Under New Ownership- Completing pre Started Kits

[stikpusher]

This thread title says it all. I’m leading off with a gorgeous Takom M3 Lee kit. This is one of several purchased earlier this year at AMPS, from the collection of a deceased area modeler. This kit was at about the 95% finish line construction wise, but needed to be refinished. Why? Well, because in this case I don’t believe that the Soviets repainted their US built armor from OD into 4B0 green. But that could just be my supposition. But color photos of Lend Lease Soviet Shermans show those in OD, so….

Anyways here is the Lee after I added the last parts, replaced the broken off over grab bars over the side hatches with new ones made from wire, and added a wire antenna. Before and after paint.





after







Now I need to add tracks, markings, and weathering….

[406 Silverado]

WOW!!! I LOVE the after shots. Looks like it’s got a “normal” wear and tear look to it. Will be watching for the last few bits added.

[moparmadness]

Carlos, what kind of wire do you use for your antenna? Looks much better than my archaic stretched spruce method!

[406 Silverado]

Jul 3, 2023 20:55:08 GMT -5 moparmadness said:

Carlos, what kind of wire do you use for your antenna? Looks much better than my archaic stretched spruce method!

Now that you mention it....what do you use Carlos?

[stikpusher]

Joe & Chad thank you.

I usually use .010 or .020 music wire, brass or steel that I get at Hobby Lobby. In this case it’s .010 steel music wire. I used stretch sprue for the longest time, but keep breaking those. If I drill the mount deep enough with a pin vise and Micro bit, I can get the wire in pretty solid where it won’t break. Although on modern US antennas which are tapered in shape, I won’t use this stuff due to its constant thickness.But for older type antennas, metal wire works great.

[deafpanzer]

Like you I am huge fan of music wires used for guitars and I was surprised how hard it is to cut those!!! LOL

I agree with you about not repainting those tanks leased from US... why would Russians waste time to paint those while the Germans were invading their country? Good thinking there! I look forward to see your magic work on the M3!

[stikpusher]

Thanks Andy. I’ll have more progress photos up in a few days when I have progress worth taking photos of…

[stikpusher]

So here is the progress update to cover the last few days…

First I got the tracks painted and installed…





Then today, gloss coated and decals on…





Almost at the finish line now… just a bit of detail painting, flat coat, and weathering to be done….

[moparmadness]

Jul 3, 2023 21:28:11 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Joe & Chad thank you.

I usually use .010 or .020 music wire, brass or steel that I get at Hobby Lobby. In this case it’s .010 steel music wire. I used stretch sprue for the longest time, but keep breaking those. If I drill the mount deep enough with a pin vise and Micro bit, I can get the wire in pretty solid where it won’t break. Although on modern US antennas which are tapered in shape, I won’t use this stuff due to its constant thickness.But for older type antennas, metal wire works great.

Thank you for explaining! Good Karma heading your way. 🍻

[Joe Rix]

What a great project Stik. Your efforts are coming out very nicely. I have to concur with your paint assessment on lend lease armor. Only makes sense. Also thanks for the tip on using wire for antennae. Can't wait for the finishing touches.

[stikpusher]

Chad, I'm always happy to explain whatever madness I come up with, sometimes better than others.

Joe, thanks. Its almost done so you'll see the finished results soon.

[TJ]

Looks great. I'm not an armor guy, but I always thought the Lee was kinda cool

[stikpusher]

Jul 8, 2023 4:04:58 GMT -5 TJ said:

Looks great. I'm not an armor guy, but I always thought the Lee was kinda cool

Thanks TJ. The Lee & Grant tanks had their limitations, but were only a stopgap design until the Sherman could enter mass production. They filled their role well, and when first taken into combat, they were a capable design which also helped shake out the bugs in the engine and running gear before being incorporated into the Sherman. I like the look of those multi gun types as well. Even if they did not live up to their designer's dreams. 

[41chevy]

Nicely finished for the Lend Lease Lee. Are the drivers twin 30cal mounts cast in the kit or did you add them? .

[stikpusher]

Thanks P.T. The bow guns are part of the kit. The kit part looks to have the plugs in the firing ports, as most Lees had. The only change I had to do to the basic kit was scratch building up the brackets for the machine gun tripod on the left sponson. The original owner lost or misplaced those parts and they were missing when I went to install the tripod.

[stikpusher]

Almost at the finish line... flat coat on, detail base colors on, weathering started... all that left is add the headlight lenses, dry brushing some selected items, and final weathering...





tomorrow...

[deafpanzer]

Love those big colorful markings used by the Russians! It is like if they were daring the Germans to use them as targets!

[Steve Zuleski]

Excellent find, great job on recovering this beauty.

[stikpusher]

Andy and Steve, thanks! I should have this one wrapped up in a couple of hours and have photos posted tonite or tomorrow.

Andy, all I can say about Soviet markings is that they appeared to have a total lack of standards or consistency beyond the local unit level. Some tanks had none to minimal markings while others were quite prominently marked like this one. But I suppose the same could be said about many WWII armies and their tank markings to one degree or another.

[robbo]

Oh yes that catches the eye

[stikpusher]

Ok, weathering is complete now. Not exactly how I envisioned it, but good enough.

This project has gone from this (minus the tracks and unpainted stowage)



to this….



I’ll get a proper group of full view of photos up later…

[406 Silverado]

What a difference darker tones and some weathering does to an armor build Carlos!! You made a real head turner out of that one brother!! Totally different look!

[stikpusher]

Thanks Joe. Just wait until you see the rest of the photos of this beast. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.

[brandonk]

That looks wonderful. Great rework on that older build. She really does look the part.

[stikpusher]

Thanks Brandon. I had an easy task on the building, but then a complete finishing project on this.

[moparmadness]

Carlos that’s beautiful. The weathering is spot on. It looks like a newly acquired lend-lease vehicle ready for action.

[stikpusher]

Thanks Chad. I found a couple of photos of this actual vehicle, so I had some pretty solid reference to work off of.

[406 Silverado]

Jul 11, 2023 19:02:16 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Thanks Joe. Just wait until you see the rest of the photos of this beast. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.

I'm looking forward to seeing those Carlos!

[stikpusher]

Jul 20, 2023 4:53:13 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

Jul 11, 2023 19:02:16 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Thanks Joe. Just wait until you see the rest of the photos of this beast. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out.

I'm looking forward to seeing those Carlos!

Joe, the photos are on another thread in the completed armor section

M3 Comrade general Lee

[406 Silverado]

Jul 20, 2023 10:59:51 GMT -5 stikpusher said:

Jul 20, 2023 4:53:13 GMT -5 406 Silverado said:

I'm looking forward to seeing those Carlos!

Joe, the photos are on another thread in the completed armor section

M3 Comrade general Lee

Thanks Carlos! Already got her checked out and comment bro.