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In parallel with the Famo production, we have been working on prototyping the M3.

We will build two prototype models - the Grant and the Lee rather than just have one hull with different turrets. We have started with the Grant - still a lot of small bits to make/ add, but good progress so far:

Wow another great model. I need more Money to earn all this great stuff

Brilliant job, I love the riveting. You are the best.

Now I do like that!

Not to be too critical....but when you start actual production....will the Return Roller that sits on top of the Suspension Truck be made of metal as on the original?

Jack

Its looking very very very good. This is going to be one hell of an impressive kit.

2 queries at the moment.

I take it that the Axe, towing wire and track spanner will be included?

Will the main gun have recoil?

Pete

I would expect that the main gun recoil will be the same as the Male sponsons on the Mark IV. Getting the 37mm to recoil will be fun

Another question - will the final drives be filleted - they look sharp edged at present ?


Adrian.

Adrian,
Yes, I picked up on that too....also, is someone going to make the Conical Rivets too, and not dome ones? At this scale, these things need to be correct, as it’s a primary point of focus!

Jack

> Conical Rivets

That looks like it might be down to the original production, as some seem to have domed rivets and others have conical ones.

Adrian.

Adrian,
I have only seen three M3’s.....all had lower hull in domed, upper were all conical. Perhaps others have seen or have evidence of uppers with the domed version. I realize I’m being persnickety here....but now is the time to make changes to a kit, while it’s in its prototype phase.

Jack

Looking great. I like the spoked bogey wheels. That is a mountain of metal.

Curious why Armortek went away from castings for turrets, tranny housing etc. Seems this would be more economical than hogging billets of alum? Perhaps this has already been discussed elsewhere.

Will be a nice model for sure!
Bob

My understanding is that the cost of relatively short runs of castings is prohibitively expensive, and the quality is almost completely out of their control - who remembers the first run of Tiger turrets ?

With machining, Mark can tweak the code until it's spot on, and then know the machines will churn out 50 identical turrets. And do it again in ten years time if they do another batch. They do turn out a lot heavier though, hence the lazy susan bearings for the turrets now I suppose.

Adrian.

Bob,
My thoughts exactly. And, if I may, a mistake! I received a message from Kian pertaining to the economical ability of them doing a cast hull Sherman. He stated that the “Up Front” of having a master made would be too much. So, I offered my two cents.
1) The master of Pattern should be of an economical material as was the original of wood.
2) Present the possibilities of doing the Hull and Turret again out of a cast material such as a fiberglass reinforced Resin, that would be very economical and efficient. The benefits could outweigh that if Cast Aluminum in many ways. However, if the majority of the customers prefer crashing walled structures with their big investment.....it may disappoint them.
Either way, might this notion be best “Floated” to the customer base in the form of a question? If they branched from all their models only being done in scale thickness Aluminum....and venture to the use of another material in not all, but only certain parts of the model....just think of the savings and the possibilities of new and different models.

Jack

fantastic progress... really looking forward to this one.


Sean