A Different M3 Grant

[Old Wombat]

So, I spent part of last night & all of today cleaning up the work bench & modelling room. There's a bit of mess off to the left, in front of the computer & further to the left past that, but it's much better than it was.

Mind you, if you go by the image below, you may find that last statement difficult to believe;



This is because I started on my next build straight after dinner!

It's another Real World build, but one I have some decent (but far from perfect) photographic references for.

In fact, it's this M3 Grant;



https://guyplachy.smugmug.com/Malkara-M3-Grant

Used to observe/film the Malkara anti-tank rocket tests at Woomera in the early-1950s.

As I intend getting this one "right", I'll be taking my time &, possibly/probably, diverting off to do other, rather more "me" builds to escape this Realism thing.

First one of these is likely to be a "dark Santa" figure, using the Northern Wandering Knight figure from Pegaso (75-129);



Then, maybe, back to the RAMs pre-war exercise (Vickers Mk.II*), for which I have 3 more vehicles to complete & at least 2 more figures ... Or I might go off on another tangent, somewhere else completely.

[Buzzbomb]

Your support group is here for you 

Be great to see the Grant Observation vehicle evolve. It was great to see that when we both visited the rather spiffy and interesting SA Military museum.

[apophenia]

Indeed. And this Grant Observation vehicle is off-the-wall enough to almost qualify as a whif!

Also looking forward to seeing what you do with "dark Santa" and the prewar RAM 

[Kerick]

It makes me think of the M113 NASA used to use to rescue astronauts if the launch aborted. They use an MRAP vehicle now. This should be interesting!

[Old Wombat]

Thanks, gentlemen!

I'm using the Airfix (Academy) M3 Grant for this build & have already had to hack into it.

There are a surprising number of small changes made to the Malkara Grant & they're adding up fast.

I'll definitely have to go back to the museum & take more photo's to get some of the details right.

Got to get back to doing daytime stuff, now, but I'll be back with a photo or two of where I'm at tonight.

[Kerick]

From certain angles that top turret looks huge. Was the lower visor for the driver.

[Old Wombat]

Compared to the Lee turret it was huge, but considerably lower in profile.

99.99% sure both glass ports are for cameras &, to be honest, I'm not sure the ol' girl could even be driven.

I have to get back & check for exhaust pipes but the forward engine deck normally has a vent just behind the crew compartment, but whole thing's been replaced by a sheet of flat steel, & the two external fire-extinguisher toggles (& their protectors) have been removed from the rear left of the crew compartment (where it comes up just forward of the engine deck). Almost all of the sheet-metal track guards are gone (just half of the front right guard remaining) & the tracks are in horrendous condition. She doesn't have any lights & everything else has been stripped off (bins, tools, etc.).

How much of that was in preparation for the Malkara testing & how much is post-de-commissioning, I have no idea.

[Old Wombat]

So, where am I?

Oh, here I am!







The vent on the engine deck that I have filled in should be at the front but it was easier to spin it around to use liquid cement to glue the angle piece to the styrene than to use CA to glue it to the putty.

As you can see, I'm doing the tortoise thing, rather than the hare.

So, onwards & upwards! Back at it!

[Kerick]

Looking cool! I’ll be watching this one.

[Old Wombat]

Thanks, mate!

Don't hold your breath! As I said, "tortoise, not hare" on this build.

[Claymore]

[Old Wombat]

 

Tedium, ad nauseam, ad infinitum!

Otherwise known as "removing seam lines from wheels & suspension units".

[Kerick]

Ah! The glory of building tanks!