M3A3 Stuart Mk.V by Steve Palffy (AFV Club 1/35)

M3A3 Stuart Mk.V

by Steve Palffy

M3A3 Stuart Mk.V

images by Brett Green

AFV Club's 1/35 scale M3A3 is available online from Squadron.com

Introduction

Here is Steve Palffy's 1/35 scale AFV Club Staurt Mk.V.

An in-box and construction review by Steve appears elsewhere on HyperScale.

Construction

Steve comments that the kit is more temperamental to build than the latest Tamiya offerings, but that it is a very nice model indeed.

The highlights include correct suspension and running gear, excellent flexible tracks and plenty of delicate details. However, if you are a modeller who does not like small parts you will probably want to forget about the grousers and other tiny details, as they are quite tricky to handle and secure to the kit.

Steve said that assembling the grousers for the turret and glacis plate took almost as long as the entire rest of the kit! There were two tiny parts per grouser, but the end result is worthwhile as can be seen in these images. Other fine details included handles, smoke grenade launchers, British pattern antennas, fire extinguisher and tool box. The photo etched fret supplies the rear stowage and tool box.

The .30 cal barrels are very well done, with deeply recessed holes in the cooling sleeves.

The string provided for the towing cable and the turned metal barrel are great finishing touches for this model.

The detail on the interior of the vehicle did not meet the high standard of detail on the outside. Steve closed the hatches as a result. However, the radio is worthy of note as a very authentic looking piece of plastic.
Characteristic prominent weld beads are missing from the turret and the glacis plate. Steve added these from Tamiya two-part epoxy putty.

Painting and Finishing

The model was painted with Tamiya acrylics using the Tamiya Spray Work HG Super Fine airbrush.

The overall colour was a mix of Tamiya Olive Drab mixed with XF-4 Yellow Green. The interior of selected panels were faded with progressively lighter coats containing a higher proportion of the Yellow Green.

After the vehicle was painted, an overall wash of thinned Burnt Umber oil paint was applied.

Paint chipping was simulated using a lead pencil and a silver artist's pencil. Although the silver is not actually a realistic representation of the colour of the metal underneath, it is a more satisfactory method of displaying wear and tear, as a lead pencil is almost invisible on the model.

Machine gun barrels were painted with a mix of Field Blue and Flat Black followed by light dry-brushing with Flat Aluminium. The gun barrels then receive a wash of thinned black oil paint. Black pastel chalk was used for the muzzle blast residue on the end of the main gun barrel.

Wooden tool handles were prepared for paint by raking lengthwise with a fine razor saw. They were then painted with a mix of German Yellow and Yellow Green. When dry, the handles then receive a wash of Sienna and Umber oil paints to highlight the grain created by the razor saw.

Wheels were brush-painted with a mix of Flat Earth and Flat Black then oversprayed with Buff. The edges of the wheels were highlighted with a Cool Grey artist's coloured pencil

The kit-supplied tracks were painted with a mix of Flat Earth and Flat Black. The rubber blocks were painted grey. The edges of the rubber blocks were coloured in with a darker shade of grey using a coloured artist's pencil to represent a worn appearance. The guide teeth were dry brushed with Tamiya acrylic Flat Aluminium.

Burnt Sienna oil paint was used to depict rust highlights on the track links.

The kit decals were applied over Microscale Gloss. Once the decals were on the model, they received a sealing coat of Microscale Gloss and, finally, sealed with Testor's Dullcote.

The attractive foliage was sourced from a Hudson and Allen set entitled "Norway Maple Leaves - Fall Color". Tiny lavender roots were used to represent the branches. They were glued to the leaves using Testor's Canopy Cement. A light wash of Sienna oil paint added depth to the colour of the leaves and blended them with the "branches".