Hey Gents,

My first post here. I have been lurking around for a while and decided to join up.

Anyway, I want to build a collection of M3A1 Stuarts (British, U.S. Army, Marines, Russian) using the Academy kits and I have a couple of question.

1) Did the British use Stuarts painted overall sand? I don't feel I will be able to render the colorful paintjob.

2) Which kit should I use to build a Marine variant? Is the "Honey" kit accurate for a Marine version?

3) When I build the U.S. Army variant I want to put a figure in the turret. Can I use the figure left over from Tamiya's Pershing (the one with the binoculars)? It seems that he is wearing some kind of winter jacket, I am not sure if it would be accurate to use him for a tank used in N. Africa.

4) Could I use figures from Tamiya's Russian Assault Infantry with the Lend Lease Stuart?


Thanks alot for the help!

Ray

Welcome to Armorama. I'm not a stuart guy but I think you could just do the sand sacheme. I did the three color camo on the honey. I used a sand base color and then masking tape to get the other two colors. I'm sure you could do it too.
You should be getting some better answers soon, hang in there.
Chuck

Welcome aboard BattleBuddy.




Other than the "Caunter" paint scheme (that's the colorful one) I do not know of the Brits using just a single color of Sand. They did however use a more simpler one which was the Sand color painted over the Olive Drab base color, the OD was left covering the top and upper edges of the turret and hull. Than patches of a Red-Brown was irregularly painted over this.
On a side, the Aussies used a single Sand color.




Academy's kit will build a fairly accurate early Marine version too.




No, that figure is wearing a "late" model winter coat.

And the last one, I do not know for sure but, I would think yes.

Welcome aboard BB....Yes I have seen pictures of british M-3's all sand so you can go that way if you want to... serial numbers were black and the inside of the commanders hatch was left OD...Be careful with the M3A1 kit as it is actually a M3 hybrid ...if you want to make a real M3A1 you have to round off the back deck ...and if you leave it as is well then the interior is wrong ... This kit is not perfect but it is alot of fun to build ..Have fun with it !

Rick

Thanks alot for the replies guys!

I think I'll start by building the "Honey" kit. I don't know whether to do it in British or U.S. Army markings. I'll have to find pictures of an overall sand Stuart, otherwise I'll feel very unconfortable doing one like that. BTW, does this seem like a fair representation: http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~TANK-GUY/Chugoku-AFV3/01/12-02.html I found this picture on a Japanese modeling website.

Thanks again!

Ray

For your marine version, be sure to follow the kits directions on building the american version, with different parts.

BattleB, I was finally able to track down a single color Brit M3A1. I have no idea what unit it's from, but it should prove that the single sand color was in fact used like Rick had mentioned.



The pic in the link you provided looks very similar to this B&W photo.

WOW....Thanks for the picture Kencelot! I guess you did the homework for me :-)

Now I better start cracking on some plastic!

Ray

Here are photos I took of a fully restored Stuart Honey at Aberdeen Proving Grounds: Stuart Honey.

The Ordnance Museum guys researched the vehicle and added proper camouflage schemes and markings. These photos may help you even though they are of a restored vehicle.

Osprey has just released a book that covers what you're doing "Modelling the stuart" which should help you immensely