M3A1 HALFTRACK - 1/16 - from Andy's Hobby HR

[GCB]

Starting the M3 halftrack and my eyes are resting after the 1/350 scale.
Nice kit, plenty parts and easy instructions.
I built the chassis and it will go for painting soon, and also the engine. Lots of details on the engine and fun to assemble, however, as Edbert said, seams everywhere.
So, I will take it easy on the engine, as it is not going to be seen, and will not fight all seams. Would take days.
Will post more when moving ahead.

 

[Steve Ski]

Excellent start. Iron out the bug so us, Brother, we're watchin till the end!

 

[mustang1989]

Pretty cool kit. Even has the engine part and serial #'s on the side of the block. Bummer about the seam lines but hey......that's modeling.

 

[GCB]

Excellent start. Iron out the bug so us, Brother, we're watchin till the end!

Thanks Steve. Will see how the chassis fits with the rest...

 

[GCB]

Pretty cool kit. Even has the engine part and serial #'s on the side of the block. Bummer about the seam lines but hey......that's modeling. View attachment 168411

Yes, pretty nice engine! One thing missing is the distributor cap (which was existing on the Jeep from Takom I built - see below). I could have made one, but as I said, the engine will not be visible, so not going further on the engine.

 

[Jakko]

I would just have put the whole engine, except maybe the underside, into my spares box

 

[GCB]

I would just have put the whole engine, except maybe the underside, into my spares box

Thought about it, but then, would be some gaps when looking for below (which never happens, but..)

 

[Rockin' Rob]

The engine and Chassis look great. Especially the paint job. May I ask what type of paint did you use cuz it really looks awesome

 

[GCB]

Rob, the last picture was related to the Jeep Willys I built some time ago (https://www.scalemodeladdict.com/threads/jeep-willys-1-4-ton-4x4.16440/).
I used XF9 for the chassis and then chipping fluid before painting in green (XF62).

 

[Rockin' Rob]

Rob, the last picture was related to the Jeep Willys I built some time ago (https://www.scalemodeladdict.com/threads/jeep-willys-1-4-ton-4x4.16440/).
I used XF9 for the chassis and then chipping fluid before painting in green (XF62). Yes I reread what you wrote and now it makes sense. Tamia paints? Excellent. Same here

 

[GCB]

Moving ahead and first coat of paint... Also painted the engine, but will become olive drab pretty soon..

 

[BarleyBop]

Very crisp detail at 1/16... one day...

Looking great!

 

[GCB]

Engine deserves to be built by himself and exposed as such..

 

[Bear43]

That engine looks great!

 

[Edbert]

Bummer about the seam lines

I think those "lines" on the frame as he showed are supposed to be there. I figured that out after spending time sanding mine away. Not too worried about it, it will be hidden soon enough

 

[Edbert]

Also painted the engine

Are you gonna paint the black lettering on the grey parts?

 

[Edbert]

Engine deserves to be built by himself and exposed as such..

I've seen some videos by people further along in the build than I. There's no hinge mechanism that allows you to make the hood functionally open. But you can make it a lift-off type of thing. Right now I think that is what I'll do.

 

[GCB]

I've seen some videos by people further along in the build than I. There's no hinge mechanism that allows you to make the hood functionally open. But you can make it a lift-off type of thing. Right now I think that is what I'll do.

Yes have seen those too, but still prefer the hood closed.... So, engine is not going to be visible. If not, would have painted it better and added cables.

 

[GCB]

Question for the experts. On the bogies, the part in the red circles, do they have rubber ?
Cannot find any picture.

 

[Jakko]

I don't know for sure, but based on the very similar design of bogies used in the M3 and M4 medium tanks, these are almost certainly steel plates.

The way the suspension works is that there are two vertical springs inside the body of the suspension unit. The suspension arms get pushed up when the wheels hit a bump, and thereby push against the levers that are above them. The springs sit on top of those levers, so they get compressed by the levers when the wheels press the suspension arms up I mention all of this to explain why those parts you circled, are metal: they slide past each other to allow the arms to push the levers.

 

[urumomo]

https://www.toadmanstankpictures.com/m3a1ht.htm

 

[GCB]

Thanks Jakko and Urumono. I will keep them green then. I asked due to the round shape of these pieces.
Great pictures!

 

[Jakko]

Now I'm at my computer instead of on my iPad, I can more easily post some (somewhat poor quality) photos from TM 9-710 Basic Half-Track Vehicles (White, Autocar, and Diamond T) of 23 february 1944.

Interestingly, what I called the "levers" (the Sherman term for them) in my previous post is officially the "crab".

Here's a view of the bogie frame bracket (not "body") with the arms, frames and wheels removed:

 

[GCB]

Yep, cheers.. Interesting assembly!

 

[GCB]

and how it looks like.. With some weathering should be nice.

 

[GCB]

Undercarriage parts paints and only need assembly now

 

[GCB]

And looking at the "rubber" tracks provided with the kit.
Which color should I paint those?
As per the picture from Urumomo, they look like being rubber with steel connection.. Right?

 

[GCB]

And looking at the "rubber" tracks provided with the kit.
Which color should I paint those?
As per the picture from Urumomo, they look like being rubber with steel connection.. Right?

View attachment 173902View attachment 173903

 

[Jakko]

The real tracks are steel cables with steel pieces connecting them at every "link", and a metal guide down the middle, and then everything encased in rubber. The bits protruding from the sides are the steel connecting pieces, from which the rubber would wear off fairly quickly. The same goes for the guide in the middle of the track.

In use, the guide would probably wear off its rubber fastest, and would end up polished because it rubs against the wheels all the time.

 

[Steve Ski]

Wow, this build is looking great!