It is a U.S. light tank built in March 2009.
I was making the light tank Stuart U.S. Army.
As for assembly around the chassis, the parts were little, but the structure was complex. I noticed to touch the ground all the wheels.
The rack is photo-etched parts like an actual wire net.
The upper and lower body matched without trouble. I lost two tiny parts.
(2009/03/01)
Two front wire hooks were lost. Since there was no other way, I made them from brass wire.
I thinly planned the fender with the design knife. Because of the light tank, it looks better. The machine gun post and the barrel were aluminum parts.
There are many detailed plastic parts, though the photo-etched parts are few.
Especially a spare caterpillar on the front side; the turret side is detailed and painful. The variation without a spare caterpillar is optional.
I painted basic color in olive drab.
(2009/03/07)
Before pasting decals, I sprayed clear to adhere to decal sticking. I chose the marking of the British, 5th Royal Tank Regiment, 22nd Amd Brigade, in June 1944. Red marks are colorful and nice.
（2009/03/20）
This figure makes the tank tiny. When I bent the arm by force, it became unnatural.
（2009/03/25)
M3A3 Stuart was completed. The armor plate is changed from the riveted joint to the welding compared with M3A1, and the slope of the front armor has been changed. A British army fought bravely against the Japanese in the Pacific War.
I did silver dry-brushing too much.
I irregularly depicted rust and mud with washing. I changed the tone since it was unattractive in a single color.
The assembly of a spare caterpillar is complicated, and it seems rattled.
It seems not to have been used by the U.S. Army, though M3 was supplied for Allied Forces by the Lend-Lease Acts. A Yugoslavia army, a British army, and examples of Allied Forces such as China were listed in the instruction examples. I chose the marking of the British, 5th Royal Tank Regiment, 22nd Amd Brigade, in June 1944.
The variable parts became obstructed, and Ｉ abandoned to take the crew on this turret where opening all the hatches was difficult. However, I took the driver by force. The turret did not turn so much.
I did the pastel work as the powder since it had been used in Normandy.
Periscopes were painted blue. Since it was a matte painting, I made the paint clear and shiny.
It took time, though it was a small body. There is the shot looked into from under, like the actual solder eyesight.
M3A3 Stuart is difficult, but I’m content with the completion.
（2009/03/31）
