I just bought the Tamiya 1/35 M3 Lee Mk 1. I bought it at my modeling clubs kit auction, but the Decal sheet is ruined. So I thought I’d like build it as a Britsh or Australian (if we had any) version. Does anyone know if there are any aftermarket Decal sheets for British or Australian Lee’s? Also what would be the right clours to paint it? Also any reference to any web sites would be great asweel.
I have some links of the Grant - which is what the australians used, i am not aware of the differences between a Lee and a Grant, so i dont know if these will be any use to you or not
http://www.hobbyvista.com/anzacsteel/Armoured%20Vehicles/m3ph_1.htm
http://www.hobbyvista.com/anzacsteel/Armoured%20Vehicles/m3ph_2.htm
also, here is a link to a model of an Australian grant that i found on the net
http://www.missing-lynx.com/gallery/allied/adgrant.htm
hope these help [:)]
Biggest difference betweent a Grant and a Lee is the 37mm turret. The Grant has a larger turret because the British want to keep their radio in the turret bustle. The US turret also had a cupola with a .30 cal machine gun in it. The Grant turret does not have a cupola.
Just a couple of other heads up on this kit panzeriv. This is one of Tamiyas oldies, two areas of concern are the tracks, if you look at them they have the end connectors in the wrong place. The other is the roadwheels, someone working for Mr. Tamiya couldn’t count, they have one too many spokes. They should have 5 not 6. Both are easily replaceable if you have some spares in your parts box or ask around your club and see if anyone has any.
The British used the American M3 Lee version in Burma during WW2. To make this example build the Tamiya M3 Grant kit and replace the 37mm turret with turret from the Tamiya M3 Lee kit. Add smoke launchers to the turrets left side and remove the commanders MG cuppola and replace with the hatch from the Grants turret.
Delete the stowage boxes on the rear hull and add extra armor plate to cover this area (top and side).
Replace the road wheels with solid types from a Tamiya Sherman and use block pattern tracks from the Tamiya Sherman early version kit.
Burma Lee’s used both the short barreled 75mm cannon and long barreled 75mm cannons in the hull sponson mount. To make a long barreled version use the barrel from a Tamiya M4 Sherman kit.
Burma Lee’s were painted dark olive green and had American Stars painted on the forward hull sides. All other makings were typical British.
Two sources of info for modeling Lee’s that I use are Squadrons M3 Lee in Action and Concords Tank Battles of the Pacific War 1941-1945.
Thanks for your help guys, but what aout markings? Does anyone make decals for Australian or British M3s?
http://www.archertransfers.com/
Check out Archer Dry Transfers, they have several sets of markings for British and commonwealth armor.
The decal sheet from Academys M3 Stuart “Honey” has a good selection of British squadron markings.
Brit’, in Arakan ( S-W Burma ) used M3 Grant as well. It could be a really unusual model…Btw, the old Lee is totally wrong, with a back plate and exaust of sort from ( ?! ) the M3A3/5 ( diesel motor ) !
In Burma, specially in Arakan, the tanks weren’ t marked, save an US white star here and there…
I ’ ve one in progress somewhere but I stopped to work on since I hear rumors about the comin’ of the new one from Academy…?
AFV Club…?
Tamiya…?
Dragon…? Skybow…? …Well…Someday somewhere ! 
The hot rumour right now points to a new M3 Lee / Grant from Academy.
I purchased an Academy Lee M3 tank here in Bangkok a year ago (2009) and it is pretty much “framed up” but not painted, except the interior, and detailed, ie most small detail parts are still on sprues. I can take off the tool boxes but I’m not savy about the rest of the detail you talk about except the long barrel which came in this kit. I put it on. More comments would be appreciated. I’m thinking of covering the hull with the trunks of coconut palms. My “Burma Bang Box” is full of “chickens” doing their duty, so to speak. Incidently, I think the crews were mostly Chinese or Indian, correct? Thanks, Paul/Bangkok
Wow, resurrection of a 7 year old thread. This has to be the record.
Caught me too…
RE: crew composition, no idea, but more than likely Brit or Australian. M4A4s in the Chinese army were Chinese-crewed, sometimes with American commanders.
Hello Panzeriv,
Just saw your post…a few years old i see…hahaha.
Just thought i would post a link for you that contains some interesting info and pics of M3’s in Aussie service. It might give you some inspiration. I can’t say i have come across any decal sets for Aussie M3’s but they may be out there.
Anyway, have a look at these…
PART 1… http://anzacsteel.hobbyvista.com/Armoured%20Vehicles/m3ph_1.htm
PART 2… http://anzacsteel.hobbyvista.com/Armoured%20Vehicles/m3ph_2.htm
Hope you find it useful. By the way, where do you live here in Oz?
Justin…