#mack builds

[macks-mechas]

My next tank build:Zvezda 1/35 1943 Soviet T34-85 (late war use).

This piece of Russian machinery was used extensively throughout the war; from the battle of Kursk to the liberation of Eastern Berlin. All the while they were extensively up-armoured and altered both in factories and on the battlefield to meet new challenges head on.

This kit was a bugger to build, I will say that. The kit is very heavily based on the Academy kit design, but with a few cut corners and alterations. If you don’t like link by link tracks (I personally prefer rubber) then this kit will ruin your day. Most other link by link kits I’ve built have been specially molded to guarantee a flush fit, but these tread pieces needed a lot of work to get to stay together. When it was done, though, the rest of the build was fun.

I based this particular tank on a unit seen in May 1945 in Berlin, its stripes and numbering having been reportedly applied using fence whitewash and a mop. It was caked with rust by the time it reached the city, which I’ve done my best to replicate. I tried to also replicate weld beads, but Milliput is way too thick for the task. So I’ve since bought Green Stuff to do the job next time.

I have one more of these tanks to build, which I will be making as part of a display to look like a bombed and burnt out tank. Hopefully it goes well.

[macks-mechas]

My next finished tank is a kit from the company Italeri.

I built their M4A1 76(W) Sherman tank. The kit came as part of an infantry set, destined to replicate the battle for Cologne. So I decided to find some images of the 3rd Armored Division and replicate one of their tanks.

As such it has the requisite stowage, extra logs and sand bags found on one of their M4A1 tanks seen in a photograph with two destroyed M4A3 75 tanks. It had bullet ricochets along its assistant driver’s side and, like many other tanks, was subjected to heavy weapons fire and supposedly destroyed later before the Pershing tank was placed in front to lead the pack during operation Spearhead.

[macks-mechas]

I’m alive! Don’t worry, the blog has not died or anywhere near it. I’m currently in a new and very demanding job that often demands plenty of overtime. Couple with it my moving to England in a few months and I’ve barely time to do much lately. But with updates returning soon, I figured I’d give you a look at one of many reviews to come; MG Gundam F91 Harrison custom!

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The first of many kits I plan to build in my time off work; The HGUC RX-79(G) Gundam Ez-8!

Review to come tomorrow!

[macks-mechas]

I finally got around to building the Barzam kit! I waited to see a few reviews before building this one as, inevitably, there’s always a problem or two with first print releases. In this case I tried to avoid the fault but found myself graced with it anyway:

The hips suffer from stress marks due to the soft plastic stretching. I sanded both inner joints down to avoid this and they still formed. Ah well, I’ll just have to be careful in the video review and pictorial set.

[macks-mechas]

I finally own a kit of my alltime favourite mass produced mobile suit! The ground type GM has always been an iconic looking unit for me, being practically identical to its gundam counterpart in all ways but the torso, backpack and colour.

I will review this soon!

[macks-mechas]

Here are some more additional images of the M3 Lee repair tank, demonstrating the dismantled interior. I didn’t get to build an entire engine bay as it would’ve been a little too much for me as a first time doing this kind of kitbash. In future I may revisit such a tank for that. But I think this kit turned out really well and I’m very proud of it.

[macks-mechas]

After a bit of a hiatus due to work and wedding planning, I am glad to be back with what is arguably my biggest project I’ve ever built.

This is an M3 Lee tank from the 2nd Armored Division that was repaired with a Grant turret. The story, as sent to me by a very helpful curator at the Bovington Tank Museum, is that a handful of Grant tanks were stripped of their turrets and converted into T2 recovery vehicles. One of the Lees in the 2nd Armored Division was sent back for repairs as a makeshift replacement vehicle and the only turret onhand was Grant turret. They hastily painted American stars on it and put it back into service. I got nearly every detail right (the gouges in the rear, decals and such) but after being sent a photo of the tank in disrepair it appears the turret was in gunship grey rather than the colours used on the Tunisian front.

I digress, this kit has been in the works since January. I bought the Airfix M3 Grant kit, which came with an interior, but this was meant to be seen through the hatches. I opted to make it a disassembling tank instead and build an almost complete display piece. I bought an R975 Radial engine for the rear and some crew to accompany the kit. I then heavily modded the body and sponson so the hull could be separated and finished up with many hours of work painting and weathering the kit. Finally I built the crew (still learning how best to paint miniatures) and put it all together.

After what I could argue at 200+ hours of work, the tank is now finished and, despite the few headaches along the way, was worth every bit of time, effort and fun put into it.