SPA Modeler

This is my completion of a kit started by a man who died before he could finish it. That was something of a habit for this guy to start a kit, get to some point, lose interest, then start another kit. He had scores of kits like this, ranging from barely started to nearly completed. This one fell into the later category, being roughly 90% complete, just needing the tracks, OVM tools, headlight lenses, and an antenna added, and some broken off grab handles replaced…. and then redoing the finish. AZ AMPS members bought up a bunch of this guys kits, and several of us finished up some of them to send them as a tribute collection at IPMS Nationals in a few weeks. I finished this Takom M3 Lee for my contribution to this task.













I don’t think this one will win any prizes, but it is a great addition to my 1/35 Red Army tank fleet…

Very well done. Looks like he was a decent model builder.

Very nice!!!

Lyle & Tom, thanks.

Lyle, the guy was indeed a very neat, solid builder. But he is one of those guys that cut many parts off of the sprues and left them loose, where some got lost. And his storage of the partially built kits led to damage on fragile parts, such as the grab handles on this one.

You did an outstanding job!

Looks great Stik. Interesting finishing someone elses kit - never done that before. I like the Lee and looks great in Russian markings.

Thank you John. I have bought several of these pre started kits over the years, but this is the first one that I have ever completed. Although I do have another older one that is oh so close to completion. For several of those kits, buying these secondhand pre started kits is the only way that I could afford them.

Awesome work Stik!! Looks great!

Thanks Mike. I’ve handed it off for its trip to San Marcos…

Cool project, great result!