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Hosted by Darren Baker, Dave O'Meara
M3 Lee "late", construction 98% complete
pseudorealityx
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Georgia, United States
Joined: January 31, 2010
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Posted: Thursday, June 06, 2013 - 02:21 PM UTC
Here's the M3 I've been working on. Let's just say my Grant build taught me a thing or two... like, not doing interiors makes these things build a lot faster.

Lots of various aftermarket on this one...

Formations: turret, 37mm gun rotor, siren, final drive, toe cable, air cleaners, antenna aerial mount, tools on rear deck

Legends: Rear hull stowage boxes

Lionroar: aerial base

TMD: .30 cal sub turret, .30 cal in front hull, hull and turret ventilators

Griffon: most of the PE, 37mm and 75mm barrels

Tichy: a whlole bunch of rivets

Eduard: a few PE bits

Tasca: road wheels and idler

RB Model: .30 cal barrels in sub turret and coaxial

Cyber Hobby: VVSS "late" suspension

Warriors: Figures (Commander has an S&T head)

















I'm still deciding what to do about the drive sprockets and tracks. I've got a set of Tasca ones that aren't bad, but Mike Canaday is eventually going to do a set of early 'notched' M3 drive sprockets, which would be a fairly unique thing to have. I've got a set of DS T-51 tracks, but I may splurge and get a set of Panda T-51's.

This is being modeled after a M3 Lee during the training at Perham Downs in England in December/Jan of 1943. The decals are coming from Echelon and some custom bits from Decalomaniacs for some markings that Echelon missed.
BBD468
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Texas, United States
Joined: March 08, 2010
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Posted: Thursday, June 06, 2013 - 02:25 PM UTC
Hiya Jesse,

Man, thats another outstanding build! Great construction, added details and accessories and the figs look nice as well. Paint soon?

Cheers,
Gary
pseudorealityx
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Georgia, United States
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Posted: Thursday, June 06, 2013 - 02:49 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Hiya Jesse,

Man, thats another outstanding build! Great construction, added details and accessories and the figs look nice as well. Paint soon?

Cheers,
Gary


Hey Gary... Thanks!! Paint is gonna wait till the tracks and drive sprockets are figured out. No big rush on this one now that it's in this stage.
Dangeroo
#023
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Zurich, Switzerland
Joined: March 13, 2009
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Posted: Thursday, June 06, 2013 - 07:23 PM UTC
Jesse, another great M3. I built this one with extensive scratch improvements some years back. Looking forward to paint.

Cheers!
Stefan
HEINE-07
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Ohio, United States
Joined: February 28, 2007
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Posted: Friday, June 07, 2013 - 04:06 PM UTC
Incredible! Looks great.
PantherF
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Indiana, United States
Joined: June 10, 2005
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Posted: Saturday, June 08, 2013 - 06:31 AM UTC
Beautiful... a 'Million Dollar Build' if you ask me!

BTW, isn't that the Early VVSS?

Anywho, I like what you've done and can't wait to see the magic with the paint soon!



~ Jeff
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Saturday, June 08, 2013 - 08:23 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Beautiful... a 'Million Dollar Build' if you ask me!

BTW, isn't that the Early VVSS?

Anywho, I like what you've done and can't wait to see the magic with the paint soon!



~ Jeff


It's the later version of the early VVSS. Note the reinforcement ribs in the center, and the return roller is lifted slightly compared to the earlier version.
PantherF
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Indiana, United States
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Posted: Saturday, June 08, 2013 - 01:48 PM UTC
I did not know that.



~ Jeff
rfbaer
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Texas, United States
Joined: June 12, 2007
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Posted: Monday, June 10, 2013 - 05:44 AM UTC
Very nice looking build, Jesse.
Quick question: Do you happen to know off the top of your head if Dragon or Tasca sell their T41/51 tracks separately? I need a couple of sets of either, and haven't seen the CyberHobby boxed tracks in a while.
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Monday, June 10, 2013 - 05:52 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Very nice looking build, Jesse.
Quick question: Do you happen to know off the top of your head if Dragon or Tasca sell their T41/51 tracks separately? I need a couple of sets of either, and haven't seen the CyberHobby boxed tracks in a while.


Tasca sells their T-51's separately, but appear to not be available on their website right now. It's "35010-T51".

Dragon/Cyberhobby only did their suspension with track sets, but from what I can tell, all of their suspension and track sets are basically OOP. Here are the 2 versions:
rfbaer
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Posted: Monday, June 10, 2013 - 06:30 AM UTC
Thank you. I'll check Tasca periodically, and all the Buy/Sell boards.
pseudorealityx
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Georgia, United States
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Posted: Monday, June 10, 2013 - 06:43 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Thank you. I'll check Tasca periodically, and all the Buy/Sell boards.


I would suggest posting on various boards asking for the specific types. Many times you can find folks who will trade various DS tracks and stuff.

For instance, I've got a set of DS WE-210 tracks that I don't need that I would trade for a set of T-51 or T-41's.
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Friday, April 18, 2014 - 03:00 AM UTC
Bump.

This thing has been sitting around waiting for some correct M3 drive sprockets.

Solution: Shapeways, courtesey of Mike Canaday.

http://www.shapeways.com/model/1674704/early-m3-lee-grant-medium-tank-sprocket.html?li=user-profile&materialId=61

I used the axle stubs included in the Formations final drive assembly, drilled them and put in a small styrene tube that fits perfectly into the 3d printed sprockets. Also did some final checking on how some of my plastic surgery was going to look once painted, and had to apply another coat of putty and sanding to a few spots.

So now I'm trying to determine what to do about the tracks. These M3's had the early non-stymetrical T-41 style track. The only 35th scale version of these is the Dragon DS tracks, and they're known as the 'worst' of the DS tracks for Shermans, since they're thinner, they typically warp enough to be noticeable. Panda, Bronco, AFV-club, etc don't offer the T-41.

So we'll see.
rfbaer
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Posted: Monday, April 21, 2014 - 07:38 AM UTC
I'm looking forward to seeing what your solution is to the tracks.
Funny thing about those DS T-51 tracks: I just bought Dragon's M4 "Normandy" (I found one in an "antique mall" for $25, still sealed) to get a set of them for another build.....
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Monday, April 21, 2014 - 07:46 AM UTC
I've got a set of T-51's from one of the CyberHobby VVSS suspension sets.

Been working on my LVT w/ Bofors while I noodle a solution, or just say 'whatever' and order up a set of T-51 Panda's.
rfbaer
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Posted: Monday, April 21, 2014 - 07:49 AM UTC
Well, if you want to unload those DS T-51s, let me know.
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - 07:05 PM UTC
So less than a year later, and I've got updates! Started the weathering process. So far, just AK washes and started some pigments on the lower hull.






AFVFan
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North Carolina, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - 08:55 PM UTC
Looks good with it's paint finally on.
Axis23
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Michigan, United States
Joined: July 05, 2006
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Posted: Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - 09:12 PM UTC
Looks great. I know I have been wanting to build a Grant or A Lee for some time now. A while ago I thought I saw that Dragon was going to release a new kit of the Lee and I was excited but I have no idea what happened to that.
rfbaer
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Texas, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, March 11, 2015 - 11:14 PM UTC
".....but I have no idea what happened to that."

Smoke and mirrors, apparently.

M3's looking real good. Too bad it's still necessary to dive so deep into the aftermarket to build a good one.
210cav
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Virginia, United States
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Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2015 - 12:11 AM UTC
Jesse-- that is one nice looking vehicle! I am curious....Have you keeping track of the cost factor regarding the AM items on her? I'd be interested to see how much it runs to produce such an outstanding example of a WW II favorite.
Thanks
DJ
pseudorealityx
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Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2015 - 12:48 AM UTC
I haven't, and don't try to keep count of cost. I don't finish that many kits per year, so if I spend a bit on some aftermarket, I'm not too concerned.

If I had to guess, this is ~$120 or so. Some of it isn't really needed, and me being lazy not wanting to scratch build stuff, like the rear stowage boxes.
210cav
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Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2015 - 04:46 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I haven't, and don't try to keep count of cost. I don't finish that many kits per year, so if I spend a bit on some aftermarket, I'm not too concerned.

If I had to guess, this is ~$120 or so. Some of it isn't really needed, and me being lazy not wanting to scratch build stuff, like the rear stowage boxes.


Buddy-- if your workmanship is the result of you "being lazy" may I be so effected/gifted in the future.
Thanks
DJ

PS-- I think $120 is a very conservative estimate!
firstcircle
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England - South East, United Kingdom
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Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2015 - 05:46 AM UTC
Very nice paint work. Love that rear view of the crewman, clothing is very convincing. I can tell I'm supposed to know this already, but the underlying kit, the green hull, is which kit?
pseudorealityx
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Georgia, United States
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Posted: Thursday, March 12, 2015 - 05:56 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

I haven't, and don't try to keep count of cost. I don't finish that many kits per year, so if I spend a bit on some aftermarket, I'm not too concerned.

If I had to guess, this is ~$120 or so. Some of it isn't really needed, and me being lazy not wanting to scratch build stuff, like the rear stowage boxes.


Buddy-- if your workmanship is the result of you "being lazy" may I be so effected/gifted in the future.
Thanks
DJ

PS-- I think $120 is a very conservative estimate!



Eh...

Academy kit - $25
Formations final drive - $15
Formations turret - $15
Griffon Model PE set - $20 (used some of these pieces on the Grant I built too)
RB barrels - $5
Dragon suspension and tracks - $15
Formations tools - $10
TMD .30 cal sub turret - $12
Legends stowage boxes - $10
Warriors figures - $10
 _GOTOTOP