M3A3 Stuart in British Service

Rui S
Looking forward to this little gem😉

Henry Milton
This is a really nice kit OOB but I am adding the Royal Models PE set, Formations on Vehicle tool set, AFV individual links and many pieces from Royal Models stowage set for the M3A3. I have several figures I am considering adding and a nice base from Verlinden. The models has gone together very well, with just a bit of filling needed.

Rui S
Not my backyard, but you've got to enjoy the Stuart M3. Much higher than the panzer II but some role in 44 "dhow"? 🙂 So Villers Bocage, against a Pz IV a Pz III or almost any other medium tank ...🙁 the only possibility was a fast retreat to live another day 🤔 or fast somewhere else...😢 Henry, Nice detail BTW 👍

Henry Milton
The Stuart was used as a recon vehicle at this point in the war. In this instance the 8th Royal Irish Hussars were the recon element of the 7th AD just after the Normandy landings. They were moving with other units of the 7th AD toward Villers Bocage when they were ambushed by Tiger tanks lead my Michael Wittmann, one of the more famous and flamboyant tank aces of WW2. My project will display on of each variety of vehicle destroyed in this action.

Rui S
Yes, Henry I Know it. That's why I was commenting. Even if it was an ambush form a panzer III or IV they would have been in disadvantage moreover with a Tiger manned by a experienced crew. Thx for the additional information🙂

Henry Milton
I am also writing up each build and the history behind it. While this was a relatively minor engagement, because of Wttmanns involvement and the fact he took out so many vehicle, that battle has a much more prevalent place in history. I love the history as well as the building of models. I hope to add all the elements that I enjoy into this thing.

Henry Milton
Moving along with Stewy. I was surprised to find a great deal of flash on Sprue D. This sprue has majority of turret and gun parts, great deal of clean up but coming along nicely.

Rui S
Excellent detailing mate, keep on the good work 👍

Henry Milton
Thanks, I did a reboot on the turret. I did not like the way the kit one was coming along so I punted it and went with the TMD stuff. The Royal models stowage was set up for a USA vehicle. I replaced the helmet and water bottles with British versions. The radio from the kit was a USA type. Reiscast has a nice set of British radios that I picked up. Some of the interior detail is scratched from scrap resin.

Kerry COX
A lot of interesting but good detail happening here Henry.
It certainly will end up a great build mate. 🙂 👍

Henry Milton
Thanks Kerry, I have some figures in the works, 3 track commanders at an orders call before moving out. I will be making a base from scratch instead of using a preformed resin item this time. I am waiting on some items from a firm called Woodland Scenics, they cater to the railroad crowd but their stuff works just as well for our purposes too.

Henry Milton
Latest shots of Stewy. The base was made with a piece of styrene sheet. I mixed celluclay, pigment and white glue. The trees are from Verlinden and the ground wok is from woodland scenic's. I till have a great deal of detail to add to the base as well as finishing up the tank and figures.

John Van Kooten
Great work so far, Henry! 👍 I love those little Stuarts! Looking forward to your progress! 👍

Henry Milton
hank you John. This one has been fun. am trying to push my skills and do things that challenge my abilities.

Henry Milton
All the great feed back I receive here really helps.

John Van Kooten
Like you said, to take on new challenges and push your limits is, I think, indeed the best way to learn new and improve already aquired skills 👍 And you're definitely right, having fun & receiving motivational support while doing that are some of the most important factors as well! 😄

Henry Milton
Quick note on markings. This vehicle, Calamity Jane II, was part of the HQ sections recce troop, 4th County of London Yeomanry. 4CLY was the most junior regiment in the 22 armored Brigade and would display the red 53, designating the vehicle as coming from the junior regiment. The kit instructions mix the 5th regiment and 4CLY regiments markings as discussed on the web in various forums. In addition the blue triangle designates the HQ section of the junior regiment. I took these markings from my stash.

Henry Milton
Completed this one and it was a blast. Made the base from scratch, add a bunch of AM to the base kit, modified figures. 3 down and 6 to go to complete the larger project that these will be a part of.

Dave Flitton
Excellent work!!!!!!

Es-haq Khosravi
Great Job!

John Van Kooten
That looks very good, Henry!! Fantastic!! 👍 👍 Can't wait to see the larger dio come to Life!

Henry Milton
Thanks all for the kind words. I am putting together 9 vignettes that will display the various AFV,s destroyed by Wittmann at Villers Bocage. I am doing research to get each model in a scene that would/could have transpired before the battle took place. Next up is a Cromwell. The British 7AD was outfitted with Cromewells when they were transferred to England from Italy to prepare for the Overlord Invasion. The lack of experience with the vehicles was one of many factor in the poor performance at Villers Bocage

Stephan Ryll
very nice diorama!

Roberto Rocat
Nice work 👍

Henry Milton
Thanks for the compliments. I put a great deal of work into this vignette. I am getting better with faces and building bases. MY next project is a Cromwell. It will be set in a town. I am waiting for some items from Reality in Scale to create a street scene.

Kerry COX
I just had to be the Devil in all this Henry, and say that the two men holding their comms devices look like they have mobile phones. :-/
Just brilliant work on all fronts mate, but I just have a twisted mind and I ask your forgivness.🙂

John Van Kooten
@Kerry: the guy sitting on the turret is holding and talking into the microphone, which is part of the radio set, including the headphones. The guy standing in front of the tank is holding a compass (not a communication device) and reading a map. No link to modern mobile devices as far as I'm concerned. It all makes perfect sense in this setting 🙂

Kerry COX
Oh, I do know what they are 'doing' but like I said, to a twisted individual like me, I just saw it from an other angle. 🙂

Henry Milton
No worries guys, I am glad you enjoy the work no matter how you look at it, maybe they are talking on communicators and Scotty is going to beam them up to the Enterprise.

Kerry COX
LOL, Stranger things happened during the WW2 mate, and "FOO fighters" comes to mind. :-O

No, not the band. 🙂

Henry Milton
There is a potential diorama in there somewhere I am sure. Tractor beam pulling the crew and all up into space?????? Could be interesting..

Rui S
Excellent work.