I know this is coming a bit late but the wading fittings for the M7 HMC included a slanted cut out to protect the engine deck air intake. To keep that waterproof.
not too late but can’t work out what part you mean… is that the grill right behind the fighting compartment?
Yes. that rectangular grill, just aft of the fighting compartment is air intake for the engine. That would have been made waterproof. For the M7, it was easy enough to simply enclose that in the wading extensions. I’ve circled the angular cutout in blue
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ah yes now I see… yes too late 
replacement tow cable done (thanks all for the tips), finished rear deck stowage completed and tried to do the fighting compartment tarp - not sure if it works or if I need to redo…
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I was just again getting into an old partly built M7 but your thread here is going to make me step back a bit to do some more research.
Thanks for sharing this build!
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I love me some nice stowage. You will want to move that tow cable though; one tree will rip that thing right off driving by.
yep I agree. Source photo had it there but I will fiddle with exact location when the track holder and fuel can I am placing in that area are in place…
paints on… not sure if it is too dark, and started on the stowage (terrible mix of colours but dont think just OD would add a lot… have to admit I am pleased with how the tarp turned out… need to do the one on the gun…
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Looking good Craig. Hard to tell real colours from a photo, but it looks pretty good to me. OD is dark, and this looks good. With some dust, etc, it will lighten anyway.
With blanket rolls, tent packs, etc, you can vary the base tone by having a different ‘primer’ colour - black, very dark green, dark blue, etc, then paint with a very thin base colour allowing the different primer colours to add depth to the base colour hue. Adding varying amounts of buff or tan to the green and dry brushing the different tones keeps the colour close enough to look natural just not identical which detracts a little.
The 4 items on the fender to the right of this pic were painted this way - different primer, same base colour just added in a different number of layers, then slightly different dry brush tones. The bottom two then got a thin wash (filter) of a dark brown:
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oohhh thanks on the tip on the tarps… may have to try that, think the lightened OD paint as the “base” would work…
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used your tip on the stowage… not too bad (for me)…
this is where the weekend leaves the M7… paint gear packed away until next Saturday which will be gloss coat ahead of decals…
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It takes a little practice, but you did pretty good there. Definitely a noticeable shift in shade. Looking great.
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decals on… slightly what-if, taken from various kits
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Be careful with the stowage on the front. In the photo above, the camo net was blocking the drivers view to the front, he needs to be able to see where he is going.
Ken
usually I would agree BUT there are a fair few reference photos that have the front really heavily loaded… I will check the port isn’t blocked but the view then down at angle will be impared…
Well remember too; as to blocking the driver’s view, that canvas on the gun is only intended to last until they are off the LST, through the low water and heading up the shingle to higher ground.
matt varnish on, stowage on, tracks and rubber painted… not envisaging a heavily weathered vehicle this time)
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That is looking very good 
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finished, finito, done… really enjoyed this build, learning all about stowage, some extra detail and scratch building…
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