hi folks,

One I've wanted to build for a while was the Grant Canal Defence Light. Resicast have a conversion set so I though i'd give it a go and add it to the Funnies list.

I had the leftovers of a Tamiya M3 Grant kit so it seemed a god way to use up the main parts.



The conversion kit gives 4 options Mid and late US and Mid and late UK tanks. I though I'd go for something like this but with alternative tracks.







Al

Hi Al,

Impressive lump of resin you got there! How'd you get on with the Tamiya bogies? (I've got a stalled M31 build on the same base kit...) Can't wait to see this one grow!

Tom

Alan would pictures of the Matilda canal defence light help you at all?

Hi Tom,

Yes, it is. You need a good razor saw to remove the plug.



The boggies are a mix of Italeri and Tamiya if I remember correctly. I made them some time ago for another project. I need to replace a couple of bolts , if I can find where I put the packet!!

Bit of progress







There is a bit of a gap at the front. I thought there was a small blot plate that went there but I can't see one in the old Tamiya kit. Have to check a few pics.

Hi Darren,

Yes, they might be of use. There was no real difference between the two turrets for the tanks. They chose to use the Grant in NWE because the 75mm gun could still be brought into action.

Does anyone know if the 2 x .30 cals where still used in the hull? The turret had a Besa so I can't see them carrying two styles of MG?

Cheers

Al

Hi Al,

My bad - I didn't spot the heavy VVSS bogies! (I was thinking of the M3-style ones that come with the Tamiya Grant...) You've done well on your Frankenbogies.

As for that front edge, I'm afraid the gap suggests an alignment issue - the bevelled edge directly under the siren should sit on top of the tranny in the notch where the bolt strip stops. The bolts for this section on the real one are the ones moulded on top, under the siren.

Tom

Hi Tom,

You're right, either my bad or some shrinkage in the kit.

Not to worry, good place for a spare wheel!

Cheers

Al

"Stowage is my friend..." (My mantra in these cases!)

hello, ALAN very nice mount. RESICAST the kit looks great, the details and casting are superb. I had the same problem on my M3, I filled the hole with styrene. I look forward to see more. steph

Hi Tom,

Yes indeeed.

Hi Steph,

Glad it wasn't only me. Aligning the front mudguards meant that thatyou end up wiht a small gap. I filled it with some styrene and milliput.

The main hull is done. I roughed it up a bit with some stippled glue and added a base coat of paint. Bit more work on the turret and I'd like to try out the Archers cast symbols and markings in this one.

Progress so far.









Cheers

Al

Hi folks,

Here's a couple of pictures of a CDL followed by a couple of questions if any one knows.



Looking at the front view does anyoen know what the fixing on the LHS is? There also seem to be 2 or 3 fixings on the frontal armour with 2 more on the tranmission. Anyone have any pics that show these fixing in detail?



Looking at the rear view the fantail exhausts seem to be positioned below the filters. Can anyone tell me when this change took place and again any detailed reference pictures for this area?

Many thanks

Al

hello alan, here is some rare pictures I found to do the construction of my M3 CDL. the three hooks in the front are a menteir a cable. good luck for the future
steph

oups

Thanks Steph,

Any thoughts on the fantails?

Cheers

Al

I think of pots for exhaust gas

Yes, , I was wondering how they were fitted, coming down from the filters or throught the rear doors?

Cheers

Al

The first picture my m3 CDL is the second is the back of a LEE M3A1

exhaust the range just below the air filters

Hi Steph,

Many thanks for that.

Cheers

Al

it is a pleasure to give a hand,. the GRANT and LEE are part of my favorite tanks.
steph

The fishtail exhausts were added because the previous iteration, the pepper pot exhausts caused the rear engine deck to get too hot. They used the same outlets that the pepper pot exhausts came out of the rear lower hull, but instead of turning up, just ended. Then the standard square type air intake filter was added above, mounting typically to the side plates. These became pretty standard on M4 Shermans.

http://the.shadock.free.fr/sherman_minutia/engine_doors/engine_doors.html

Go about 40% down the page. There's a Sherman with the block off plates once the exhaust was changed to the top location.

Thanks Jesse.

Al

hello, http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/usa/m3leeacademysz_1.html

Hi Steph,

Thanks for the link.

A bit more progress, Looking at the verious reference pictures most of the CDL tanks deployed for the Rhine Crossing seem to had sported the cut down fenders so, I've altered those and also added the fantail exhausts. Completed most of the work on the turret with just some side stowage and straps to add. I suppose I should repalce the handle on the rear hull doors too. The tie down fixings I'm not to bothered about as these will be covered by the tools and some small stowage. Resicast provide some neat taps for teh rear upper hull.





I'm enjoying this build and as is often the case it's startiong to spawn another. I had a 20 plus year old hull which I'd robbed the early M3 Boggies from for my M7 Priese and as the kit was pretty much falling apart with a few broken bits, I stripped it down and started on a rebuild. I should have a set of the Academy M3 boggies somewhere which would give a nice variation to the finish.





Cheers

Al

The change occurred when the engine changed from the original Wright engine to the later Continental. The last production Lees had the exhausts mounted up under the overhang like the Shermans coming off the lines at the same time.

The Canadian Ram went through the exact same progression at the same time; late 1942-early 1943.

Paul