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So this seems to be a popular kit (also I think the new Airfix version is a rebox)... After opening the box I was surprised at the number of parts included for such a tiny tank (Stormtrooper bits not included)... Instructions are a black and white booklet but seem easy enough to follow and the paint guide is also a black and white sheet (so no idea why that's not part of the booklet). I've been absent from the group builds for a while (work commitments) so figured I'll go for a straight OOB build to keep things simple and give me a chance of finishing. I think I'll go for one of the British variants, I'm not sure on whether to use the rubber band or individual link tracks but kudos to Academy for giving you the choice. So before I knew it I'd already built up the running gear... One thing I like about armour builds is how I can just get into the flow of building without the stop/start of needing to paint stuff - however, well now I need to paint the interior, so I decided to take a break for the evening. Today I got back into it, building up the interior parts into sub-assemblies (transmission, drive shaft tunnel, turret armour, turret basket, etc.) before airbrushing the interior parts with some Mr Surfacer 1500 White then hand painting the details before assembling. I've not done the greatest of jobs with the painting (spot the paint runs in the hull) though not much of the interior will be visible when finished. I added a bit of light grey washing to the floor plates to make them look a little worn. One thing I found is that the blanking plate for the bottom of the hull seems to make the interior sit a little high so I'm wondering if it should have been omitted or I've just messed up somehow (it doesn't appear to be made to fit from the bottom and the instructions show it being added from the top). So a good bit of progress for the weekend, hopefully this will be a quick build!

Seeing as I am co-hosting the GB I suppose its about time I got my build thread started! In preparation for the GB I picked up the newish Tamiya M3A1 at last years IPMS UK Nationals, and while it certainly isn't as detailed as the new Miniart kits it has the traditional Tamiya mix of a decent amount of detail without being over complicated which is a big help to me as I have a lot going on at the minute so it should give me a chance of finishing it. So lets start with the ubiquitous box top and contents shots. the box top; And the contents still sealed in their plastic bags; And now comes the difficult bit, deciding what scheme to finish it in! I have two options going around in my mostly empty head and they are one very similar to the box top art as in a US Army machine from North Africa but possibly using markings from a Star decal sheet for an example that had mud painted onto the original OD camouflage to give it a bit of variety. My other option is for a post war machine used by Chile to help show that the Stuart didn't disappear from inventories after WWII, they stayed in service into the 1970's at least for training and also wore a variety of desert related schemes according to profiles on a PDF I have about Chilean armour, though I would like to see a picture or two to back this up. So there you go, thats my proposed build. Thanks for looking in and as usual all comments and criticisms are gratefully received. Craig.

Hi Pals, Hi Pals, I end this kit, which has been quite enjoyable to build and paint, which includes a fairly decent interior and which I decided to do, although in this specific case, not much is seen, even with the hatches open, if we disassemble the turret, something else if it is visible. I have tried something new with this model (the truth is that I almost always do it ... lol), since I continue learning and improving what I already know how to do, and that is that the internet is a very useful resource, since it is not possible for me to share with nobody the hobby in person (now, even less). Oils are definitely something very useful when it comes to painting, and even weathering on models, and it is also the first one with which I use satin varnish, trying to get a feeling of something "metallic", which I think is achieved by impacting the light in certain parts, I hope the photos show it, because in my hands, if I can make the mental abstraction that "it is not plastic" ... lol Thank you all very much for watch and comment, and for the tips that have corrected at least a couple of errors (there are 2 less ... lol), I hope you like it. Cheers and TC Francis. 👍 BLACK BACKGROUND White background

This is the 1/35 Academy M3A1 Stuart "Honey" in the correct 'Caunter' scheme (not the incorrect 'blue' scheme that Academy showed). Custom mixed Tamiya acrylics using Mike Starmer's formulas, RAC insignia painted, kit unit decals. Lots of small details added, all tie downs replaced with brass wire, latches and hinges added to stowage boxes, rack for water cans scratch built, tow cable from fine solder, etc. Last two photos are with Dragons Valentine tank, another Desert warrior. Thanks for looking, Colin

I'm working on Academy's M3A1 Stuart 'Honey". I've just finished the base painting using Mike Starmer's Tamiya mix, so I thought I'd share. Lots to do yet but I found it interesting how the silver grey disappears in black and white photos, makes it very hard to get the scheme exactly right!

Dear all, My first armour model on Britmodeller, I'm normally more at home in the aircraft section 🙂 This is the 1:72 S-model M3A3 Stuart in the colours of the French Army, as it was advancing north from the Provence in August 1944. The S-Model kit is a 'Quick-Build' kit that comes with two sets of sprues in the box, complemented with a small etch fret. An easy build that will allow you to focus on the painting and weathering. I added a few details from wire and complemented the model with a (slightly modified) 3D printed US tanker from ReedOak. The decals are from Braille Scale. Enjoy! Peter

British M3 Stuart Honey 1:35 Airfix A1358 The M3 is officially the Light Tank M3, later M5 just to confuse things. This was developed in the US and armed with a turret mounted 37mm gun, and an impressive 5 browning machine guns in various positions. Originally powered by an aircraft radial engine the M5 used a conventional V8 powerplant as aero engines were need for aircraft. The British would name the Tank The Stuart after the American Confederate General JEB Stuart. British crews liked the M5 as it was faster than current British Tanks and the gun could fire High Explosive shells, there were though complaints about its layout and lack of range. By late 1942 it was recognised the gun was increasingly in-effective against armour and the tanks were used primarily for reconnaissance. The Kit Before anyone gets too excited about Airfix doing 1/35 Armour all the new kits in the range are in collaboration with Academy. This kit though seems to be well liked by the modelling community. As well as the main hull casting and the turret there are 5 additional sprues in the recognisable caramac plastic as well as four spures of black plastic for the tracks. If individual track links is not your thing then rubber ones are also included. Construction starts with the running fear. Four main bogie units are made up with two wheels each. the rear idler wheels and front drive sprockets are then made up. All of these parts attaching to the lower hull as are the return rollers for the tracks. We then move onto the interior, this is not highly detailed like some kits on the market but should be more than adequate for what you can actually see. The interior and floor are then added into the lower hull. Work then moves to the upper hull this has the ports for the machine guns added along with the side skirts over the tracks. Various light fittings and equipment boxes are added. The driver and gunners observation flaps can be open or shut as needed. The rear exhaust area and additional stowage boxes / fuel can holders are then added. The tracks are then added. As mentioned there are traditional rubber ones and link & length tracks in the box. For the linked ones these are individual links to which end plates are added linking them together. To finish things up the turret is made up ad added. There is a complete 37mm gun which id added into the turret basket the turret is then built up over this. The turret mounted 30 cl can then be added along with the side mounted smoke dis chargers and a few other turret parts. The turret is added to the hull and the model is complete. Decals The small decal sheet has no maker on it, but looks to be in register with no issues. Two main decal options are provided (though only 1 is British?); "Connecticut IV", A Sqn, 5th Royal Tank Regiments, 7th Armoured Div, North Africa 1942 "Helen", B Company, 192nd Tank Battalion, Philippines late 1941 Conclusion This is a great kit of an of the M3 and is to be recommended. Review sample courtesy of

Ok still kind of new to modelling having only made 2 planes! I started this a few years ago then took a big break from new hobby. Recently got back into it and finished this! First attempt at weathering. Maybe a bit too far. Have a diorama base I bought for it so will work on that now as well as my eurofighter Hope you like it!!

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