Mick's Grant

[Tim Carr]

Mick
Just found your thread. Way to go on the 62 years. Working on 44 for the wife and I.
Nice work, enjoy the build.

Later Tim

[michael hilton]

Good morning everyone, thank you Tim for your kind comment. I am indebted to other Lee/Grant modelers for their posts. Pete's little tweaks are most useful as are many others. Forum's really are a mine of information, thank you....After playing with the Panther and re-wheeling the Rolls last week, it's back to the Grant. For anyone contemplating a first build, both in size and instruction....this M3 is first class..... Mick

[Derek Attree]

Hi Mick
Looking good fast progress are you sure you haven't got a Phil under your bench

Regards

Derek

[Vince Cutajar]

Great progress Michael. It's starting to take shape.

Vince

[michael hilton]

Good afternoon Derek, oh no, that Phil's a machine, a cyborg, a robotic unstoppable machine.....a handsome chap non the less.
With the warmer dry weather, I tried my Halfords Khaki fast drying spray paint. No fiddly air brush for me....I like the feel of a solid spray can in my shaky hand....
Thank you Vince , it's a quality kit...and I like it....Mick

[Pete Nash]

Nice Going Michael.

However.......Before you go much further, and If you are going to motorise your Grant you could well remove the centre section of the transmission.

As I pointed out on my thread it is impossible to fit the motors without removing some of the centre section web, and then you have to have a short Allen key and turn the bolts one flat at a time. Its way easier to do it before fitting the centre section.

The Motor mounting instructions call for a plain washer and split shake-proof washer. This is bad engineering practice. One does NOT use a washer and split washer together, the bolt will turn the split washer which turns the plain washer thus negating the effect of the shake-proof split washer.
To be an effective shake-proof device the bolt heat grips the split washer and forces it onto whatever its being fastened to.

[michael hilton]

Good morning Pete, thank you for the 'tip', I have noted the useful advice from yourself, Adrian and other M3 builders, the Forum at it's best, thanks again….Mick

[Mike Conley]

I installed the side spacer mounts on the motors before I put them in the hull. I then just put the complete unit in and bolted it to the hull. I didn't have to do any cutting of the center rib. Maybe I did it wrong but that's what I did...

Mike

[michael hilton]

Thank you Mike....now why did I not think of that …..following your excellent build.

[michael hilton]

Mornin all, lovely day, overnight rearranged the workshop somewhat...made it easier to work both sides of the Grant. Going through all the previous Lee/Grant building posts. These are really useful, thank you chaps. Built a couple of track links during my insomnia, thought it useful to aid checking the sprocket fit. Enough said, things to do, people to see, places to go....Mick

[Phil Woollard]

Neat and tidy as usual Mick, she will be perfect!

[michael hilton]

Good morning Phil and thank you. Most of my building now takes place during the wee small hours, it's cooler and suits my unusual sleep patterns. My 'lock nuts' have arrived from China and I have invested in a 'hand reamer', following the useful advice posted on the Forum. I really like the somewhat unusual shapes the Grant presents from different angles, if that makes sense....Mick

[Adrian Harris]

> different angles

That's a pretty good two word description of the M3

I must get back to mine.

Adrian.

[michael hilton]

Good morning everyone, once again following advice from those who have gone before.....Mick

[michael hilton]

Having had a couple of rivets fall out ...I added a smidgen of Milliput to the rear.....Mick