Modified Figarti M3A1 (1 Viewer)

[noli-poli]

Some modifications and corrections:

Added stowage, handle bar at the cupola , took out bumper winch and installed a bumper roller (obviously, my other British GMC M3 Gun now sports a bumper winch). Also, the original M3A1 model had 2 types of headlights installed (removable and fixed). I took out the removable. The M3A1's had either one or the other. I also filled the gap between cupola base and rear panel. The original was "hanging" instead of resting on the panel.

My next project is an M3 Half-track without a cupola. It will have a pedestal behind the front center seat and mounting a 50 cal. It will have a different stowage configuration.

 

[nasirkasmani]

you good a good pair of hands mate, you have my sincere admiration

 

[Vezzolf]

Excellent Modifications....Great Modeling Skills.... Have you done much 1:35 scale built models? If so, can you show other pictures to the rest of us?.....Thank you Vezzolf

 

[Louis Badolato]

Awesome modifications! You took a terrific model, and made it way better!

 

[lancer]

Beautiful job. Nice photos,too. The pictures really pick out the detail, such as the machine guns, which are the best I've seen. -- Al

 

[Mike97]

Outstanding work !!! I envy your talent to perform these kinds of mods.
mike

 

[RWFigarti]

WOW!! Awesome!

Rick
RWFigarti

 

[Vezzolf]

Rick, Hire Him....sign him up.

 

[Spitfrnd]

Outstanding work !!! I envy your talent to perform these kinds of mods.
mike

So do I; great job mate.

 

[Lewey Gun Vick]

Great conversion man!

Regards,
Vick

 

[jbonzo1]

Now THAT'S what the M3 should look like! Stowage, stowage, stowage!!! Outstanding work.

 

[kilted vampire]

Can you post a before shot? It looks like very nice work. Where did you get the stowage?

 

[noli-poli]

Thank you for your accolades. I owe it to my 1/35 scale plastic modeling way back then.

The stowage are from BAR, FOV and some Tamiya plastic accessories and left over parts.

N-P

 

[noli-poli]

Re: Modified Figarti M3 75 mm GMC Half-track

Here's the latest conversion that I am still working on. M3 75mm GMC (Tarawa) modified to M3 T19 105mm GMC.

Only 360 T19 GMC 105MM were manufactured in 1942. The 3rd Division under Patton was the only unit ever to use them as tank destroyers in the North African campaign. They were later replaced by the M7 "Priest." Most of these were converted to M3A1. The remaining few were later used in the Sicilian campaign in 1943-44

This is work in progress. Still need to paint it to blend the colors. The camo will be gone and instead will sport an olive drab color as seen in the African campaign. The 105mm cannon was "cannibalized" from Frontline 105 Howitzer. Gun shield was scratch-built using old/left over plastic model kits "from the days of yore." The removable headlights will have to go (closer to the hood). Most HT's in the early part of the war used the fixed headlights. Half-tracks used either one or the other. Not sure why Figarti had the two headlights installed???

N-P

 

[noli-poli]

...more pictures

 

[nasirkasmani]

can't wait to see the final pic!

 

[binder001]

Pretty slick conversion - quite impressive! You did your homework on this one. Those T19s were interesting top-heavy beasties. They really do speak "North Africa".

Looking forward to seeing the end result.

Gary B.

 

[Leadmen]

Nice work on the conversions Noli. Looks like you did your homework on the model. I missed my 1/35 modeling so I ordered a new Dragon kit to work on. I want to see if these new kits look better then the old Tamiya kits. I chose the new Dragon late Tiger with zimmerit. The kit looks like a challenge after being away from it for awhile.

 

[nmrocks]

Looks first rate so far!

 

[gi546]

looks great