Thursday 3 May 2012

M5 Stuart

I built these models years ago, so you must blame their appearance here on Paul (doesn't he get blamed for a lot?). I have liked the Matchbox M3 Stuart/Honey kit since it was released and I currently have quite a few of them 'on fleet'.
While the basic kit is fine for equipping early Yanks or Brits fooling around in the desert, I needed some M5s for my post D-Day US Armoured Divisions. Back in the days before the availability of cheap resin M5s, the obvious solution seemed to be a combination of a Matchbox M3 with some filler and swearing. Clearly one wasn't going to be enough, so I dug out three Stuart kits from my 'stock' and set to work.
Having built the basic hull and (US) turrets as Matchbox intended, I then made the following adjustments:
Turret. Basically I stuck a big blob of filler to the rear of the turret and when dry, sanded it to more or less the correct shape.
Hull. I built up the rear decking with some scrap plastic and more filler, suitably disguised with bits of stowage. A the front, I cut new sloping armour from plastic card, stuck it into place and plugged the gaps with - more filler! Once again, some stowage helped to hide the poor quality of the workmanship...
Er, thats it.
As can be seen in the photos, despite building these over a decade ago and using the completed pair in several games, I have helpfully left one unpainted. 

 
 
 
 
 

9 comments:

Paul said...

Superb kit bash Tim. I am really impressed, especially with the turret.

Just goes to show what a bit of imagination and filler will do.

A big opening foe Armourfast/Italeri/Plastic Soldier or Pegasus to put out a fast build M5A1.

Model on Tim!

Rodger said...

Impressive work Tim.

Tim Gow said...

Paul
I was very pleased with them - I really must get that last one painted! I notice that Frontline do a nice resin M5 for a tasty £4.40 - http://www.frontlinewargaming.co.uk/photos/20/A14.html

Tim Gow said...

Rodger
Thanks - they've been used in a few games and noboby has grumbled about them as yet. Not that I'd care!

Arquinsiel said...

That M5 looks like it'll do nicely while being easier to find than the Matchbox M3. Thanks for the link.

Tim Gow said...

Arquinsiel
You're welcome - I think I might actually have one somewhere.

SoA Shows North said...

Great stuff, Tim ... pictures of tanks and modelling tips ... just like the good old days!

Remco said...

Some nice kits these are, the priest is awesome!

Greetings Remco
sjemco.blogspot.com

Tim Gow said...

SoA Shows North
One tries Phil, one tries...