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Author Topic: A Different M3 Grant  (Read 744 times)

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
A Different M3 Grant
« on: September 30, 2024, 10:24:20 PM »
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. ;)
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"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Buzzbomb

  • Low Concentration Span, oft wanders betwixt projects
  • Accurate Scale representations of fictional stuff
    • Club and my stuff site
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2024, 05:31:15 AM »
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.
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Offline apophenia

  • Perversely enjoys removing backgrounds.
  • Patterns? What patterns?
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #2 on: October 01, 2024, 08:44:45 AM »
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  :smiley:
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"It matters not what we fight, but what we fight for." - Kenzie

Offline Kerick

  • Reportedly finished with a stripper...
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #3 on: October 01, 2024, 09:36:57 AM »
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!
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Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #4 on: October 01, 2024, 09:59:15 AM »
Thanks, gentlemen! :icon_alabanza:

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. :smiley:
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"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Kerick

  • Reportedly finished with a stripper...
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #5 on: October 01, 2024, 10:27:44 AM »
From certain angles that top turret looks huge. Was the lower visor for the driver.
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Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #6 on: October 01, 2024, 12:22:59 PM »
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.
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"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #7 on: October 01, 2024, 08:06:45 PM »
So, where am I? ???

Oh, here I am! :D







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! :smiley:
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"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Kerick

  • Reportedly finished with a stripper...
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #8 on: October 01, 2024, 10:40:40 PM »
Looking cool! I’ll be watching this one.
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Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #9 on: October 01, 2024, 11:51:32 PM »
Thanks, mate! :icon_alabanza:

Don't hold your breath! As I said, "tortoise, not hare" on this build. ;D
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"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Claymore

  • It's all done with smoke and mirrors!
  • Alt Hist AFV guy with a thing for Bradley turrets
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #10 on: October 02, 2024, 05:10:48 PM »
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Pass the razor saw, there is work to be done!

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #11 on: October 02, 2024, 06:08:12 PM »
 ;D

Tedium, ad nauseam, ad infinitum! :-X

Otherwise known as "removing seam lines from wheels & suspension units". :-\
« Last Edit: October 02, 2024, 06:18:54 PM by Old Wombat »
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"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Kerick

  • Reportedly finished with a stripper...
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #12 on: October 03, 2024, 03:09:39 AM »
Ah! The glory of building tanks!
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Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #13 on: October 06, 2024, 11:43:54 PM »
So-o, back to work on Wednesday (Where the Hell did those 3 weeks go? ??? ) & I've reached the stage where I'm going to have to get more & better photo's to progress much further on the Grant ... That & having to wait for tracks & casting markings to come into stock at my enabler's.

Therefore these are the last pic's of this build for a while, as she's being packed away until the Heavens align for her completion.

Doesn't look like there's been much progress but I'm being very finicky with this build (I want this to take out 1st Prize for Large Scale Armour next year at the SA Plastic Model Expo. ;) )












So, this time tomorrow I'll have been staring at my Pegaso "Northern Wandering Knight XIV Century" in complete bemusement for about 8 hours ... Maybe more!  :-\

It's my first dedicated "figure" kit &, I was somewhat surprised to discover, it's all metal with the exception of one piece.

Of course, the parts count is nothing like that of your average AFV but I get the feeling that I'm slightly out of my depth with this one.
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"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Claymore

  • It's all done with smoke and mirrors!
  • Alt Hist AFV guy with a thing for Bradley turrets
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #14 on: October 07, 2024, 12:22:15 AM »
Looking good!  Take your time - if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing properly!  :smiley:
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Pass the razor saw, there is work to be done!

Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #15 on: October 07, 2024, 01:03:58 AM »
Thanks, mate! :smiley:


I've got a year. There's no rush, unless the tracks & casting markings don't come back into stock in a reasonable period.
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"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Frank3k

  • Excession
  • Global Moderator
  • Formerly Frank2056. New upgrade!
    • My new webpage
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #16 on: October 07, 2024, 02:44:38 AM »
The M3 is looking good! Did you use the running gear from another kit or is it just painted?
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Offline Old Wombat

  • "We'll see when I've finished whether I'm showing off or simply embarrassing myself."
  • "Define 'interesting'?"
Re: A Different M3 Grant
« Reply #17 on: October 07, 2024, 02:54:41 PM »
Quote from: Frank3k on October 07, 2024, 02:44:38 AM
The M3 is looking good! Did you use the running gear from another kit or is it just painted?

Running gear is painted as per the real thing.

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"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."
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