Here it is finally finished, my build of the Academy M3A1 Stuart Light Tank, in the markings of the USMC 3rd Tank Battalion on Bougainville in late 1943. The kit comes with a fairly comprehensive interior, but I added some missing details in there, as well as some on the external extra fuel tanks and some reinforcement iron bars on the rear fenders that photos showed. I replaced the kit headlight brush guards with some 3D printed ones and an engine exhaust screen that I printed up from files that I bought off of Cults3D. Paints are primarily AK Real Colors, along with AK, Vallejo, and Humbrol acrylics. I used the kit decals, and surprisingly they did not cause any problems as Academy decals often are reputed to do.
And just for some size comparisons, this thing is pretty small…
Bigger than a jeep
Much smaller than an Easy 8 Sherman
and pretty close in size to WC-51 3/4 ton truck…
Thanks for looking, comments and critiques are welcome…
Thanks Gary. I’m with you on the concept of cramming four full grown adult males inside of that little armored box on tracks… it can not have been very tolerable in any hot climates…
Beautiful rendition of the M3 my friend! I really like the finish you have gone for- the light dust and mud contrasts well with the green and allows the carefully modelled details to shine- not to mention those striking markings.
Thank you gentlemen! The surface and interior detail on this kit really brings out the final look I think. With an appropriate amount of weathering, the detail can really draw in your eyes’ attention.
The kit does need a few items that Academy neglected to include, but overall it’s one that I would highly recommend.
Excellent model, with great painting and detail. I love that you added the external fuel tanks. I only just learned that the Stuart tanks used them because of its limited range with the internal tanks.
This may honestly be one of the best-looking tanks I’ve seen since I started paying attention to armor builds.
The detail work, including the interior, is exceptional, but what really gets me is the weathering. It’s so restrained, and yet it still looks completely used and worn. Nothing is buried under layers of dirt and mud, so all that beautiful shading and detail still comes through.
I’m still very much learning when it comes to armor, but I feel like I see a lot of tanks where the weathering gets pushed pretty hard. This is much more what appeals to me.
I’m definitely saving this build as a reference for when I get to my Easy Eight and Jeep. Really exceptional work.
Thanks Scott. Half the time that I’m doing weathering, I’m flying by the seat of my pants so to speak. Lately I’ve been trying new mediums and combining them. I have ideas for appearances that I want to make happen… usually based off stuff I saw while serving. The trick is to make it happen.
