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Modeller Build Logs

M8 HMC

By Michael Bedard
Started: Nov 14, 2007
Updated: Aug 6, 2008

I received the Tiger Model Designs M8 HMC on October 17, 2007 (a day after my birthday) from Saul Garcia. I was surprised to see how large a box the kit comes in considering the size of the vehicle. The box was packed with several resin cast parts, AFV Club styrene parts, a CD from Toadman, large instruction booklet plus an extra set of tracks and decals that Saul threw in for giggles. My first impression is the amount and quality of the resin castings. The instructions are more comprehensive than any other resin kit I have ever seen. Reading through the instructions one gets the feeling that the owner and master-builder have put together an extraordinary kit but apologize for it not being ‘perfect’. The booklet points out several areas that the initial build came across as points to be aware of when building the kit. Just the instructions alone are a marvel in the resin kit business. As I proceed with the BLOG I may come across points in construction or detail that others may want to be aware. Hopefully this BLOG will inspire others to purchase this extraordinary resin kit and/or help with their own build. I won’t go through the history of the vehicle or review of the kit since Saul has already posted this on track-link. I will be using as reference for the build past articles in Military Modelling by Steve Zaloga and Cookie Seawell, Osprey books on the Stuart (along with Steve Zaloga’s Modeling book on the Stuart), Hunnicutt’s book on light tanks and my own reference photos of a local M5A1 Stuart and Aberdeen’s M8. I may post some of these references along in the BLOG.

Introduction Preparing resin pieces Removing pieces from carriers Looking at the Lower Hull Painting interior parts Painting the interior resin pieces Painting the Hull Interior .50 cal Thompson Weathering the Interior - Step 1 Interior - Step 2 Adding Pigments Painting Fabric Aammunition Racks Extra Detail Periscopes Adding Interior Rounds Fire Extinguishers Dashboard Fit Problems Exhaust Fixing the Turret Ring Opening screens Lower Hull Finished Preparing the Turret Ring Small Details - Turret Interior Preparing the Turret Interior Finishing the Gears Missed Piece Interior Canvas Parts Breech Detail Turret Carbines Finishing the Turret Interior Turret Roof
[Discussion]

Turret CarbinesJul 17, 2008
Saul mentioned in his review of the kit that he broke one of the carbine ends. I broke the other due to an air bubble in the barrel. I glued it back on for this photo. None the less they will both be replaced. These carbines have the bayonet lug which is rather rare for WW II. I found this out when I was re-enacting as most re-enactors that acquire remanufactured M1 carbines remove the lug to be more accurate. The lugs were not seen on M1 carbines till after April 1945. The Marines liked them because of the close combat with the Japanese. The lug is that sqaure piece at the base of the muzzle.


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