kilted vampire
Lieutenant Colonel
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2006
- Messages
- 7,900
Too cool for words!
Modified Figarti M3A1 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter noli-poli
- Start date
If I were to do plastics today I will go for Dragon, Tamiya, Itaeleri (in this particular order). Dragon has better accuracy and details.
I wish I still have the time to build and paint like I used to. I sold all my unassembled plastic models for more than 1/2 the price at a local hobby shop. KC & Figarti has offered me the same joy I find in plastic modeling without the hassle of assembling which eats up to much of my time. I now enjoy modifying KC & Figarti stuff. It took courage to work from plastics to poly-resin/metal media.
N-P
Thanks Gary.
Still looking for the right scale hinges for the Gun shield. I was hoping Accurate Armor carries it but they only have belts, straps & padlocks.
N-P
Re:T19 105MM HMC Half-track
Troops:
DONE! Modified M3 75MM GMC Half-track to T19 105MM HMC.
From the unfinished photos sent earlier here are shots of the finished model:
1. Added more details on the gun shield (hinges)
2. Added protective grill on the fixed headlights
3. Added more stowage
4. Re-painted to olive green
5. Added decals (stars, registration numbers, red cross on medic's bag)
6. Took out removable headlights ( I have to chisel these out. Made paper mache' to cover chiseled area and blended with the burlap on the
fenders.
7. Materials used:
a. Canteens - Honor Bound accessories (extras from from the Shermans.)
b. K-Ration -Allen & Hudson (great details. Sprayed with flat varnish to harden the paper)
c. Rolled Burlap - Build-a-Rama
d. 105 Howizer - Frontline
e. Gun shield - Scratch-built (hinges are from doll-house accessories. Others are from left over Tamiya/Itaeleri plastic parts)
f. Protective grill for headlights - photo etched flooring for hobby trains. You can get these at any hobby stores that carry train models,
Troops:
DONE! Modified M3 75MM GMC Half-track to T19 105MM HMC.
From the unfinished photos sent earlier here are shots of the finished model:
1. Added more details on the gun shield (hinges)
2. Added protective grill on the fixed headlights
3. Added more stowage
4. Re-painted to olive green
5. Added decals (stars, registration numbers, red cross on medic's bag)
6. Took out removable headlights ( I have to chisel these out. Made paper mache' to cover chiseled area and blended with the burlap on the
fenders.
7. Materials used:
a. Canteens - Honor Bound accessories (extras from from the Shermans.)
b. K-Ration -Allen & Hudson (great details. Sprayed with flat varnish to harden the paper)
c. Rolled Burlap - Build-a-Rama
d. 105 Howizer - Frontline
e. Gun shield - Scratch-built (hinges are from doll-house accessories. Others are from left over Tamiya/Itaeleri plastic parts)
f. Protective grill for headlights - photo etched flooring for hobby trains. You can get these at any hobby stores that carry train models,
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Last edited:
Louis Badolato
Lieutenant General
- Joined
- Apr 25, 2005
- Messages
- 17,214
On a scale of 1-10, that's a solid 10.
Troops:
Thanks for your comments. I just can't wait and sit for the next release of my favorite armored vehicles. I doubt if they will ever be made.
Anyway, here's another favorite that I am working on. Started to work on the gun and mount...M15 Anti-aircraft with the M54 mounted gun. This half-track was heavily used in Normandy as athe allies started moving inland.
I plan to use the Figarti British GMC Half-track as the carrier. I will need to remove the entire back panel walls and make a flat bed in the rear...there will be a lot of sawing, cutting, and touch-ups on this project. But before I'lldo that, I'll ask Rick & Peter Wang if they have any unfinished or unassembled half-track lying around in the factory. That would save me a lot of time and work.
BTW, the "37mm gun" was from my old un-assembled 1/35 scale 40mm Bofors gun I bought in the 1980's. In 1/30 scale, it would be the same size and shape of the 37mm AA gun. The twin 50 cal MG were from the Figarti M16 Quad. Not to worry guys I will convert that M16 to an M13/M14 Twin AA Half-track. The mount was from Mountford Bofors (the first shipments were damage and replaced with new ones. I was told to keep the damaged pieces)
This will be the greatest challenge in my hobby experience. Expect the finished product in 1-2 months
N-P
Thanks for your comments. I just can't wait and sit for the next release of my favorite armored vehicles. I doubt if they will ever be made.
Anyway, here's another favorite that I am working on. Started to work on the gun and mount...M15 Anti-aircraft with the M54 mounted gun. This half-track was heavily used in Normandy as athe allies started moving inland.
I plan to use the Figarti British GMC Half-track as the carrier. I will need to remove the entire back panel walls and make a flat bed in the rear...there will be a lot of sawing, cutting, and touch-ups on this project. But before I'lldo that, I'll ask Rick & Peter Wang if they have any unfinished or unassembled half-track lying around in the factory. That would save me a lot of time and work.
BTW, the "37mm gun" was from my old un-assembled 1/35 scale 40mm Bofors gun I bought in the 1980's. In 1/30 scale, it would be the same size and shape of the 37mm AA gun. The twin 50 cal MG were from the Figarti M16 Quad. Not to worry guys I will convert that M16 to an M13/M14 Twin AA Half-track. The mount was from Mountford Bofors (the first shipments were damage and replaced with new ones. I was told to keep the damaged pieces)
This will be the greatest challenge in my hobby experience. Expect the finished product in 1-2 months
N-P
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binder001
Command Sergeant Major
- Joined
- Apr 30, 2005
- Messages
- 2,729
OK, I'm VERY impressed! You are quite a modeler. The M15/M15A1 is quite a handfull but you sure have a good start. The M15s served right along side the M16s in AntiAircraft Automatic Weapons (Self-Propelled) Battalions. An early version (T28E1) saw service in North Africa. The M15 is a very interesting vehicle. I will be interested to see your progress. Good luck and keep up the good work.
Gary B.
Gary B.
Phantom Warrior
Major
- Joined
- May 1, 2009
- Messages
- 6,881
Hopefully your modeling will inspire a manufacturer to make an M15A1
Terry
Terry
Thanks, Gary
desk11desk12
1st Lieutenant
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2005
- Messages
- 4,873
Here are early stages of conversion process.
1. The major hurdle was cutting-up the rear panels and clearing the rear
deck. Next step will be sanding and shaping certain area to make-up the
gas tank and front 37mm ammo boxes.
( I do not recommend this for non-experienced modelers. A lot of
cutting, sawing and "dremelling," and not to mention the the white poly-
resin dust (very powdery) that scattered all over(got to wear a mask).
2. Finished up the AA Gun. Most details wil be on the floor including seats
3. Made cardboard mock-up of the gun shield to get perspective, scale and
proper gun positioning. This will be the template for the actual shield.
The floor will be aluminum and the sides will be in balsa wood
4. The rest of the pictures will tell you the story
1. The major hurdle was cutting-up the rear panels and clearing the rear
deck. Next step will be sanding and shaping certain area to make-up the
gas tank and front 37mm ammo boxes.
( I do not recommend this for non-experienced modelers. A lot of
cutting, sawing and "dremelling," and not to mention the the white poly-
resin dust (very powdery) that scattered all over(got to wear a mask).
2. Finished up the AA Gun. Most details wil be on the floor including seats
3. Made cardboard mock-up of the gun shield to get perspective, scale and
proper gun positioning. This will be the template for the actual shield.
The floor will be aluminum and the sides will be in balsa wood
4. The rest of the pictures will tell you the story
