Some 3d printed stuff from 3D Microcosmos. Highly recommended.
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Sounds like I need to get that edition too!
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Well, I’m biased a fair bit I suppose Terry, but as modelling inspiration, it’s a winner. That said, of course, most of the Tankograd books are. This one just particularly chimes as these great exercises were being played out all over Germany during my time, so it resonates. I even remember the Yanks turning up whilst I was at Corps, in their MASSTER-finished vehicles; it was, literally, fascinating seeing an other Army’s kit. We also had Belgian and German liaison set-ups with us too, and to me, often wondering what was what, was evidence of NATO in action, and it all seemed to work.
As I refer to, during this particular exercise, I was deployed on one in Schleswig-Holstein, and young soldier that I was, the pieces all fell into place and I began to realise how important it all was, not just militarily, but on the geo-political front (probably remarkable for a young Lance Corporal, though that’s not to assume any superiority on the intellectual front I assure you, but I was so keen to learn); I had also fully absorbed the threat as well. It was all in deadly earnest.
Anyway, before I weep for those lost years, as I say, great incentive for Cold War modellers.
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Nice, I see a little diorama being planned there.
My LHS got a batch of the old Tamiya M16’s in and I wasn’t going to miss one this time around.
I managed to bag the M3A2 and M21 last time, so this completes the set of Tamiya’s classic Half-Tracks.
Is there any truth to some stories I’ve read that by swapping the body panels on the A2 and M21, I get something that looks a little closer to what they should be? Not 100%, but at least looking more like an A1?
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The M3A2 kit instructions tell you how to backdate it: carve off the “ladders” (stowage racks) on the sides, the rear bit of the machine-gun pulpit and (IIRC) a few small other bits. Not sure if putting M21 sides on the M3A2 kit is a shortcut, but you can try …
I’ve long wondered why they didn’t mould those as separate parts to begin with, though 
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Ah, I’ll have to dig them out and have a look at what it says. They got stashed away in the attic last year. I remember one of the big faults of the M21 was the lack of those side and rear racks which Tamiya did include in the A2. Actually, that makes more sense that they’re stowage racks. Why would a mortar carrier need ladders? I’ve got a recollection of reading something about the swap, but I don’t remember where.
I might give it a whirl and see what happens. I’m not after competition winning models, just something that looks more like it should!
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Currently working on this,a fun little kit.
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Good day sir, where can I find various group chats related to the Bovington tank museum.
Where people can comment and post topics based on various vehicles per generations. Also I would like to share various topics and certain topics in the future…
P.S I’m new around here, where I would find the rules of this page?
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Scalemates has them See the second-to-last page, the one where it shows the markings. This page has a text block that says:—
Converting Into M3A1
If you want to build the M3A1 by conversion, cut off the darkest- shadowed portions in the figure (ladders on sides, rear racks, a part of mold on MG mount).
Interesting that Tamiya calls them ladders as well.
But I think you may be onto something. I hadn’t really looked at these kits in ages, but the M21 kit indeed doesn’t have the racks when it should, while the M3A2 kit is better off without them to make the much more common M3A1. I get the impression Tamiya’s M21 kit actually represents a T19 (the M21’s prototype).
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Hello, welcome to the forum.
I’m sure one of the admins can point you to the rules.
I’m not aware of any group chats on the museum but I wanted to let you know that I volunteer there as both a Modeller (displaying), and in the workshops.
I thought you might be interested in my Flickr page album of photos from the museum over the years…
Just click on the link, and it will take you to over 2000 pictures I have taken. Some have labels, others not, but I am endeavouring to fix that.
Hope that helps
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There is a museum topic for specifically this kind of posts:
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Cheers, that saves me digging around. I suspect Tamiya might have been looking at the preserved prototypes for both. Aberdeen Proving Grounds maybe? As I understand it, the A2 was an attempt to standardise the M3 and never saw much use. I don’t know how many were built, probably not very many till the war ended.
When I get a bit of time, I’ll have a play around and see what I can do. I’m not going to more than necessary. Build 'em, stick 'em on a shelf. It’ll be fun if anything!
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That would help me at looking into the history of both NATO and tanks of the Soviet Union and PRC in the 1950s-80s based on certain available sources. I was thinking if Nicholas Moran or other tank historians would discussed about the RX-75 guntank from the Mobile Suit Gundam series.
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LHS got the new Meng leopard in and I couldn’t resist. They had a sale running so I picked up the MK V to do “Cantankerous” from the 1st Canadian Tank Battalion at the end of WW1.
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As expected, Andy’s made everything right! Got the missing parts promptly from them. Just wanted to follow up to make it clear that as always their service was A+
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