Skip to main content

On the Workbench M3 Grant Mk1 - Mirage kit in 1:72

Next in the production line from the arsenal of democracy the M3 Grant. This is the Mirage kit - still in three parts for painting (I have used RB brass turned barrels from Lancers). This is going to be the command tank for the Sherman tanks I am currently painting up suitable for Tunisia. I don't think the Grants were used in this role once they crossed to Sicily but would love to be proved wrong.
 Sand skirts come with this they'll be added after the running gears painted
 Brass antenna for wireless sets also added


Stage one of thecompleted 

 Painting completed including copious sand The original kit comes with complete sand skirts I decided to remove the left front to make a more war worn appearance. The Mirage kit comes with a few white metal parts including this commander model - vaguely reminiscent of Monty!
Thanks to the wise folks at the The Guild I now know that the Grants where still used (probably as command vehicles in Sicily at least0. So this one is marked up for 23rd Armoured Brigade who still had a few on returns in Sicily.
 Air recognition markings from extradecals
 The wargamers view.
 Sherman stowage and bailout packs  for British tanks from Milicast
 Brass aerials added and green stuff for the rolled tarp.
Proved wrong! A Grant Command tank in Sicily with M3 gun removed and 37mm replaced with  a dummy. Mine will double up as a gun tank in some El Alamein to Tunisia games. so I am not making drastic conversions to it.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Scenario and AAR Second Battle of San Salvo 2-3 November 1943

  Tanks of 46 (Lierpool Welsh) RTR  History  “On the V Corps of 8th Army front was paused on the Trigno river, British 78th Infantry Division attacked along the coastal road while 8th Indian Infantry Division attacked some 10 mi (16 km) inland. Fighting was fierce, but on 3 November, British 78th Division reached San Salvo, some three miles beyond the Trigno, at which point Generalmajor Rudolf Sieckenius—commanding 16th Panzer Division—decided to make a fighting withdrawal to the Sangro river and the formidable Gustav defensive positions overlooking the river from the ridge tops on the far side. The plan was that the Skins were to capture San Salvo and the ridge on the left, while the Buffs were to capture the ridge to the right of the town. The first part of the attack was to take p1ace just before first light, and from first light onwards the two Infantry Battalions were to have the assistance of a Regiment of Tanks. The Buffs had a pretty clear run through on the right, but ther

AAR The Bitter taste of Sugarloaf - Battlegroup Pacific War Scenario

Japanese defenders set up trench lines anchor the center, a pill box with AT guns out front covered by MG bunkers covering them. the furthest flank has a sniper on ambush fire (indicated by a puff of white smoke.  The US marines deployment on the Japanese right flank, Lots of small varied teams with a dizzying variety of equipment and specialisms. The rail line is actually in a shallow ravine so we agreed a special rule that shooting in and out could only be done from with 5" of the line. An artillery's observation bunker with FAO team. There is another off table on Half moon hill. This bunker was the only thing I placed on the ridge apart from the cave mouth which I placed nearby on the reverse slope. The bulk of the defenders would be hidden here safe from US air and artillery's strikes. The Japanese artillery's fire was efficiently suppressed all game by big off shore naval guns firing in the counter battery role. . Marine recon teams creep forward under fire from t

Scenario and AAR Clearing the Road to Bou Arada 11 January 1943

  Clearing the Road to Bou Arada   11 January 1943 The History On 11 January, a squadron of 2 Lothian & Border tanks was sent from Goubellat to clear the enemy from the area. Advancing on each side of the road, several of them got bogged down in thick mud created by torrential winter rain. 2LIR was ordered to protect the tanks while they were to be dug out of the mud. Two motor companies of 10 Rifle Brigade were involved and they headed south and then east to attack farms held by German units. They found the task impossible and were withdrawn after suffering five fatalities. Battle British are advancing and have first move. Heavy rain in recent days means that movement of road is in difficult terrain and vehicles can become bogged down if the leave the roads. The paratrooper of Herman Goering Jaeger Regiment are holding the farms to the East of the Bou Arada Road and preventing movement on the road. The  2 Lothian and Border Horse supported by 10 Rifle Regiment set out to cle