Academy M3A1 WIP

[Stikpusher]

I’ve made progress on the hull interior







I added a few bits such as the canteens, Thompson, water can, amd tie down straps for the ammo cans that were not included in the kit. I need to do a bit more weathering in there, then I can close it up. The upper hull has a bit more painting and a couple of 3D printed items to add…

[Stuart]

Very nice - is any of that stowage your 3D printed stuff Carlos?

[Stikpusher]

No. I will be using some 3D printed stuff on this kit, but only a few small items. The first ones will be in the next update.

[Stuart]

Looking forward to seeing them in action!

[BlackSheep214]

Nice work, Carlos.

Such a shame you won't see most of it once the top hull is on. Perhaps a cutaway to show the insides? Naaaaah...

[Stikpusher]

Thanks Tom. I’m actually going to have all the hatches and drivers flaps open, so there will a good amount of the interior visible. That’s why I’m adding the extra dress up insides.



The front will look the same, plus the two turret top hatches open as well…

[Stuart]

Yeah there's actually a fair bit there to see - it should look great when built up.

[BlackSheep214]

Why is there a tank in your living room, Stik?

Having hatches open is the way to go. I didn't realize you can see quite a bit.

[speedgraflex]

Very nice work and photos, Carlos!

[Stikpusher]

Thanks guys! This one is going better than I had originally planned. This was supposed to be OOB… but I never seem to be able to stop myself from doing more…

Looking at AFV Database for reference, I saw that the floor of the turret basket had a hydraulic pump and reservoir so I scratched up something resembling those items to be visible in their appropriate locations.



Then I saw that the kit’s main gun was missing the gyro stabilizer, so I scratched up some items to resemble those pieces



and after painting to match the B&W photos in the TM…





Next on the hull I drilled out the side vision ports for the driver and assistant driver… note to self, on my M3 Honey build it will be easier to do that drilling earlier in assembly…





Driver’s side





Assistant driver’s side

Lastly I 3D printed up these parts for the inner surface of those side vision ports



I’m just about ready to close up the hull… just a bit more work to do in there