Small Scale Military Headquarters

This one is pretty early in the process. I used a 21st Century wheel to confirm the scale was accurate. The rivets turned out better than I thought, though I may make them a tiny bit larger.

After the Panzer I, now your just showing off.... I'm kidding.
Wow that looks good, the rivets look scale to me. Its going to be another fine addition to the 1:18 line!!

Your off to a good start !!

I made a lot of progress but there is still a long way to go. I enhanced the rivets and the handles on the side panels. We now have doors, tires, a hood and a front end, back end, etc.. The original skate rail design was too fragile so that went back to the lab. The fenders, due to the curves, are going to be a real challenge. We'll see!

Grunt, scout car looks great! Lets see how the fenders come out, good luck!

Grunt, would it be possible to make a "fusable" rear end to a Halftrack? Like you print out the rear, and just glue up to the existing 21st HT? It's a print I'd be kinda into because I think it'd be a bit more affordable to go that route (for the po folks in the house) maybe? If you were looking for something to sell, that is. Or rather, something to sell MORE of perhaps?

I know I have a quad 50 I'd butcher in a heartbeat for that.

BTW, sweet dragon's teeth. You should mount and rust up some metal loops in the top.

Well shit Jesse...

I was so busy plodding along making this thing from scratch I forgot all about that option. I wasn't thrilled about making the roller, gear shifters, fenders, etc. anyway.. . SO.. it turns out the news is really good. The black bed you see will easily fit right on top of the back frame of the 21C M3A3 after you remove the existing bed. I can make chairs, or you can scratch build them using the seats from the halftrack. You really just need two extra tires, the skate rail and a the rest of the fender. Those parts I have in the works anyway.

And.. the 21C Half-track was really an amazing model. The hood opens with engine, all of the windows, doors, and shields work, even the freakin benches in the back open up which I just now discovered, so while it's a shame to sacrifice one it's an even better idea to lend all of that detail to an even better scout car I say.

My big question is how close are the M3A1 Scout Car and M3A3 Half-track front end? They both originated from the same M2 Scout Car design, but was there anything significant that happened to them along the way to make them different at all?

I realize for some that may not matter, but I'm curious.

So that being said. Jesse, would you be willing to work with me to try to do this? I'll butcher a half-track as well but it would be helpful having someone a little further away from the factory trying to make one to tease out anything I miss.

Normandy the good news is that this may be time saved and spent on a different project or two.

This is looking very nice, when will you be taking orders?

Hi Zelda, I'm going the route Jesse suggested and focusing on a back end for the existing 21st Century M3A1. Is that what you were looking for or did you want a full model?

Back end sounds good to me

I think the headlights on the HT's tend to be mounted on the side of the hood verses the Scout Car's being on the fenders. Otherwise they seem extremely close.

I would be interested in the rear section if and when it becomes available. Reach out and PM me when its time. I'm not on here that much anymore.

Thanks Toy that is really good to know.

I made a lot of progress and am nearing completion.

Left to do:
Front portion of skate rail
Shim to match up M3A3 to M3A1 fender gap
A bit more diamond plate

Here is what she looks like so far:








As far as the kit goes, this is about 2/3rds of it. The M3A3 halftrack works better than the quad gun version because you can use the seat cushions from the rear portion for the Scout Car. It also comes with a pair of 30 cals and a 50, where as the quad gun version does not. You will need to supply your own brass tubing, I'll provide the diameter, for the axles.

The front wheels have to go to back because the hubs protrude much further out on the Scout Car as shown, than they did on the halftrack.

Grunt, that Scout Car is looking great. As well as the dio display. Did you make the ground work / grass and road?
Back on topic, would your kit work with the FOV M16 Multiple Gun Motor Carriage?

Thank you. I have no idea if it would work "well" with the M16. The kit as it stands slides right onto the 21st Century frame after two easy saw cuts. I'd have to try one to know for sure and I have no Unimax M16 donors. Do you know where there might be some?

As for the mat, it's from build-a-rama. Check out their store, or look for deals from ebay seller markfett (same people).

Incredible stuff man. I'll probably cast (at some point) the .30 and .50 for the scout car, as well as seat cushions out of the Quad 50... It's the only one I have to donate to the cause. That's really imperssive work though. The trailer really kicks it up too. I have the PTE trailer... may sneak it in without fenders.

Just thinking how a Russian deco would look... I won't do it, but I bet someone will!

Hey Grunt,

It looks great !!!

One less thing I have to make !!!