Academy 1/35 scale M3 Stuart "Honey"

[BlackSheep214]

Tom, How did you mask off the areas?

Frog yellow painter tape. Cheaper and thinner than Tamiya masking tape. Economical too because it lasts about a year depending on how much tape I use.

Paint order on hull, wheels, gun turrent, handles, etc… using AK Interactive Real Color

Portland Stone then I went over it again semi lightly with Light Stone

Mask for lower hull stripes for Silver Grey Green

Mask top portion for Silver Grey Green


Paint order on turrent. Masked gun barrel section first since front section is painted Portland Stone/Light Stone

Overall Silver Grey Green

Masked for Slate on top section of turrent. This was a ball breaker for me but I kept fighting til it submitted to me.
I simply created a small thin triangle for sides then straight across the back. Mask around top edges for Slate.

[Stikpusher]

Very nicely done! Your pulling off the Caunter scheme perfectly here.

[LyleW]

[speedgraflex]

Thanks, Tom! I’ve been using various Japanese branded tapes for years, both in vinyl and paper formats. You’re right that these tapes cost a fortune for what is offered and I’ll be happy to try out Frog tape. Thanks again.

[BlackSheep214]

Slowly plugging away on the individual track links. Thus far, I’ve made two 17 track link length each side for bottom - will need to add 7 more to make it a 24 link length from first idler wheel to rear wheel.

For the top, I did two 16 track length for each side for top return wheel section. May add 8 more links or so from first return wheel to top of rear wheel.

This way I can work on the curves around the rear wheel. I may try using some double sided tape to help determine how many track links I need to make a complete connection around the rear wheel. We’ll see…..

Once those are done, I’ll then concentrate on the forward links around main wheel to return wheels.

[Gary Brantley]

From a commercial painter's point of view, Frog tape is great because it allows one to brush paint over tape without any seep-through. Through some chemical wizardtry, water in the paint activates something in the tape that seals the edge and keeps the paint from seeping under. I found that it also works well with oil-based enamel if you just run a damp "duster brush" (old worn out paintbrush used for dusting!) along the tape's edge. Then, oil enamel can be brushed over it witout concern.

[Stikpusher]

Slowly plugging away on the individual track links. Thus far, I’ve made two 17 track link length each side for bottom - will need to add 7 more to make it a 24 link length from first idler wheel to rear wheel.

For the top, I did two 16 track length for each side for top return wheel section. May add 8 more links or so from first return wheel to top of rear wheel.

This way I can work on the curves around the rear wheel. I may try using some double sided tape to help determine how many track links I need to make a complete connection around the rear wheel. We’ll see…..

Once those are done, I’ll then concentrate on the forward links around main wheel to return wheels.

You’re doing fine on the progress. Just to get you up to speed on nomenclature for the suspension: the toothed wheel is called the drive sprocket or sprocket wheel. The wheels that contact the track on the ground surface are called road wheels, or in the case of a bogie suspension of this type, bogie wheels. The wheels at the top of the bogie units or road wheels are return rollers. And the single wheels at at the end opposite the drive sprocket are idler wheel.

[BlackSheep214]

Jesus, Carlos. I was tired last night to find the correct name for them.

[speedgraflex]

From a commercial painter's point of view, Frog tape is great because it allows one to brush paint over tape without any seep-through. Through some chemical wizardtry, water in the paint activates something in the tape that seals the edge and keeps the paint from seeping under. I found that it also works well with oil-based enamel if you just run a damp "duster brush" (old worn out paintbrush used for dusting!) along the tape's edge. Then, oil enamel can be brushed over it witout concern.

[BlackSheep214]

Track link progress. I was able to link them 1 at a time then link it to the top track link.






Now the hard part is linking them from the toothed drive sprockets around to the bottom track links.