discussion 1:72 S-Models Light Tank M3A3 to Stuart Recce

[Guest]

Since Andrew @adt70hk recently bought some S-Models M3A3s and I mentioned I built some of those as turretless Stuart Recces some years ago, here’s a quick how-to

I used this kit:

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Since the Stuart Recce lacked a turret, I had to build an interior, which just took a few bits of plastic card and some spare figures from Plastic Soldier Company (I think they’re from their M5 halftrack, sawed down to fit):

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Really, its just a firewall made from some plastic card to fit inside the hull, a drive shaft tunnel from some more plastic card, a transmission from a block of resin offcuts — which I did that way because I happened to have some of about the right size, you could easily do this from some more plastic too — and some boxes on the floor and in the sponsons. Since you’ll only see this through a small turret opening, you don’t really need more to give a good impression of there being a full interior.

After painting the inside and glueing the hull top to the bottom, I built a stowage bin on the hull rear and added some British details to the turret:

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Since the turrets are removable, I can use the vehicle as either a Recce or a standard Stuart V. Technically, the Recce version should probably have some armour plate around the turret ring and a couple of machine guns, but this works for me

Here’s the full four I made:

View attachment 437416

 

[adt70hk]

Jakko

Thanks for sharing, as you say you don't need much to give the impression of an interior.

I should even some of PSC M5 half-track infantry in the spares box, as I made that kit years ago but didn't add the men in the rear.

Thanks for sharing. Much appreciated.

ATB.

Andrew

 

[Guest]

Nice of you to post Jakko this.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Excellent gaming conversions Jakko. Nice one!

 

[Guest]

Thanks They do work very well for wargaming this way, I think. For some reason I don’t seem to have pictures of them after painting, though.