Hello friends, I started this project a couple of weeks ago (Benelux Kitmaker Network Campaign "Burnt Sand").

The tank will figure on a small diorama (Tunesia).

This is the kit, an Academy :


Overall it's a nice kit, but some corrections are needed if you want to depict a historically correct model. I added Eduard PE for the job, but I had to collect a lot of reference pics (and even now I will make mistakes !).

The interior painted :


Chipping reduced a bit :






The exterior started (Eduard photo etched parts added) :


The extra fuel tanks made :


A view from behind :


Front view :


A blanket added (milliput standard) :


Small parts made me curse sometimes :


The machine gun .30 :


This is how far I am now, corrections are needed as I see the pictures on my pc screen (photos are very handy, but frustrating sometimes...)

Bye ! G.

Guy-- awesome work! Great job. The interior is realistic. What brand and color paints did you use for it?
thanks
DJ

Hello DJ, I first airbrushed a layer of acrylic Foundation White Vallejo (thinned with water).
Then I used Revell's Semi Gloss White, also acrylic paint (thinned with water). After painting the base colors, I sprayed on a thin layer of acrylic Satin Varnish Vallejo, to protect it all a little extra. Oil washes were added (Yellow Ocre, Raw Ocre, Burnt Umber, Ultramarine Blue, thinned with White Spirit).
I hope I give you a clear explanation my friend...G.

Like this build so far, yes that interior is very realistic, Keep On Modelin.... , milvehfan

Guy

Great work The pinups inside are a great touch

Thank you Milvehfan, in fact this is my first interior of a tank. No doubt it can be more detailed, but I hope it'll do with the hatches opened. I'll keep on doing the best I can !

Chad, thank you, the pin ups will be barely visible, but I know they're there. I saw a poster of a pin up on the shield of a meat chopper 4X.50, and I liked this touch too. G.

Turning out great.
I like the personal touch of the pinups.

Coming along nicely. I agree with everyone , the pin up gives it a lived in feel Bob

Guy-- great job, thanks for the feedback.
DJ

Looks really good, Guy. The interior looks very realistic. I think you got the right amount of chipping there.

Looking forward to see more

I like the tie downs for the fuel tanks,,,nice touch. So are the pin ups. A note of warning, if you plan to use the cover markings, you need to replace the flags with period correct 48 star flags. The style included in he kit was not used until 1961. Archer makes appropriatley sized 48 star flag dry transfers.

Dave : tx man !
Bob : tx you too for the kind reply.
DJ : always welcome. But a small note here : I think there are better primer paints than this Foundation White. Same for the matt varnish (Vallejo). Personally I prefer the Revell acrylic matt varnish (as matt as matt can be !) in the blue cube.
Jesper : I'm glad you said that the amount of chipping is just good. Now I can sleep again ! Thanks friend.
AJ : thank you for warning me, I didn't give the decals any attention yet, but now I'm aware of the incorrect number of stars.

Here I have two new pics :

The built of the turret is almost done.


The figure I'm going to use has arrived. It's an Alpine's figure, tank commander with Thompson gun. Two heads so I can choose one with tanker helmet of baseball cap.


More advice always welcome, thanks ! G.

Hey Mr. VG
I must say you have surprised me with this build! (In a good way) I have yet to buy anything by Academy, but the included interiors have always tempted me. The Eduard set really spruces this kit up by the looks of it, and I do like your little touches like the pin-ups and blanket.
I recommend you use the helmeted head for the tanker though, as the baseball cap makes it too 'specific'? He will be perfect for North Africa. What markings are included? Same as the box art I'm supposing. I want to see lots of dust mate
Cheers
Brad

Hi there Brad, thank you !
I'll try to make this tank, number 16 :


All the decals I need are included in the box, but I have to find a 48 stars and stripes flag (decal is incorrect : number of stars). Tx again AJ.

I think I'll go for the tanker helmet head.

G.

Very nice build Guy. I think the interior is perfect for what can be seen through the hatches. the etch has added a lot ot the base kit. Nice one.

Lookin' really good guy. I have this kit in the stash......after looking at your build, I think I may just break it out!

Frank : I think it's enough detail indeed once the tank will be assembled. Thanks for your comment.
Art : It was fun to build this kit, it was my first Academy and with a little aftermarket stuff it can turn out great in the hands of an experienced modeler (and that's not me !). The pieces fit well together but just a little cleaning up has to be done. Tx for your reply too/

I have primed the sub assemblies with Tamya surface primer (neutral grey).
The turret is already preshaded with black and highlighted with white. I like to create contrast from the beginning, so I can always soften the effects later.

Here's one pic :


Bye and I'll be back soon I hope ! G.

It might be too late to mention this, but take a close look at the kit's fuel tanks and the ones in the photo. The stock US 25 gallon fuel tank pretty much always had that rubberised exterior with the two soft handles. Before you go too far you might want to consider removing them and adding that surface layer.

Or, maybe not.

Just an FYI

Paul

I like this build a lot and forgive me for chipping in a bit late with this suggestion.

The .30 ammobelt looks a bit flat due to being made of photoetch. Paint one or two layers of white wood glue or similar on each cartridge to make them more three dimensional.

Keep posting the development.

Cheers

Hello Paul, I thank you for your advice about the fuel tanks and the way they're tied down.
I was aware of those rubberized handles but I can't find any decent reference picture to make them. And I ask myself why Eduard (photo etched parts) did not add these handles in their after market set of this M3A1 ? I won't remove the tanks and the photo etch because it was a hell of a job to fix them into place and connect the photo etched (very) small parts.
But if you can show me a clear reference picture to complete the fuel tanks I'd be very thankful. G.

Janne : this was an experiment, it's the first time I use such a flat PE (indeed !) ammo belt.
However, I'll see what I can do about it. I can try to make the rounds look more round by adding white glue very carefully. Thank you a lot for this tip ! G.

Hi Guy,

nice job man.
Can't wait to see the exterior paintjob.
If your interior paintjob is a reference, it must be great.

Erikssson.

P.S. see you saterday.

Guy -

Incredible work! Fantastic job with the interior and outer build! Great progress updates and pictures. Thanks for sharing, looking forward to the finish!
Cheers -
Tim

I'm not an armor guy, but I am finding this build log very interesting and educational, as I gearing up to build my first vehicle in about 25 years. Nice choice of kits.

PS, the interior looks very realistic

Erik : thanks man, see you at work !
Tim : thank you for your kind reply ! I always hope there are some people here who like my threads. I also like educational updates from other people to get inspired or to learn things (especially that ! Oops !). The finish, that's what I'm focussed on now.
Matthew : not an armor guy ? No problem, always welcome ! I wish you luck and a lot of fun building your first new vehicle in 25 years. We keep on going !

I continued working on my turret :


Cu guys !

Hi guys,
Yesterday I continued my turret. I washed the cupola with an oil wash (mineral spirits and burnt umber in 90/10). Once practically dry, I made a slightly thicker wash for a pinwash around nuts, bolts, grab handles, hatches...to make the detail more come out.
Still a lot to do but I made some pics of it (and I already started the base color on my hull) :








Bye guys !