1/18 M-3 Tank Destroyer Wrapping Up Full Build Pics !!!

[Threetoughtrucks]

I'll go in for a 105mm gun as well as a 75mm.

As long as my supply of 21C halftracks hold out, I'm in, how can you do without these neat variations.

TTT

[Panther F]

Yeah, I was only bantering with TTT about what was cool looking. I'm satisfied with the fact the 75MM will be made instead and I was not arguing for it.

Any price discussed yet or did I miss it again?


- Jeff

[ram04]

As Panther F said, is there a price you have set for this conversion? I have a few of these and truthfully I really don't care for the quad and think a 75mm would really be a great conversion.

[pickelhaube]

I got chance to work on this a little more. I thinking about $125 for the kit. The kit will contain:
75 mm gun
gun mount
gun shield
2 gas cells
false floor.
2 gun tender seats.

Here is the gun platform rough in. The 1/35 scale cannon is holding up the 1/18 barrel.




Gun shield rough in



Track mock up

[B-29]

Looks great! I'd be in for a 75 and 105 TD depending on price.

[grockwood]

This is the M3 75mm GMC my Dad built a year ago. Not as detailed as pickelhaube's will be, but he was 78 when he made it. This is the album Dads halftracks are in. Besides the GMC he rebuilt the 21st M16A1 to a M16 that he took advanced training on. He also rebuilt the engine.

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/alb ... ype=search

[pickelhaube]

This is the M3 75mm GMC my Dad built a year ago. Not as detailed as pickelhaube's will be, but he was 78 when he made it.

http://image53.webshots.com/653/1/26/9/ ... TMd_ph.jpg

http://image59.webshots.com/159/3/88/66 ... Qfg_ph.jpg

The links are not coming up.

I would love to see how his tured out

[plasticboy]

Awesome project! I was expexting to see this kit coming!

[pickelhaube]

My buddy Robbie Pierce sent me his started M-3 TD. He could not wait on me !!! I made the gas cans about a year ago for him . Everything else he scratched built and is waiting for my kit.

Check it out. He does have some skills. He is the guy who built and painted my M-10 he did a fantastic job on that to

[pickelhaube]

It has been a while since I posted on this project.

I am still waiting on the RTV rubber for the assault dozer.

I have spent a few days on this project and do not have too much to show for.


I have the base and gun trough tricked out. But I need to do the elevation and side ways cogs.

i did not think that they would show but they do. You can see them from the driver compartment.

I should be able to finish the cogs and rear breech on the gun to post pics on sunday.

Taht 75 sure has a lot of detail .

If there is more interest in the 105 just let me know.

That may be a little simpler than this. The 105 does not have a protecting shield.

[plasticboy]

Excellent paint job!!

Are you planning to make 105 Howitzer on the vehicle? Really interesting!

[pickelhaube]

Excellent paint job!!

Are you planning to make 105 Howitzer on the vehicle? Really interesting!

No just the 75 mm.

I have asked for a show of hands for the 105 but only Panther F shows interest.

I kind of like the looks of the 105 better than the 75.

But the 75 was used in almost all of WW2 and the 105 toward the tail end.

The main gun is almost done. I will post pics on Sunday

[B-29]

I'd be interested in a 105 mm as well

[thehun]

well,
now i know what i can do with some of the 22 us tracks i have, Well done Pickel!

[1958Zelda]

I would be in for a 105 also.

[Panther F]

I always go for what looks best, no matter what was used the most.


- Jeff

[pickelhaube]

Well I have something to show after about 3 days of work.

Man this thing has a lot of bells and whistles.

Hey Grockwood your dad did a great job. I was finally able to down load the pics.

Here is my renditian









The hand crank on the right side will be the production cranks. The left side I stole off of my M-10 to stage the pics.

Hopefully this was the toughfest of the project and I hope it is all down hill after this.

I really , really thought that this would be an easy one.

[pickelhaube]

I almost have the ready rounds done and have all of the interior pieces roughed it.

The whole interior is different than the stock troop carrior and quad gun mount.

Starting from the front of the vehical.

front roller for those who need it
1 x radio box . I will make this a plain box the originals used a cover tarp to protect the dials and switches
1 x tall square supply box located behind driver
2 x jump seats located left/right side used to tend the gun
2 x tall thin tool boxes mounted against inside walls
2 x fuel cells mounted in the rear of the vehical
floor tool box
gun assembley

I was thinking of maybe offering a couple of options.

1. Quick kit with gun and shield only --$ 100 ?
2. Full set.---------------------------------$150 ?

Any inpute on this ?

Also last chance for a show of hands on the 105 . I think that I may only do the gun on this . I have no idea on how the interior looks . So I may just do the gun only . Est price around $100

So far I have about 6 guys interested in the 105. 4 more and I will make it.

[Threetoughtrucks]

Full set. $150 for, in essence, a new vehicle, is a deal.

In these days of never again, finding new 1/18 models for $39.95 at Wallyworld, Pickel is the only new vehicle game in town.

Thanks Matthew, for your help in keeping 1/18 alive Count me in for a 75mm kit.

TTT

[grunt1]

Same here, put one of the full kits onto my existing order list. Thanks pic!

[pickelhaube]

OK,
I think this is about 99 % done.

I need to make the radio box. I may just put the dails on it I am not sure just yet what I will do on that.

Here is the mock up using Robbie's track.






Here is the interior layout.



I put rails on the seat head rest . These can be cut off. The seat has braces behind it so I figured to make the whole rails as a locator. Glue the head rest on the side wall and cut it off if you like after the glue sets.

The space between the thin tool boxes and the petrol cells should be filled up with a jerry can . I will supply that as well.




I did not put the stifning braces in but I have the locator rings. I will supply them with the kit. I think that I would have messed up the locator hole rings if I would have put them on.




So there it is. Other than the radio box it should be ready for the moulds.

I will make the dozer moulds first then the M-3 .

[pickelhaube]

There is a big step from this

[/quote]

To this

[grunt1]

wow....

[normandy]

Looks Great Pickel!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kevrut]

Cool!