Small Scale Military Headquarters

Hi All ,I just won a Monogram 1/32 scale M-20 model Greyhound on e-bay to add to my 1/32 collection. I haven't built a model in 15 years. Any tips or ideas on putting this together that would make it look better? I'l planning on builting it in February.I hope it goes good with my FOV and 21st century models. I'm still planning on staying with 1/32 scale, just may have to look harder now.
May even try a monogram Sherman next. Thanks all. Bandit

I have the Monogram Panzerspahwagen. From what I gather, you'll need putty as the fit isn't the greatest on these.

I just got back into model building myself since 21st's demise. You'll quickly run out of options for armor in this scale, but if you also like planes there are lots of great choices.

Just like any model, clean it up well by removing the cast lines and sprue tabs. It has been a few years since I built the M8 version of the same model, but they were pretty decent kits for the money.

One situation I ran into with older Monogram kits is that the plastic seems to get brittle with age. You shouldnt have a problem as long as you carefully cut the parts off the sprues. The installation of the wheels on the axles may be tricky. It is a friction/slide deal and there is a chance of snapping the axles off if you dont slide the wheels on just right. If you want them to turn, make sure you clean the axles well and make sure there is enough slop inside the wheel. The tricky thing is that the wheel may slide on and snap in place just fine, but when you go to rotate it, snap goes the axle...

The 1:32 M3 Lee and M4 Sherman "Hedgehog" are being re released by Revell. They are the old Monogram kits and they went together just as nice as they did when I was a kid.

TJ

I built one back in the day and was shocked by the poor fit. Take your time and do a lot of dry fitting before you start . You may want to think about going to 1/35 if your going to build kits.Tamiya makes a M20 that is a gem.

I have built a number of 1/32 Monogram kits and I haven't had any problems with the fit. I felt they were very well made for the price. Airfix on the other hand...... The Monogram pieces go well with 21st and FOV. In light of the departure of 21st I find myself purchasing more Monogram kits and the re-released Monogram thru Revell.

Thanks all.

The M8 and M20 were some of the last Monogram releases so they should be easier to work with. Although I never really had problems with Monogram kits except the original 50's releases such as the jeep, halftrack,and the weasel.

Here is a site of out of production kits for sale. Their prices are a bit high but sometimes you find a bargain for what ever you may be looking for, from the past, that you may want to build again...

http://www.oldmodelkits.com/index.php

TJ

I've checked through that site before; the variety of 1/32 WWII aircraft is amazing if you can handle the cost and the fact most are resin.

But if you want to try your hand at a B-24J then they can help you.

Has anyone here ever built a resin kit? What can someone with moderate experience with regular injection kits expect from a typical resin model?

I hadn't built a model in about 25 years and was suprised at the choices you now have in glues, adhesives, and puttys. Last time I built models you only had the old squeeze tube of glue and some Testors putty. Do a little research into these areas if its been awhile since you did some modeling.

* I got one of these I found pretty cheap off eBaY. It's fairly common compared to the M-8 Greyhound which I also have , and relatively not as hard to find.

......... most collectors & model builders alike , grab up the M-8 opposed to the M-20 . I find these ol' Monogram kits a good "stop-gap" for what 21st. & FoV lacked.

* I have a tube of (green) Squadron Putty I've had for over 30-yrs. that I still use from time to time ,
that has not hardened in the tube yet. * * Amazing stuff !

.............. I'll thin it out a bit w/ a little paint thinner depending on the application , it has a tendency to shrink.


- Mitch v MG

Heres a Tamiya 1/35 Sherman I built last year, very good kits, I just have'nt tried the art of weathering yet, chicken I guess.



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Yes, there is a lot of nice stuff in 1/35; however I am committed to 1/32 because of all the models I already possess.

1/32 and 1/35 do not play well together, as I found out when I bought a set of German tankers and German artillerymen and noticed they all seem as small as Mexicans next to the 21st figures.

Yeah, I know they don't mix well, actually I have'nt bought any 1/35 in a year. I got the 1/32 bug and as you would know once I like something it starts to get harder to find, hopeing someone takes 21st's place and makes some affordable and decent 1/32.

Ok, Is there much different in the Monogram M-8 model to the Monogram M-20 model greyhound? Should I try for the M-8 model?
Got the M-20 model in the mail on Saturday should be easy to built.Going to do it after the holidays.

Isn't the Monogram M-8 a 1/35 scale kit? The M-20 Greyhound is 1/32. The M-8 will be noticably smaller. It will be dwarfed by the 1/32....

Nope, they're the same scale, got one of each sitting next to one another my display case and they are the same size.


-Kevin

ketelone, Tamiya made a M8 in 1/35th scale. Maybe that was the one you were thinking of.

Yep, you're right, I built the Tamiya. I'll have to look out for the Monogram M-8. I've got the M-20. I do have both of Britains' Greyhounds, nice but pricey....

For those not familiar; the M8 is the "armored car" and has a turret with 37mm/.30 cal mount and a .50 on top. The M20 was an "armored utility vehicle", it was meant to carry more people, lacked the turret, had an open compartment topped by a .50 cal ring mount. The armored cars were used by Cavalry recon units, the M20s were used mostly by TD units for security teams - guys who would dismount to keep enemy infantry away from the guns. They might dismount the .50 for use on a tripod and also had a bazooka.

thanks everyone. all was very helpfull on this post. bandit