M3 Lee

[OneSmallStep1966]

The paint looks to have gone down very well, I wouldn't have known it hadn't been airbrushed unless you said.

[privatepete]

As I have always said, your painting is very good. Very smooth with no visible brush strokes. Looks easily as good as any airbrush.

Do you thin your paints at all? Or just use them straight out of the pot?

I only thin my Vallejo paints with De-ionised water, everything else straight out of the pot.

[privatepete]

The paint looks to have gone down very well, I wouldn't have known it hadn't been airbrushed unless you said.

Now now flattery will get you no-wear sir

[digger303]

Terrific hand painted work and I agree with onesmallstep. I would have assumed it had been airbrushed.

[privatepete]

Terrific hand painted work and I agree with onesmallstep. I would have assumed it had been airbrushed.

Cheers Ian, looks like I might be heading in the right erection

[privatepete]

Got the main colour on








All my models are hand painted

Thank you for looking

[privatepete]

Got the detailed painting and tracks all done









All my models are hand painted

Thanks for looking

[OneSmallStep1966]

Top job Pete

[privatepete]

Top job Pete

Thanks mate, but I'll be glad to see this one gone !

[digger303]

good job !
Is that the old Monogram kit from 1973. I suspect it is kit number 7850 in 1/32 .

[privatepete]

good job !
Is that the old Monogram kit from 1973. I suspect it is kit number 7850 in 1/32 .

Hi Ian, I've known idea but I've been told this .............

by DasAbteilung » Apr 5th, '17, 20:11

Is this a re-box of the old (1970's) Monogram 1/32 Lee?? Revell have never done one of their own, and although they mould-share some Academy moulds this isn't the Academy kit.

This kit has the same track link mistake as the old Tamiya ones. The links are not actually connected together as the end connectors are moulded on each link, not between each link. If this is the old Monogram kit I think you might have trouble finding any after-market tracks to fit as the suspension will be slightly longer and wider in 1/32. Airfix 1/32 Lee or Grant tracks should fit, although I recall that the Grant had WE210 "Double I" tracks. These were occasionally seen on British Lees. I know you've started this now, but in 1/32 the Airfix kit is much better. In 1/35, Academy is really the one to have.

I like the British Lees fitted with mud chutes between the bogies and extra rear stowage boxes. I believe the MG cupola was removed and replaced with a split hatch. They might have had the longer gun and welded-up side door

Yes, this is indeed the old Monogram kit. So it dates back to the mid-70's. It's also 1/32, not 1/35. You've given yourself a lot of extra work with this one: a challenge. None of the usual after-market parts, like the RB barrel, will be quite the right size: a bit too small. There are 1/32 0.30" barrels available from Master, and the old - but nice - Armour Accessories jerricans (you still see these on eBay) were always too big for 1/35.

Monogram and Tamiya had little choice about the track error because of the limitations in moulding capability back then. Tamiya's M3's are late 70's. They couldn't mould tracks just connected by the end connectors, they needed to connect the links themselves. Although the technology improved the moulds were never updated. You still get the duff tracks in the Tamiya Lee and Grant today: they could easily have slipped in the tracks from one of their later M4s. Clearly Revell haven't changed the old Monogram moulds either.

That track error is impossible to correct and I don't think 1/35 ones will fit: they might - but they ought to be too narrow for the wheels and sprockets and a couple of links too short. If you were to buy an Airfix kit for the tracks you might as well use the better kit too. But both Airfix M3's had the WE210 tracks, only appropriate to British use.

I wouldn't ever describe myself as a rivet counter, but the track error is fairly fundamental.

I hope this helps in some away, i just want it finish so I can hide under a rock and build quietly out of the way

[Stokesy44]

I think it looks superb. The base coat and detail work is up to your usual high standards.

Cannot wait to see this beast come to life when you weather it mate

[digger303]

good job !
Is that the old Monogram kit from 1973. I suspect it is kit number 7850 in 1/32 .

Hi Ian, I've known idea but I've been told this .............

by DasAbteilung » Apr 5th, '17, 20:11

Is this a re-box of the old (1970's) Monogram 1/32 Lee?? Revell have never done one of their own, and although they mould-share some Academy moulds this isn't the Academy kit.

This kit has the same track link mistake as the old Tamiya ones. The links are not actually connected together as the end connectors are moulded on each link, not between each link. If this is the old Monogram kit I think you might have trouble finding any after-market tracks to fit as the suspension will be slightly longer and wider in 1/32. Airfix 1/32 Lee or Grant tracks should fit, although I recall that the Grant had WE210 "Double I" tracks. These were occasionally seen on British Lees. I know you've started this now, but in 1/32 the Airfix kit is much better. In 1/35, Academy is really the one to have.

I like the British Lees fitted with mud chutes between the bogies and extra rear stowage boxes. I believe the MG cupola was removed and replaced with a split hatch. They might have had the longer gun and welded-up side door

Yes, this is indeed the old Monogram kit. So it dates back to the mid-70's. It's also 1/32, not 1/35. You've given yourself a lot of extra work with this one: a challenge. None of the usual after-market parts, like the RB barrel, will be quite the right size: a bit too small. There are 1/32 0.30" barrels available from Master, and the old - but nice - Armour Accessories jerricans (you still see these on eBay) were always too big for 1/35.

Monogram and Tamiya had little choice about the track error because of the limitations in moulding capability back then. Tamiya's M3's are late 70's. They couldn't mould tracks just connected by the end connectors, they needed to connect the links themselves. Although the technology improved the moulds were never updated. You still get the duff tracks in the Tamiya Lee and Grant today: they could easily have slipped in the tracks from one of their later M4s. Clearly Revell haven't changed the old Monogram moulds either.

That track error is impossible to correct and I don't think 1/35 ones will fit: they might - but they ought to be too narrow for the wheels and sprockets and a couple of links too short. If you were to buy an Airfix kit for the tracks you might as well use the better kit too. But both Airfix M3's had the WE210 tracks, only appropriate to British use.

I wouldn't ever describe myself as a rivet counter, but the track error is fairly fundamental.

I hope this helps in some away, i just want it finish so I can hide under a rock and build quietly out of the way

It does and I should have read it myself....Makes me think how well you have done. I have the academy kit and I know the version I have has suspension size problems. Which I will fix when I get around to it.

[privatepete]

It does and I should have read it myself....Makes me think how well you have done. I have the academy kit and I know the version I have has suspension size problems. Which I will fix when I get around to it.

Good luck with it when you do build it, and I would call it "detailing work" now missing, adding or modification work if you don't want the the s**t I got

[digger303]

It does and I should have read it myself....Makes me think how well you have done. I have the academy kit and I know the version I have has suspension size problems. Which I will fix when I get around to it.

Good luck with it when you do build it, and I would call it "detailing work" now missing, adding or modification work if you don't want the the s**t I got

I was just going to either use some left over dragon parts or the tristar suspension kit, but point taken about the obsessed.

Hope you get your Mojo sorted

[privatepete]

Hi I'm calling this one done, there still a lot of tidying up to be done, I'v lost all interest in this one so sorry it's a bit rushed.
















Thank you for looking:cheers2:

[digger303]

looks pretty good

[privatepete]

looks pretty good

Hi Ian it's done that all I can say, they say you lean from each build you do and I certainly did and it was not anything to do with model making

[digger303]

looks pretty good

Hi Ian it's done that all I can say, they say you lean from each build you do and I certainly did and it was not anything to do with model making

A stiff British upper lip and all that old chap. What else can ya do but soldier on

[OneSmallStep1966]

Looks good to me mate

[privatepete]

Looks good to me mate

Hi i'v already removed all the weathering, i'll redo it one day