I know that the suspension that comes with Academy's M3 Lee is incorrect. I know I need the vvss suspension. What I don't know is what name this goes by or who makes it. Can anyone help me out?

Matt,

The Academy suspension bogies are too high and has supposedly fixed this issue on subsequent issues of the kit. How you can determine if the kit has the corrected bogies is beyond me.

But, Tasca makes a great VVSS suspension for the Lee. Here's a link to the review.

http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/tasca/tasca35015.html

HTH,
STeve

It is my understanding that Academy had corrected this issue in later releases of that model and also sold the corrected suspension for models released prior to that correction.

Steve: That is exactly what I am looking for.

Darren: I'm not sure which release I have. Time to pull out the engineer's ruler.

Is there a correct engine set, for the Lee? I know that TankWorkshop has the correct engine and compartment, but am not sure if it will fit.

Hey Matt: If this is a commission build are you sure you want to go to that extent? Just wondering. Most commission buyers wouldn't care about 2mm of the bogie trucks or a tricked out engine compartment.

However, You can get a Continental radial engine from Verlinden (designed for the M4/M4A1).

Unless someone wants an accurate Lee, I would really stay away from 'correcting' that kit if you want to finish it anytime soon.

He wants it displayed with all of the hatches open. My deadline is a month away. I wont be using etch, for the interior. It won't be easily visible. From the reviews I've read, the exterior modifications shouldn't be that difficult to make.

Hi Matt,
Have a look on PMMS here. At the very least it'll give you an idea about the suspension size differences.

I have read that, with the proper part selections you can build an early M3. This requires minor modifications, but no am parts or real scratch building.

The only version that includes the updated suspension sprue is the boxing with the miniart figures.

You can build an 'early' M3 out of the box. Any by 'early', I mean 'stayed in the states' as a training tank.

The kit tracks are too long, and look pretty bad, and are only going to get worse with shortened bogies. And unlike the Grant, you can't hide it as easily under the sand skirts.

The upper hull needs a lot of dry-fitting and attention to get it built up square and true. You can't have glue smudges all over the place, since the plates were riveted, not welded.

You're a week in... progress?

Tank Workshop also make an M4/M4A1 engine compartment however, be aware that teh earlier Lees & Grants used the very similar, yet different Wright engine.

One of the key differentiators is that the Wrights had external mufflers (frequently caller pepperpots) and internal air cleaners whereas the Continentals had the more common external air cleaners and internal mufflers with the exhausts coming out just under the centre of the rear overhang.

Paul

Sorry. I haven't been doing much. Life has hit me pretty hard, lately. I think I will go with the Tasca suspension. As for the engine, I am looking at the TWS M4 radial(0035). It doesn't have to be perfect, as only a small amount will be seen.

Jesse: I know you have built the M3 Grant. I'm having trouble aligning parts B29 and B30 with parts F1 and B1. Do you know if the instructions are incorrect? I end up with a large gaps at the upper right and left corner.

Instructions are fine. What's the problem? They've aligned for me on both the M3 Grant and M3 Lee I built from that kit.

Maybe pictures of my build would help?? Here are the applicable pages.


M3 Lee
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/208317#1748796

M3 Grant
https://armorama.kitmaker.net/forums/194558&ord=&page=7