discussion Greg's 1/72 Academy M3 Half Track

[Greg_147]

Hello all,

My contribution for the group build; an M3 from the Academy 1/72 Ground Vehicle series. I've also picked up an accessory set from Redog, to add a bit of stowage to it.

I'll just build the half track for the GB, but will likely throw a scene together involving the other vehicles at a later date.

Thanks,
Greg

 

[Gern]

Welcome aboard Greg.

 

[Greg_147]

Bit of a late start for me! The M3 went together quite quickly.





And some olive drab primer, and the wheels and tracks (almost) are on. While I do have the stowage kit, I decided I wanted to have the vehicle in motion, so would need a driver. Some modifications to a HaT tank rider, and I have a figure that fits (and a few soldiers to ride in the back)

 

[Tim Marlow]

Progressing nicely Greg. Are those HaT figures hard polystyrene, or are they soft polythene like the old Airfix soldiers?

 

[Guest]

All the HäT figures I’ve ever handled were in a pretty terrible, soft plastic.

 

[Jim R]

All the HäT figures I’ve ever handled were in a pretty terrible, soft plastic.

I bought some for something and just binned them. You couldn't sand them or anything. As Tim said they were polythene I think.

Anyway way Greg the half-track looks good. It's come together quickly. I hope the figures work out OK.

 

[Tim Marlow]

Won’t be buying those then :tongue-out3:

 

[Guest]

They work fairly well as wargames figures, provided you have the right glue to stick them to larger bases. However, HäT’s decision to mould things like machine guns and their tripods separately when they’re made of plastic that can be cleaned up about as well as it can be glued, doesn’t help.

 

[Greg_147]

Yep unfortunately they're the soft type, but they were the only sitting figures I could find. I did try sanding one and it was... bad :smiling5: I'm waiting on a delivery of fresh blades for the craft knife, so hopefully will be able to tidy them up suitably with them.

 

[adt70hk]

Coming on nicely Greg!

 

[Greg_147]

A bit more work done on the M3; construction is complete, and paintwork has started. I've also put a driver figure in there.






I've found the HaT figures do indeed leave a lot to be desired. Here's a shot of one of them after I attempted to clean it up, next to an Italeri figure straight off the sprue. The difference is night and day unfortunately! I'll have to make do, and luckily the sitting figures will be partially obscured from view by being in the back of the vehicle.

 

[minitnkr]

Track came out great. The AI weren't issued BARs as they had the 30cals on the track, so no sweat not using the clunky BAR gunner. Yours is a later version, so it was issued a bazooka w/rockets.

 

[Greg_147]

Thanks for the tip Paul, you'll be pleased to know I omitted the BAR gunner based on that! Unfortunately the bazooka operator was just as clunky, and didn't fit in anyway, so he was omitted too :smiling5:

Anyway, apologies all for the lack of updates! The completed model is now in the Completed Group Builds section.

 

[scottie3158]

Looking good Greg. To small for me and my sausage fingers.

 

[Lee Drennen]

Nice one I always wanted to build this