Okay, this is a REALLY broad question, I’m just curious what I’ll find. I love the camo that the British used in Africa in WWII, the multi-colored, tan, blueish, and dark green colors. I know that this pattern was used on American M3 Stuarts and on Matildas, but what else did they use it on? Also, what is the best 1/35 model of a subject that was painted in this scheme? Thanks!
StreetFightingMan,
Cool avatar picture. Sergio Leone’s westerns featuring Clint Eastwood are my favorite movies of their time.
I would dare to say the Matilda is the essential British tank of the desert war. __*The queen of the desert*__and Its thick armor is why the Germans had to resort to using a anti-aircraft gun against it. Sure it was slow and not the most famous tank of WWII yet it earned respect in the harsh desert environment.
Tamiya has a recent release of a up-graded Matilda kit that has good reviews. AM replacement heads for the figures would be the only accessory I would add.
Nice, I’ll check that out, I believe it’s the kit that is pictured at the top of the page next to the Finescale Logo. How old is the original kit, or is this a completely new kit? I love old kits, but had a weird encounter with an old Tamiya armored car a while back…
Thanks for the comment about the avatar, it’s my favorite movie series of the 60s next to the James Bond films.
There are 2 Tamiya Matilda kits. Kit #35024 is the old kit, I think it was first released in 1973 or so (I may be off by a year or 2). It is off in dimension and has basic molded details, etc, as was common at that time. The newer kit 35300 shares NOTHING with the old kit and is a real decent kit, although the kit doesn’t provide the correct details for the markings included.
Thanks, I may have a new project on the workbench soon…
This is called the Caunter scheme. And the blue color has been discredited. Make sure you get the right colors
From what I’ve heard is that the bue is really more of a grey. But doesn’t grey have blue in it?
The Caunter schemes have alse been seenon early Crusaders, Valentines, and the A13 Cruiser.
Look on a color wheel. A true gray is a mix of black & white.
These shades of blueish gray are a artistic interpretation and not actual gray. Its getting in vogue to paint Panzers a bluish hue, I remember them blue in Sargent Rock comic books, not on actual Panzers.
Blueish gray IS found on warships & aircraft.
I have the XtraColour Caunter paint colors. They have them as Portland Stone, Slate (similar to the RAF/RN color) and Silver Grey (a lighter gray shade) One of these days I’ll get around to making one of those tanks needing those colors. I have a few in the stash.[:$]
How about this little tank… bought the kit for only $22 at a LHS? Hope it is any good… looking forward to paint this scheme.
Yes, my bad. I must have been more tired then I thought.
Deafpanzer, I was also looking at that one, good kit?
The kit looked real good… not too sure about its individual tracks. May have to order for better AM tracks. It had good reviews… check them out:
http://www.kitreview.com/reviews/m3reviewcs_1.htm
http://www.internetmodeler.com/2002/august/armor/aca_stuart.htm
http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/academy/acd1398.htm
It even has interior parts so if you can keep all hatches open as there are plenty to see. Maybe it will be one of my builds for 2012… already have four builds listed in order for GBs.
A WWII in the desert gb would be cool…
Exactly… that what I was thinking about. But not too soon… maybe in 2011?
Yeah, I’m in High School, and I’m taking some crazy classes this year, which has decreased my model making time to almost zero. [:(((] I’ve built one quarter of a 1/48 fighter in the last month and a half, I’m getting a little depressed about it! I wouldn’t be able to do a GB until Summer 2011, but I would love to do this at that time. If it’s 2011, I’m in!
Yeah, no hurry here… there are many GBs going on… I have signed up for 4 GBs already. What was I thinking??? [bnghead] So waiting until summer 2011 would work great for me. Go and study! [Y]
The Academy M3 Stuart ‘Honey’ was praised when it first came out, but soon after it was pointed out that there were some accuracy issues. Some issues were due to compromises when they produced an M3 and an M3A1 with just a swap of some sprues. The tanks have different interiors and they only replicated the M3A1 interior. If you are not an accuracy nut, then having an M3A1 interior in an M3 is not a big deal and at least gives something to look at thru the hatches.
I agree with one reviewer that the 30 yr old Tamiya road wheels look better, but I’m not one to bother sacrificing a decent kit just to steal wheels.
Praised: http://www.perthmilitarymodelling.com/reviews/vehicles/academy/acd1399.htm
Accuracy issues: http://www.kitreview.com/reviews/m3reviewcs_1.htm
Not praised: http://www.kitreview.com/reviews/m3reviewpr_1.htm
hey guys, I’ve just built the M3 Stuart and the M3 Grant for a bit of a desert thing going on, I’m at the stage where they’re both base coated, but have now come to a grinding halt as I’ve also got 3 1/48s on the go…again a dsert thing PzIII, Crusader, and AVF club Tiger 131, but I digress…
The Stuart kit is a nice little kit goes togther well, some details a bit oversimplified on things like tool boxes, straps, missing hatch struts etc. the indy link tracks are a nightmare, the rubber band ones are also a pain in the arse as are all Academy tracks (same on the Grant too).
My advice IF you want to do an M3 go for AFV Club’s later version unless you really want the desert Caunter scheme, in which case the Academy is okay but just ignore the kit painting guides and decals as well. But maybe also consider Tamiya’s 1/48 Crusader, gorgeous little kit, beautifully detailed and goes with your Caunter scheme if you so desire