I`m onto my 3rd armor kit, the Academy, super-detailed, M3 Lee kit.
I picked this kit up at a vintage toy store for 19 bucks. Not only did I get this nice kit but there were some aftermarket goodies in the box too. A set of Dragon replacement bogies and tracks and a resin turret set! Here are some WIP shots…
These are the Dragon “VVSS” suspension, also used on the M4 apparently.
Engine and transmission…
I think this is the traversing motor for the turret…nothing is labled with it`s real name…[:S]
The “office”. Really nice detail IMO…
The rear bulkhead…I have since fixed the off-kiltered ammo…[:D]
The assembled outter hull…made up of several parts due to all the angles.
And lastly, a shot with ammo stowage box, radios and traverse motor mounted.
I`m currently working on the turret assembly…painted white and sealed with Future, awaiting washes, etc.
Not 100% sure. The directions are unclear so Ive been using the picture of Academys completed build on the side of the box as my reference. Seems like slim pickings for Lee pics on the Web...at least I couldnt find many. They have the deck and transmission housing as Steel and most of the bulkheads and turret as white. I painted the deck IJN grey to give the tranny housing some contrast. Going to try a pinwash tonight.
I would have guessed white too but really have no idea. Nice work so far Len. I’ve only built the ancient Tamiya Lee (as have I’d guess 2/3 of the people in this forum) and have heard a lot of positive and negative about the newer Academy kit. I’d like to give one a try though, wish I could find a great deal like you did.
Wow! I`m never able to find pics like these through Googling…thanks for posting them. It looks to me that my only real screw-up was not painting the side walls white, which I am tempted to resolve with careful airbrushing or maybe just a brush. Normal wear and tear would darken up the deck so I think the gray will pass. Wish I had these pics 24hrs sooner as I glued the rear bulkhead into place…DOH!
The directions called for gold so I had some Tamiya Gold Leaf, X-12 and used that. I used a fine tipped , silver paint marker to color the slugs. I think it`s made by Pilot and I got it at AC Moore.
Installed the rear bulkhead and what I guess are either fire extinguishers or compressed air bottles…?..leaning towards air tho`…
Below is the completed turret basket. Obviously there are gaps between the panels that need attention but will be terribly difficult to do. The real thing has sorta the same deal so I may just call it a draw…[;)]
I “dirtied” up the basket with a silver prisma pencil…just noticed the injection pin marks that I missed…[bnghead].
I have since painted the bulkheads white and I am working on the various gun assemblies…instructions are no help with this as nothing seems to want to go where indicated…very confusing.
Im also trying to make it so the upper hull can be removed to see the inner details but may be impossible looking at future construction steps. Hopefully Ill figure something out…always hated super-detailing aircraft cockpits, only to close it up inside the fuselage, never to be seen again…[:(]
Well the Lee does have those nice big side hatches and the drivers flap to pose open. I know what you mean about that though. On thier M12, I painted up the interior, only to close it all up…
I hear ya…problem Im having is lack of info from the kit or the web...seems everyone can find stuff but me sometimes..lol. I painted them yellow out of my aircraft building habit...most of the time oxygen is yellow. I know these are prolly compressed air and most likely painted white and , being Im no “rivet counter”, Im not too terribly worried about it. I will look into though, now Im curious…[:D]
