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.

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on the workbench Fields and Gardens

Time to improve terrain. Fields and gardens on an old piece of hardboard. Corrugated paper then textured and spray painted. Plants from scatter static grass on lines of PVA. Grass tuft in rows and green paint soaked sponge and pieces of clump foliage. Fences a mix of plant ties and bamboo skewers for the hurdles and garden thyme stripped of leaves to be the brush in the brushwood fences. a mixture of open field and fenced gardens house at the cetre of a fenced gardens and crop fileds Patchwork of fields - the irrigation ditch is scratch built from acrylic sheets Vines in a ploughed field - vines scratch built from pipe cleaners Patchwork of gardens the pigsty is bought from Hovels yonks ago Brush wood fence some scattered static grass used for young crops Ploughed field with orchard trees A series of the fields to make a patchwork close to a village ploughed field with shredded sponge cabbages A mix of lants made of clump folia...

on the workbench Sd Kfz164 Nashorn

Captured Nashorn Italy 1944 Model by Alkett Crew by AB miniatures Infantry support from Xan Miniatures Afrika Korp camo net scratch built from surgical gauze and stowage from Early War Miniatures Inspired by a Nashorn from schwere Panzerjäger-Abteilung 525 captured in the Liri Valley

Attack/ Counterattack near El Hamma 1943

Attack/Counterattack near El Hamma 27th March 1943 German Forces from 15th Panzer Division 1 Platoon Panzer III kurtz (short) 1 Platoon Px III lang (long) 1 Platoon Pz II 1 Panzer IV F2 1 Marder 1 supply truck 1 timed Stuka strike 1 FAC in Sdkfz 250 British Forces from 2nd Armoured Brigade Forward HQ in Grant Mk1 gun tank 2x Sherman tank squadron consisting of 3 Sherman III tanks 1 carrier section from 1 The Rifle Brigade consisting of 3 carriers with 1 Bren team 1 2" mortr team and 1 Vickers MG team FAO in Daimler Dingo FAC in Humber Scot car Radio link in M5 halftrack 1 battery of 25 pounders (off table) Battle We used the attack/ counter attack from the rulebook to represent this typical encounter as the 1st Armoured disision supported by 2nd New Zealand division fought towards Gabes on the Tunisian coast after breaking through the Tebaga Gap. The 15th Panzer Division fought despearately to allow Generel Messe to evacuate hs forces from the Maret...

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