Panzerserra Bunker- Military Scale Models in 1/35 scale: julho 2011

Gentlemen!!

You guys know that I love the building of rare vehicles, but real ...Strolling through the internet, last year I found this photo on the Axis History Forum and Bingo ... Here I come! ...
A Renault R-35 french light tank, with a conical turret T-26 russian tank, with german markings... Panzerkampfwagen 35R 731(f) mit T-26 turm... Wow!!!

Renault R-35 with T-26 turret

To me, the photo was real, but then Photoshop exist, we no longer sure of anything. I asked in Missing Lynx what the colleagues thought about the image and the consensus was that the photo depicted a real vehicle, as was my opinion from the beginning. Well, this was the starting point for the collection kits to reproduce this project.

French light tank Renault R-35

Russian light tank T26

The use of captured material was very common by the Germans, especially for secondary duties, such as tractors, ammo carriers, observation or airfields guarding... The Germans had and used many tanks R35 under combat conditions, after the surrender of France. It was reliable and robust, with good supply of spare parts. ... Many vehicles R-35 were transformed in destroyers, with a Czech 47mm gun , the Panzerjager 35R 731(f).

Renaults captureds in good conditions

Panzerjager 35R 731(f)- with Czech gun 47mm Pak(t) L/43.4

In my interpretation, the Germans picked up a R-35 version tractor or ammo carrier (Munitionspanzer 35R 731 (f)) with no turret and put a T-26 turret in it for crew protection, using the tank as an armored observation vehicle.

Munitionspanzer 35R 731(f)

Munitionspanzer 35R 731(f) - russian front

After this introduction, we will start the project. First, I "cleaned" the picture for best viewing:

Improved photography

A wider vision

A drawing in three views is always important:

After the presentation of the project, we will meet the protagonists: For the hull, I will use an old Renault R35 & Canon de 25 kit from Heller (#81133) and to use the turret, I will sacrifice a OT-134 / T-26-C tank kit from Mirage Hobby (#35309).

Kit Renault R35 Heller and OT-134/T26-C Mirage

The Heller kit is good and honest, but the injection of Mirage's kit is a true shame ... Look at the injection fault in the breech of the 45mm gun: awful!! ... I'll replace it with a metal gun from RB Models.

The RB Models metal gun. The arrow mark the cut location.

After the metal gun surgery, the T26 turret is taking shape..

T-26 conical turret

I made an adjustment to allow for the rotation of the turret on the hull. In my opinion, in the original tank the turret should be welded ... Its function should not be firing, but just a "cover" to protect the inside of the hull exposed. The advantage of being mobile turret in the kit is to prevent fracture of the gun, when handling the model ...

Rotation device

Testing the turret in the upper-hull. Ok !!!

Turret in the upper-hull.

The building continues...Suspension and turret:

Renault R-35 hull with suspensions

Turret with details...

I change the front axle (plastic) by a metal one:

Using metal wire for the front axle...

Front axle ready for the drive sprockets

Making the tracks sagging:

Using wood sticks to force the track sagging

Done !!!

The weight aspect of the tracks

The girl is looking good...

Almost done. Primer time:

I'll try to reproduce the real pic. No spare wheel in the rear....

No tools and accessories, like the real pic.

Now, it´s primer time. The hull:

Hull with primer

...And the turret:

Turret with primer

Ups and downs in the basic color: Panzer-Gray...The gloss aspect is the Future

Ups and Downs

German markings...No silvering (thanks, Future...)

Renault R-35 with german colors...

Wash :

Almost ready...

In the last post of this blog, this captured girl was ready to receive the final weathering...

R35 ready for weathering...

Well, after publishing the building in Missing-Lynx, our colleague Zisis Tsagarakis ( Thanks, Zisis...) drew my attention to a small BIG detail: the turret that I used was wrong. The mantlet was from another model, like in the plant I drew ...

Notice the differences between the kit and the mantlet in the photo and drawing

Putz ... Here's a detail that could not be left behind ... How I don't have this version of turret, the way was do a surgery:

Plastic surgery.

Remaking the base of mantlet....

Plasticard time !!!

And the turret almost ready, after plastic surgery...

And the turret was corrected:

Again, ready for painting...

And, finnaly (after the scare...), the French-Russian-German girl was done:

Renault R-35 with conical T-26 turret

Panzerkampfwagen 35R 731(f) mit T-26 turm

Renault R-35 with conical T-26 turret - right side

Renault R-35 with conical T-26 turret - left side

Renault R35 mit T26C-1939 turm - Beobachtung Tank

Panzerkampfwagen 35R 731(f) mit T-26 turm

Well, Gents ...

Another project based on actual photo was ready ... It is very nice to have a unique model in our collection, even more when he receives help from colleagues around the world.

Cheers !!

Gentlemen...

Let's know the M3A1 Lee - T10 Leaflet CDL:

M3A1 Lee - T10 Leaflet CDL

Everyone knows the British Grant CDL, one of the Hobbart's Funnies from 79th Armoured Division:

Grant CDL

But his American brother is a little less known. The British version used the chassis of M3 Grant. The American version used the chassis of the M3A1 Lee with cast hull.

M3A1 Lee - early

History:
The M3A1 Lee cast hull were only used in training by the United States and the only version of this hull that saw combat was just the version CDL. Similar to the English version, the turret with 37mm gun was removed and was installed a turret with a searchlight inside, keeping the 75mm gun on the hull, maintaining the main offensive capacity. In the American version, it used the hull M3A1 early and late, with heavy-duty suspension, like the M4 and the aft hatch of the hull with opening back, characteristic of the final versions of Lee hull cast. The hatch of side of the hull could be present or not.

T10 Leaflet - M3A1 Lee early (notice the side hull hatch in place)

The American turret CDL was different in small details regarding to the British, such as replacement of the Besa machinegun by a .30 Browning, as well as the use of Americans periscopes.

T10 CDL - turret close-up

T10 CDL of 736th Tank Battalion
in Dragon Wagon

M3A1 T10 Leaflet CDL in Germany, 1945.
Notice the turret disguised with canvas and halftrack track.

T10 Leaflet on Dragon Wagon - Germany - 1945

The Americans M3 Lee CDL were called Leaflet Tractor T10, in an attempt to disguise their true mission. All CDL tanks program was surrounded by much secrecy. The secret was so much that detracted from its use by the allied forces.

The men who manned the tanks T10 CDL called their tanks as Gizmo Tank. Served in Medium Tank Battalions 701, 736, 738, 739, 740 and 748. In 1945 were used for illumination and distraction duties during the crossing of the Rhine.

Specs:

M3A1 CDL - T10 Leaflet tractor
Type	Medium tank - CDL version
Place of origin	United States
Service history
Wars	World War II
Production history
Produced	August 1941–December 1942
Number built	300 (M3A1 tank version)
Specifications
Weight	27 t
Length	5.64 m
Width	2.72 m
Height	3.12 m
Crew	6

Armor	up to 51 mm Steel
Main armament	Arc Light Weapon - Carbon Arc Spotlight - 13.000.000 candles
Secondary armament	75 mm Gun M2/M3 in hull 46 rounds .30-06 Browning in turret M1919A4 machine gun 1,200 rounds
Engine	Wright (Continental) R975 EC2 400 hp (300 kW)/340 hp (250 kW)
Transmission	Synchromesh, 5 speeds forward, 1 reverse
Suspension	vertical volute spring
Ground clearance	0.46 m
Fuel capacity	662 liters
Operational range	193 km
Speed	42 km/h (road) 26 km/h (off-road)
Steering system	Controlled differential

The kit:
To the building of this kit, I'll use the excellent M3A1cast hull from Formations, which acquired with a colleague. The hull will be transformed in the late version, like the profile above, with the removal of the side hatches of the hull and the inversion of the roof hatch. The Formations hull is the early version.

M3A1 Lee Formations hull - early - notice the side hull hatch

Roof hull hatch - Formations old manual indicated the hatch in late position in an early hull.

The material manufactured by Formations is simply fantastic. For removing the side hatch of the hull, I sanded the region and the late version was ready.

Notice the capped holes in the front hull for machine guns, that no had in late version. The hinges of the roof hatch are still there, in this photo ... but have been removed and rebuilt in its new position

Modified hull - no side hatch - the hinges of the roof hatch will be modified...

Although Formations recommend for this conversion kit the Lee/Grant from Academy, I will use as "host" kit the old Tamiya Lee. I will use several parts for the project. The heavy duty suspension will be a scrap of an Italeri Sherman that I have in my"Bowl of Souls" ...

Lee Tamiya - the blue arrows point to parts I'll use

The "Frankenleestein" is growing...

The Formations hull in the Tamiya's chassi. Notice the CDL turret with .30 browning by RB Models

M3A1 left side . No hull hatc - late version. Notice the Italeri HD bogies

The kit with the first primer layer. Notice the "armour collar" that I did in the hull, to protect the joint hull-turret. This collar is typical of late versions ...

T10 cowith primer - The cargo chests are Tamiya

The gun armour was done with foilo from beer can...

T10 right side - Pistol port by Tamiya and HD bogie from Italeri (M4A1)
Tasca tracks (vinyl)

T1- rear view- notice the roof hatch, late characteristic

I added ceiling fans and periscopes in the top of the hull. These parts was molded from a M4 Sherman hull and reproduced with dental acrylic.

T10 under construction - Notice the Shermie CDL in background (gloss green)

The amazing Archer casting marks I always use after the primer.

Archer casting marks - very good option- setting with Future...

Casting marks in the rear's turret and hatch.

Kit painted with Olive Drab, with tonal variations of this color. The Shermie is next, for size comparison. The glowing effect is the result of applying Future to avoid silvering on decals