Page 3 of 6

Re: Academy M3A1 WIP

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2026 1:42 pm
by Stikpusher
I’ve made progress on the hull interior

Image

Image

Image

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…

Re: Academy M3A1 WIP

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2026 6:08 pm
by Stuart
Very nice - is any of that stowage your 3D printed stuff Carlos?

Re: Academy M3A1 WIP

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2026 6:33 pm
by 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.

Re: Academy M3A1 WIP

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2026 6:34 pm
by Stuart
Looking forward to seeing them in action!

Re: Academy M3A1 WIP

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2026 7:48 pm
by BlackSheep214
Nice work, Carlos. :shoutout: :shoutout: :shoutout:

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

Re: Academy M3A1 WIP

Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2026 11:56 pm
by 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.

Image

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

Re: Academy M3A1 WIP

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2026 4:38 am
by Stuart
Yeah there's actually a fair bit there to see - it should look great when built up.

Re: Academy M3A1 WIP

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2026 5:58 am
by BlackSheep214
Why is there a tank in your living room, Stik? :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

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

Re: Academy M3A1 WIP

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2026 5:58 pm
by speedgraflex
Very nice work and photos, Carlos!

Re: Academy M3A1 WIP

Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2026 9:07 pm
by 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.

Image

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

Image

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

Image

Image

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…

Image

Image

Driver’s side

Image

Image

Assistant driver’s side

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

Image

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