

This is amazing.

This is just spectacular! I hope to get started on one of mine sometime next year-I really like the new Miniart stuff and will be using this as an instruction manual. Top notch building and painting-thanks for sharing the journey!

That turret sight is amazing for 1/72! Great build and finish.

Fantastic! I remember this kit from when I was a kid. My brother built this one (the Monogram kit) and I built the Red Baron Rod Revell kit with the big chrome helmet. Yours looks much better of course and the figures are brilliant.

So that stuff will eliminate the carrier film look? I really detest decals because of the film-that star looks great. Did you do surface prep before applying the decal? I have avoided using decals for 20years or more so to have a “fix” would be amazing!