761st Tank Battalion M4A3 in the Ardennes
Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2024 10:01 pm
This thread will cover my attempts to paint and convert a proper M4A3 of the 761st Tank Battalion as it would have appeared in the Ardennes during the Battle of the Bulge. As the most accessible model to me at present is a HL 105, I shall likely be working within the framework of doing a 761st 105.
The 761st, for the uninitiated, was an African-American tank battalion, nicknamed the “Black Panthers” or, occasionally, “Patton’s Panthers.” It was of course very poorly treated by the US military establishment at the time, but gave exceptional service. It was actively engaged throughout its deployment and the Panthers were among the first to cross the Rhine.
I’ll be doing a fictional mount; there were 105s in the 761, but lacking reliable data and clear images I felt it would be more respectful to these gentlemen if I provided my own addition. The crew will be named for men of color whom I’ve known and admired: the tank’s commanding NCO will, for instance, be named for my maternal grandfather (he was Navy, but I’m sure he would overlook my rash reassignment of service….)
Update 1 is simply that the vehicle arrived today, and upon inspection, seems to be very well done. My tank is one of the “promotional” versions. 360 rotation of turret, metal tracks, road wheels, and suspension, with steel gearbox. There are no mold lines, and the mechanics seem solid. I have not yet cracked open the hull fully, but I would like to charge up the mains and run it, see how it handles, before I reach that step.
My main challenge initially will be disassembling enough of the vehicle to allow me to begin work on any additions and then make it possible to paint safely without damaging any electronics. I’ll admit I’m also torn at least about one detail, and this is that, whilst the tracks are lovely, they are entirely too clean. I doubt that any rust or mud effects would long survive active use, so I suspect I shall have to grit my teeth and assume that her constant service erm… “keeps the tracks clean.” (shudder)
If for some reason I am unable to get this working as I’d like, the alternative plan is to model the Churchill tank “Iceni,” also active in the winter of 1944/45 and, sadly, lost in action. I’ve already got an unpainted Churchill on the way so that much, at least, shouldn’t be impossible.
The 761st, for the uninitiated, was an African-American tank battalion, nicknamed the “Black Panthers” or, occasionally, “Patton’s Panthers.” It was of course very poorly treated by the US military establishment at the time, but gave exceptional service. It was actively engaged throughout its deployment and the Panthers were among the first to cross the Rhine.
I’ll be doing a fictional mount; there were 105s in the 761, but lacking reliable data and clear images I felt it would be more respectful to these gentlemen if I provided my own addition. The crew will be named for men of color whom I’ve known and admired: the tank’s commanding NCO will, for instance, be named for my maternal grandfather (he was Navy, but I’m sure he would overlook my rash reassignment of service….)
Update 1 is simply that the vehicle arrived today, and upon inspection, seems to be very well done. My tank is one of the “promotional” versions. 360 rotation of turret, metal tracks, road wheels, and suspension, with steel gearbox. There are no mold lines, and the mechanics seem solid. I have not yet cracked open the hull fully, but I would like to charge up the mains and run it, see how it handles, before I reach that step.
My main challenge initially will be disassembling enough of the vehicle to allow me to begin work on any additions and then make it possible to paint safely without damaging any electronics. I’ll admit I’m also torn at least about one detail, and this is that, whilst the tracks are lovely, they are entirely too clean. I doubt that any rust or mud effects would long survive active use, so I suspect I shall have to grit my teeth and assume that her constant service erm… “keeps the tracks clean.” (shudder)
If for some reason I am unable to get this working as I’d like, the alternative plan is to model the Churchill tank “Iceni,” also active in the winter of 1944/45 and, sadly, lost in action. I’ve already got an unpainted Churchill on the way so that much, at least, shouldn’t be impossible.
I can see how this is quite a rabbit hole of a hobby.