edjbartos Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 Hi there everyone, this is my entry into my first group build. Talking about first's, I have never built an M3 or an M4 (shame on me), so this will be really interesting for me doing something totally new. I have chosen a Miniart M3 as I have read good reports about them, plus the fact that I love doing Miniart kits anyway. I already had an M3 in my stash, a Miniart interior, but with 3 months to build, It would have been a bit of a stretch, for me at least to complete in time. So this is an external build, having said that It still comes with a good parts count. So on to a few pictures, this is the box art, I really like the look of this.... This will be the version that I hope to build... Kit comes with rucksacks and bags, interesting to see how these look... Some shots of a few sprues... You get a small PE set , some decals and clear parts. I have purchased the tow rope from Eureka XL. The kit will be pretty much OOB, along with the purchased tow rope and I have purchased last night some North Africa tank crew figures and some Hornet heads to go with them. So there you go, I'm looking forward to this, see you soon Ed 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 Nice one, Ed. I was starting to feel marginalized by all the M4 variations in the GB so it's good to see another M3. We have many sprues in common, as you would expect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted March 17, 2022 Author Share Posted March 17, 2022 20 minutes ago, Bertie Psmith said: We have many sprues in common, as you would expect. Hi there Bertie, indeed we have and I'm glad to say that I have probably half the sprues that you have 😀 I bought this kit specifically for this group build never having done an M3 or M4 before, I liked what I saw in the box and ended up buying another 3 M3's from Miniart, a Grant 1, Grant 2 and a late production Lee. That should keep me going for a bit! all the best Ed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 13 minutes ago, edjbartos said: I have probably half the sprues that you have I have 43 sprues not counting the tracks. My reach may have exceeded my grasp in trying to do this in three months. 😄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diases Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 Love the extra stowage as part of the kit. Looking forward to your build Paul 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted March 17, 2022 Share Posted March 17, 2022 Welcome to the build Ed, happy to see any Grant derivative. They're sadly the unloved older sibling after all. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper dog Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 Crikey another maniac! Miniart M3's, not feeling inadequate in the slightest about not having one.... Everyday's a school day, I've never seen a British Lee in North Africa, I'd always assumed they just had Grant's. Good luck Ed, always enjoy your builds. Darryl 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEscaleSHOW Posted March 18, 2022 Share Posted March 18, 2022 16 hours ago, edjbartos said: Hi there everyone, this is my entry into my first group build. Talking about first's, I have never built an M3 or an M4 (shame on me), so this will be really interesting for me doing something totally new. I have chosen a Miniart M3 as I have read good reports about them, plus the fact that I love doing Miniart kits anyway. I already had an M3 in my stash, a Miniart interior, but with 3 months to build, It would have been a bit of a stretch, for me at least to complete in time. So this is an external build, having said that It still comes with a good parts count. So on to a few pictures, this is the box art, I really like the look of this.... This will be the version that I hope to build... Kit comes with rucksacks and bags, interesting to see how these look... Some shots of a few sprues... You get a small PE set , some decals and clear parts. I have purchased the tow rope from Eureka XL. The kit will be pretty much OOB, along with the purchased tow rope and I have purchased last night some North Africa tank crew figures and some Hornet heads to go with them. So there you go, I'm looking forward to this, see you soon Ed Hello Ed Great kit! I can't wait to see what you do with it 😅 MD 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 1 hour ago, Jasper dog said: Crikey another maniac! That pretty much sums me up Darryl 🤣 As for the Lee in North Africa, here's a photo of both a Grant and a Lee together, during the First battle of El Alamein 7th July 1942. Both are cool looking tanks in my opinion... thanks for commenting Ed 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share Posted March 18, 2022 21 minutes ago, THEscaleSHOW said: Hello Ed Great kit! I can't wait to see what you do with it 😅 MD Thanks MD, it's nice to try something completely different, so I'm looking forward to starting this.. Ed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted March 19, 2022 Share Posted March 19, 2022 Hi Ed. Welcome to your first GB. Great to have you here and I hope you have an enjoyable build. I do really like the look of these MiniArt kits. It's good to see another M3 too. Kind regards, Stix 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robert Stuart Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 Mmm, this looks interesting - a good trick, labelling those sprues like that (I might pinch the idea). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 1 hour ago, Robert Stuart said: Mmm, this looks interesting - a good trick, labelling those sprues like that (I might pinch the idea). No problem Robert, with Miniart, labelling the sprues like this is a given, there are so many of them it just makes things a little easier... Ed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 Hello everyone, just started to work on the base, In true Miniart fashion a fair amount of parts make up the base. I have to say that the detail is really crisp.. After cutting and cleaning up the parts, these make up the start of the base... Generally the parts fit quite well, I found the side walls were a bit fiddly, but once in place everything went together well... A few photo's to show where I'm at ... thanks for looking Ed 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 Hi Ed. Looks like you are off to a great start and the detail on the kit looks amazing! Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jasper dog Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 Romping away Ed, really looking forward to being able to make a start myself. Darryl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted March 20, 2022 Author Share Posted March 20, 2022 4 hours ago, PlaStix said: Hi Ed. Looks like you are off to a great start and the detail on the kit looks amazing! Kind regards, Stix Many thanks Stix, I've read other people praising the amount of detail on the M3's, I can now see why, really impressive... Ed 2 hours ago, Jasper dog said: Romping away Ed, really looking forward to being able to make a start myself. Darryl It's going great at the moment, part fit so far has been great. It will be good to see your North Africa based Tasca Sherman when you start... all the best Ed 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blade2009 Posted March 20, 2022 Share Posted March 20, 2022 Looks like you have made a good start 👍. Stu 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 Looking forward to this, Im a bit weird but do have a soft spot for these. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted March 21, 2022 Author Share Posted March 21, 2022 6 hours ago, Corsairfoxfouruncle said: Looking forward to this, Im a bit weird but do have a soft spot for these. I must be weird as well, as I like these too... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertie McBoatface Posted March 21, 2022 Share Posted March 21, 2022 You are zooming Ed. (But my tracks are done ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted March 22, 2022 Author Share Posted March 22, 2022 8 hours ago, Bertie Psmith said: You are zooming Ed. (But my tracks are done ) Indeed they are Bertie and they do look good, thanks for posting how you did those, it will definitely ease the pain when I get to them... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edjbartos Posted March 22, 2022 Author Share Posted March 22, 2022 I have done a bit more, in fact quite a lot, but It doesn't look like I have done much. Typical with Miniart, lots of parts to assemble, so I have been a bit bogged down as to progress. Anyhow I have continued building up the hull... Then I started to work on the rear of the hull, here I have added the engine compartment access doors and added a brass handle, it's easier than cleaning up Miniart's. I'm just going to build everything as per instructions, I know that some of the parts will not be seen as the grill on the back of the hull, but I have another 3 of these to build so I will know what to leave out in the future. View showing the engine-compartment access doors and the two "pepper-pot" exhaust's either side... I have added wiring for the lights at the rear... That's it for now, plenty more to do on the hull, will be back soon... thanks for looking Ed 13 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PlaStix Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 That really does look awesome Ed. Lovely details. Kind regards, Stix Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted March 22, 2022 Share Posted March 22, 2022 Looks good sir, I like Armor but some of these High piece count kits just scare me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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