ScanmanDan Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 For a while now I have been messing about with 1/48 scale armour but felt like I need a change of pace. I have always had a soft spot for the M3 Stuart. Like the Panzer III it just screams 'Tank' to me. The local shop had the Academy kit on sale so it seemed a logical choice. So far I'm two weekends in and the basic construction is done. If I didn't build the individual links I'd have been done in one. Not too sure the individual links are really worth it as the rubber band tracks look pretty darn good. I have done a few little additions and I have some stowage planed but I should be getting to the paint booth soon. I have some Star aftermarket decals that I want to have a go with. The colour will be a basic light stone finish with Australian desert markings. I don't plan much wear either just a lot of dust and sand. A small base and a figure are future additions that should make this a quick and simple build. Here's where I'm at right now. Thanks for looking in. Dan 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fatfingers Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 Nice tidy build. Did one of these a few years back. Look forward to see how you tackle the painting and weathering. Its a nice kit and Airfix have just re-released it. Regards, Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 That's cool. Can I ask how you did the canvas strap holding the flimsies on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScanmanDan Posted August 19, 2019 Author Share Posted August 19, 2019 Thanks guys. The strap is three layers of blue painters masking tape sealed with very thin superglue and a buckle faked from flattened very thin lead wire. Does anyone know if these came in OD from the US and then painted Light Stone? Just wondering how far I can go in weathering the paint before I get a cartoon. Thanks for any advice given. Dan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 1 hour ago, ScanmanDan said: The strap is three layers of blue painters masking tape sealed with very thin superglue and a buckle faked from flattened very thin lead wire. Thanks. I shall try that - afraid I don't know the answer to your question though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Bob Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 1 hour ago, ScanmanDan said: Does anyone know if these came in OD from the US and then painted Light Stone? Just wondering how far I can go in weathering the paint before I get a cartoon. Thanks for any advice given. From photos I've seen, all the US stuff arrived in OD and were painted in local theatre schemes. That is looking very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScanmanDan Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 Most of the afternoon zipped away doing that last bits to get ready for primer. I've done my mix of Tamiya for the light Stone, so here goes. Before the paint booth. We'll see how I go. I've got my fingers crossed. Dan 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Umut Can Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 Nice and clean, I can't wait for the next phase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 Ok more questions! Those weld seams on the turret (is that what they are?) How did you make them? It looks like embossed foil or something? Whatever it is, you’ve really given this character - I’m often happiest with my builds at this stage. Almost seems a shame to paint! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted August 24, 2019 Share Posted August 24, 2019 Nice detail on there Dan. I like the straps and the weld beads. John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScanmanDan Posted August 25, 2019 Author Share Posted August 25, 2019 Progress?: Looks pretty ratty right now but I trust I can get it looking better in a bit. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScanmanDan Posted August 26, 2019 Author Share Posted August 26, 2019 (edited) Jon - This is the silver texture paste I used for the weld beads. The nozzle is about 0.03mm so nice and small beads are pretty easy. The paste cleans up with water and holds its shape pretty well. Works okay and is very fast and easy. Comes in a lot of colours too . Tonights progress; A couple of washes in oils and some pin washes in Humbrol. A few chips here and there. The Star decals are okay but I'm not very good at getting the film to disappear, sigh. I hate decals Just not good at em. More work on the tracks and wheels plus painting more details tomorrow. Having fun and that's the main thing. Thanks for looking in. Dan Edited August 26, 2019 by ScanmanDan 7 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soeren Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 Very, very nice indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingsman Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 I like stretched sprue and a pyrogravure for welds, but the effect here is really good. The factory welding I've seen on preserved US tanks is generally very neat and smooth. I picked up some "3D paint" in a craft shop somewhere thinking it might be useful for something. Haven't used it yet, but I might experiment with that for weld beads. Etched brass welds don't feel right and must be a pain to stick down neatly, as well as being too square-edged. I'm not sure I'd trust the longevity of resin-printed weld decals like those from Archer. As for paint, noting that it's a bit late now, M3 Lights delivered direct to theatre would certainly have been in OD and repainted there. The lower hull area under the sponsons behind the bogies was often not re-painted and there are photos of assorted US-supplied tanks where the wheels and sprockets were only part-painted with the areas shielded by bogie arms and sand shields still left in OD, presumably not bothering to move the tank to finish the painting. OD areas were sometimes left unpainted as the camouflage contrast colour. Any tanks shipped via the UK might have been repainted to a better standard before being shipped out. The UK apparently didn't specify a colour for US-supplied cash-and-carry tanks so US standard OD was used, despite the fact that a desert colour might have made sense for at least some. And once Lend-Lease came in OD became standardised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 3 hours ago, ScanmanDan said: I hate decals Just not good at em. I know that this may be asking the bl***ing obvious, but do you coat the model with gloss varnish before applying the decals? Peter is right about the OD being left as it was on the lower hull. Years ago Steve Zaloga did an article in MM where he built a desert Sherman ll and he made a point about the lower hull being OD. John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScanmanDan Posted August 31, 2019 Author Share Posted August 31, 2019 (edited) Hi John - Yes I did gloss first and silvering wasn't a problem. It's more hiding the thickness of the decal and stopping the step caused by applying them show though the weathering. I did shoot a thin coat of gloss to seal the decals but it didn't make too much difference. I hope to be able to hide the texture in the weathering. Got a bit of time to mess about this afternoon, progress but not much. I'm working on the hull bottom too but it looks a mess right now. Im not going to do any real attempt to do an OD lower hull on this one but I think it would make an outstanding and stunning looking model. I want to keep it simple and keep moving lest I get distracted. I hope you enjoy. Dan Edited August 31, 2019 by ScanmanDan 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robgizlu Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 It's come together really well, decals look fine from this distance Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 As Rob said, the decals look fine in the photos. I can't offer anything with regards the decals as although I have built this kit, I used Bison Decals. John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScanmanDan Posted September 1, 2019 Author Share Posted September 1, 2019 Last pics for the weekend. One side down now need to get the other looking the same. Still a fair bit to do but kicking along pretty well at least I haven't wandered off to do something else. Thanks for looking in. Dan 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soeren Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 Your paint job on this tiny tank looks nicely modulated and busy. Very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
06/24 Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 It’s wonderfully subtle. Really lovely work Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomCZ Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 Very nice paint job and thank you for the welding tip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScanmanDan Posted October 12, 2019 Author Share Posted October 12, 2019 (edited) Well a month wasted... I just could not get any figures for not look awful. I messed about for weeks and in the end said to myself, just get on with it. So, on to making a little base. Here's where I'm at right now. Usual construction. Namely a wooden box from a craft shop topped with a rim of 2.5mm square Evergreen strip painted black with rubber feet. Then some cheap hardware store epoxy putty groundwork covered by a mix of broken plaster rocks, grout & sand + scatter materials with added bit o' bobbins to taste. Here's a few pics with the Honey as is. I've still more to do but this last pic is close to what I had in my minds eye when I started and to me that's a successful build. Thanks for looking in. Edited October 12, 2019 by ScanmanDan 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bullbasket Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 That looks really good Dan, in it's natural setting. John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper dog Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 Looking pretty darn good from over here. The base really makes it, must try one someday. I do like the worn and nicely weathered finish you've achieved on the paintwork. Great job. Darryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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