Author Topic: M3 Stonewall FSV  (Read 38078 times)

Online Claymore

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M3 Stonewall FSV
« on: October 02, 2016, 07:14:09 AM »
I couldn't very well let a Treadhead/Armour GB go by without submitting at least one build, so...

This is a concept design I have been kicking around for a couple of years and now seems like a good time to give it a go.

Pass the razor saw, there is work to be done!

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #1 on: October 02, 2016, 07:39:34 AM »
 :)
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Online Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2016, 07:51:35 AM »
Very interesting concept.  When are you going to start cutting plastic for this one?
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg

Online Claymore

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #3 on: October 02, 2016, 08:23:38 AM »
As per LemonJello's instructions, I started yesterday (1st October).  Fortunately, I had both an old M3 Lee and a Grant in my stash. Nothing is ever easy of course and trying to fabricate a mirror image casemate has been 'fun'. However, things are moving along nicely and I will post some picks soonest.
Pass the razor saw, there is work to be done!

Offline LemonJello

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #4 on: October 02, 2016, 08:31:25 AM »
Very cool.  Looking forward to seeing this take shape.

Online Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #5 on: October 02, 2016, 08:40:15 AM »
As per LemonJello's instructions, I started yesterday (1st October).  Fortunately, I had both an old M3 Lee and a Grant in my stash. Nothing is ever easy of course and trying to fabricate a mirror image casemate has been 'fun'. However, things are moving along nicely and I will post some picks soonest.
I suspect that portion of the project will be the most difficult in trying to create the left hand side casemate.  Still an excellent concept and will be waiting for those WIP images :)
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg

Offline Kerick

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #6 on: October 02, 2016, 09:19:07 AM »
Looks very interesting

Offline finsrin

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #7 on: October 02, 2016, 11:40:26 AM »
Very cool.  Looking forward to seeing this take shape.

Me too.
Great concept.

Offline Buzzbomb

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #8 on: October 02, 2016, 07:26:30 PM »
Oh lordy, this vehicle is bliss.
The next sound you may hear is a stash rummage to get in this build as well


Online Claymore

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #9 on: October 02, 2016, 08:40:14 PM »
As promised... Tis early days yet and most of the work is still very rough and ready but the basics are there (I wasn't entirely sure that a mirror image sponson was doable given the parts I had). 

The M3 Jackson ('Stonewall') FSV lives!!!  :o

Sorry for the poor pics but photography really isn't my thing...



« Last Edit: November 02, 2023, 12:17:42 AM by Claymore »
Pass the razor saw, there is work to be done!

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #10 on: October 02, 2016, 10:15:40 PM »
Interesting! :D

How'd you do the left sponson? A few judicious cuts & flip the Lee's sponson by the look of it. You putting a .30cal or two on top? ???

I wouldn't want to be the left-side gunner, squished up against the hull side like that, though. :icon_crap:

Oh lordy, this vehicle is bliss.
The next sound you may hear is a stash rummage to get in this build as well

Me, too!

Even though I've already got 2 armour builds on the go - can't have enough armour! ;)
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Offline Crbad

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #11 on: October 02, 2016, 10:34:47 PM »
Cool idea and great execution! It has an almost steampunk/Warhammer feel to it. : :D
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Online Claymore

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #12 on: October 03, 2016, 12:54:27 AM »
Interesting! :D

How'd you do the left sponson? A few judicious cuts & flip the Lee's sponson by the look of it. You putting a .30cal or two on top? ???

I wouldn't want to be the left-side gunner, squished up against the hull side like that, though. :icon_crap:

Pretty much as you figured - a lot of cutting and flipping upside down and yes 50s or 30s up top!!

You are absolutely right re the gunner in the left-side sponson.  As you can see from my original concept art the gunner would be on the inside but there was no easy way or reversing that particular part.  Now that you have spotted the issue, I am going to have to do something about it... Bugger!  :( ;)
Pass the razor saw, there is work to be done!

Online Claymore

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #13 on: October 03, 2016, 12:54:56 AM »
Cool idea and great execution! It has an almost steampunk/Warhammer feel to it. : :D

Thanks mate.  :)
Pass the razor saw, there is work to be done!

Offline Logan Hartke

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #14 on: October 03, 2016, 02:09:33 AM »
The M3 Jackson ('Stonewall') FSV lives!!!  :o



Named for the famous "Stonewall" Jack...Elam.   ;)

Cheers,

Logan

Offline Kerick

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #15 on: October 03, 2016, 02:18:23 AM »
Interesting! :D

How'd you do the left sponson? A few judicious cuts & flip the Lee's sponson by the look of it. You putting a .30cal or two on top? ???

I wouldn't want to be the left-side gunner, squished up against the hull side like that, though. :icon_crap:

Pretty much as you figured - a lot of cutting and flipping upside down and yes 50s or 30s up top!!

You are absolutely right re the gunner in the left-side sponson.  As you can see from my original concept art the gunner would be on the inside but there was no easy way or reversing that particular part.  Now that you have spotted the issue, I am going to have to do something about it... Bugger!  :( ;)

Can you separate the top of the left sponson and then rotate it counter clockwise?

This really looks good! It will certainly give rivet counters something to do!

Online Claymore

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #16 on: October 03, 2016, 02:58:07 AM »
Can you separate the top of the left sponson and then rotate it counter clockwise?

This really looks good! It will certainly give rivet counters something to do!

Not easily, but then again nothing truly worth doing is ever easy...  :icon_meditation:
Pass the razor saw, there is work to be done!

Online Claymore

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #17 on: October 03, 2016, 03:56:21 AM »
Dang! Cutting out the top of the sponson is not an option.  The plastic is about 2.5mm thick and as tough as old boots; having very nearly sliced the top of my thumb off, it's just not worth the risk!

On to Plan B then  - remove the current top detail and rebuild it anew in the right place...  :(
« Last Edit: October 03, 2016, 04:29:37 AM by Claymore »
Pass the razor saw, there is work to be done!

Online Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #18 on: October 03, 2016, 04:54:32 AM »
Looking good and with that minor issue of the left gunner's position becoming an obstacle, is there a chance to modify both casemate guns so that they share common features?  Not suggesting a complete makeover but maybe a simplification of the the features that comprise the gun and how it is mounted so you can achieve that mirror image with the left gunner being positioned inside instead of next to the outside wall.  That way you would have the uniformity of a mas production weapons system plus symmetry. 
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg

Offline finsrin

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #19 on: October 03, 2016, 06:01:59 AM »
Regarding what Jeff said.  Could sand both sides clean.  Glue similar looking pieces on in mirror image.
« Last Edit: October 03, 2016, 06:09:44 AM by finsrin »

Online Claymore

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #20 on: October 03, 2016, 06:27:55 AM »
Think I am still going to go with leaving the right sponsor top detail as is and rebuild the left to represent the gunner being on the inside. I don't think that major gun redesign would be needed as the arrangement would be not unlike the side sponsor guns in the WW1 Mk IV, etc.  Anyway it would be a shame to lose the aiming periscopes which naturally sit in the right place.
Pass the razor saw, there is work to be done!

Online Jeffry Fontaine

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #21 on: October 03, 2016, 07:21:20 AM »
Think I am still going to go with leaving the right sponsor top detail as is and rebuild the left to represent the gunner being on the inside. I don't think that major gun redesign would be needed as the arrangement would be not unlike the side sponsor guns in the WW1 Mk IV, etc.  Anyway it would be a shame to lose the aiming periscopes which naturally sit in the right place.

Funny you should mention the WW1 Mk4 tank as I was thinking of that vehicle when I first saw your WIP images and how it reminded me of a WW1 style tank such as the MkIV :)

Hmmmm, MkIV tank with Grant or Lee features might be another interesting diversion. 
"Every day we hear about new studies 'revealing' what should have been obvious to sentient beings for generations; 'Research shows wolverines don't like to be teased" -- Jonah Goldberg

Offline finsrin

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #22 on: October 03, 2016, 08:26:20 AM »
Gun redesign on inside of tank is not an issue because we see only the outside.

Offline Rickshaw

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #23 on: October 03, 2016, 10:21:10 AM »
You will need to change the aiming periscope on the top of the left hand gun position to mirror image the right hand one.  The reason why the original M3 Medium had a gun on the right hand side was because the gunner was seated on the gun's left hand side in real life.   There is no room in your vehicle for the gunner to be seated there so they'd have to put him on the right hand side of the gun, where the driver is seated.

Offline Kerick

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Re: M3 Stonewall FSV
« Reply #24 on: October 03, 2016, 11:13:58 AM »
Just have one gunner aiming both guns. He would be a busy fellow.