Hi Guys and Gals.
Its been a while since the last time I posted any work done. Been kinda busy this last 2 weeks though.
Tamiya´s M3 and M5A1 Stuarts, I bought both for about $14 at christmas. I didnt want to spend much money adding to them, so I added some milliput sandbags to give them a personnal touch. The sponsoons were also filled with plastic card. Pretty much an OOB build after that. Although there are dimension and detail issues, these old kits still build up nicely. Both were built and painted at the same time. Very quick and speedy projects, just what the doctor called for. Not much left to do, just lights and some dirt and branches in the cullen cutter of the M5 and pastels. Please dont hold back with critic ... all sugestions welcome. These two will be added to a little base later with some figures! Well thats the plan anyway.
The M3




The M5A1

Those are beauties. I bought an M5 a while back. I wish the MG wasn't mounted to the shield. I would have prefered just the pintle without the shield

Ive seen a model somewhere without the shield. It shouldnt be too hard to it! Some reference pictures and a bit of plastic rod should do the trick!

PB NICE finish work on both. I really like the sandbags, size, shape, sag, holes nice

The turret seams on the M3 are a bit wide and the top hull seams on the M5 are too. I built the M3 and it was not your fault, the kit is a bit weak in the fit.
Don't forget to add a bit of red to the tail lights, maybe not a bright red but a hint would dress it up a bit.

Add addition could be some paint scrapes where the tank took some hits instead of the sandbags.

These are pretty minor points and when you add them to the base they will lessen even more.

Frank-- very nice. May I recommend that you drill out the telescope opening in the gun mantle on the M3A1.
DJ

Frank

Beautiful work --- again.

Your sandbags add that personal touch that your work always seems to include. Personally I feel your sandbag efforts are second to none, with the shaped corners, open canvas tears, seams, paint, the whole nine yards. Gives us something to shoot for.

The wood handles on the tools look like -- wood

:-) very very good stuff here.

You've visually raised the rivet detail nicely on the Stuart, (with dry brushing I assume?). Markings are cleanly applied and the overall paint/weathering is really visually all tied together. Very pleasing models to view.

Please keep us posted as you complete the base and figs. Sounds like another stunner.

Signed
Impressed

M3 starboard sponsor has a bit of a gap and the M5 coax .30 is not quite aligned with the 37mm. This shows up in three shots, so it's not the camera angle. Also, don't forget your headlight lenses.
Nice builds other wise. I, too, like the sandbags you did.

Look very nice, job well done..One little nitpick is the decals on the rear sides of the M5A1..can see the seams.

Nice job on two kits that are older than a lot of members. Looking at the nice job you did on them, makes me want to build one and recapture my youth.
It's nice to see people still enjoying the hobby building out of the box. I like the job you did on the sand bags.

Thanks guys for your kind replies and helpful comments. Its funny how those little gaps look so noticable in pictures ... one hardly notices them in the flesh. Not an excuse I know.
It took about 12 hours to build these two, in 2 sittings, and that included filling the sponsoons underneath. I guess the sandbags took another hour. The haste is showing. Probably around the same to paint them. Little things like visible decal lines is another sign of the haste. Lesson learnt I hope.


Should these two be aligned?? I never knew that. I thought the machine gun was independant. I dont think I ever tried to align these previously!


This is something I should have taken more care of. Im kicking myself now! The M5 shows up dark in the photos, but in reality there is a weld seam here and this is not as visible. The lights from behind the model have created a shadow that has increaded the appearance of the gap. But these shouldnt happen ... you guys were right to point them out!


I havent. The front and back lenses will be painted in last, so they still have a shiny appearance after dull coteing.


I was actually going to paint the telescope opening the same as the lenses .. gloss black. Would it be correct to drill it open completely, or would painting it do?

I appreciate all you guys taking the time to comment or point out things that I can improve on!. Cheers

I could not have expressed it any better. I love the sand bags. The paint and finish is right on. The finish on the machine guns is very realistic. Thanks for sharing.

Frank I like these ones. If I was ever to build a tank these would be the first.

I also love the sandbags and the way you have finished them. My only comment is the rear mounted tools. These should be the same color as the tank and then lighty drybrush the wood color onto the handles and also the metal blade should be drybrushed with black.

So another nice couple for your collection.

Frank,

Wonderful finishing on these two old kits. Like said, proof that an old OOB build can still be made to look great with a deft touch of the airbrush and paintbrushes.

The sandbags do really make the models that much better. You've done a fantastic job on them.

Just the slight fix to the gap and the decals and these could be award winners for what? Ten bucks each?

Stuke

Frank-- I would drill out rather than paint the telescope aperture. You can always place a make shift telescope.
DJ

great work there Frank.
you are a master at makeing sand bags from
putty