M3 Hybrid lives again!

oztankboy · #1 15-10-06, 10:05

Well here are some shots of my M3. Just had it at the Military Jeep Club of Queensland swap meet and show this w/end. Well it was certainly a crowed pleaser. Just something about the sound and the sight of Stuart with the radial engine doing laps around an oval...
Just waiting for Grant and or Garry to post me some pic's of the w/end. I'll post them on here if they don't post them on here first.

Phil...

oztankboy · #2 15-10-06, 10:06

All the marking are as per orriginal ones found on the tank.

oztankboy · #3 15-10-06, 10:10

... and it was painted in 2 tone cammo. The colours are "pine green" and "portland stone". Note a full set of "grousers" aka "spudds" mounted along the side. Still have to finish and fit the sand guards to the side of it.

ron · #4 15-10-06, 10:11

Hello Phil.
Your tank looks great, you have done a job that you can be proud of, sorry that I had to leave early today I missed the run around the oval .
Regards,
Ron,

oztankboy · #5 15-10-06, 10:14

Finaly for now a rear shot. Some points to note the different antenna mounting locations and methods that are different to the USA way of doing things. The mods were typical of Australian/British Stuarts.

oztankboy · #6 15-10-06, 10:17

Hey Ron! Yerr it was good to see you there and will be good next year when you have your carrier there. the oval run was a real crowed pleaser! Must admitt it was a real buzz for me after all the time and effort and we took out 1st prize for the Armour class. But could not have done it with out Wayne's and my brotherinlaws help thats for sure.

Phil...

ron · #7 15-10-06, 10:36

Hello Phil,
Just wish I could have stayed but I was chasing bits for my carrier, I must add that I think that it great of you to give credit where credit is due to your mate Wayne who is a great guy,and a good friend,and also your brother in law, I like to see that,
Best Regards,
Ron,

oztankboy · #8 15-10-06, 10:45

Hey Ron!
Well I hope you got some goodies mate. Well yerr I ain't affraid to praise those who help me. I know all to well what it feels like to have some one claim all the glory... happened to me more than once in my time in the Army

... such is life!

BTW the F60S that he had just done up for Grant took out 1st in its class too so he was a proud boy too today!

Phil...

Jeff Gordon · #9 15-10-06, 12:28

Hi Phil, Well done

It looked and sound bloody unreal!!
I will email you some photo's (I don,t know how to post them)
Jeff

oztankboy · #10 15-10-06, 12:29

hey Jeff!

Thanks mate... and i'll post em then for you!

Phil...

David Ellery · #11 15-10-06, 21:09

WOW ! that looks really good, awesome paint job, well done

A stuart at full noise really does look and sound good. Thanks for the pictures. David...

Arron Walker · #12 16-10-06, 02:42

Phil,

Congratulations Phil on a great restoration! And thanks for going to the effort and cost to bring it along to the swap meet so that we all could enjoy it.

Arron

Jordan Baker · #13 16-10-06, 03:34

Very nice job on your Stuart.

I got to see some of them (3x M3A5) for the first time in motion this past summer and it was trully amazing. The one you have is my favorite becuase of all the rivits.

Do you have any indside pictures?

phoenix · #14 16-10-06, 04:11

Looking great!!!

I've got some photos from the meet that a mate sent me. I'll chuck them up as well when I get a chance.

phoenix · #15 16-10-06, 07:16

here are the pics I mentioned.

oztankboy · #16 16-10-06, 11:07

Was a great show... the venue is way better than where it use to be held. Was a real buzz to be able to take it for a run around the place and let people see a real WW2 running... beats a static museum piece any day!

As for the interria I am still working on it. Ran out of time for the show. Have to fit the spall lineing back in then all the CES pockets, brackets etc then the No.19 wireless set goes in. Got some NOS control boxes due any day from Norway to go into it. Then have to source or remake some of the 37mm ammo boxes as I only have the floor 1 that goes behind the co-driver. Going on a road trip in a few weeks so with any luck that my bear4 fruit.

Phil...

Lynn Eades · #17 16-10-06, 11:25

Ron, just wanted to echo some of the other guys in congradulating you on such a fine effort in restoring your Honey tank. What a little beauty she is! Have you any before or progress pictures?

oztankboy · #18 16-10-06, 11:49

Well here is a before...

Ian Pullen · #19 16-10-06, 12:02

Very impressed..... Will we see it at Corowa 08???????

oztankboy · #20 16-10-06, 12:09

Who knows???

I would love to take it down there but its a long way from Brissy to there and back hauling a tank. Will need to start saveing the $$$ now!

Phil...

Ian Pullen · #21 17-10-06, 08:39

It would be great if you can get it there. I believe that there will be a few Stuarts there for 08!!!!!!!!

ron · #22 17-10-06, 13:35

Hey Phil.
Just thought I would let you know if you get tired of that little beastie you can drop it off at my place, I will leave the gate unlocked for you,in case you get tempted to run over it,

Regards,
Ron. .

grant fincher · #23 23-10-06, 11:45

G'Day Phil
I've got a disc full of photos for you and I'll drop it down during the week. Here is a few to keep you going.
Grant

grant fincher · #24 23-10-06, 12:05

Just stop for a "smoke"

grant fincher · #25 23-10-06, 12:13

Most of the shots I took give the appearance of not moving. At least we know it made it onto the float under it's own steam. 28 gallons of petrol can achieve lots.

grant fincher · #26 23-10-06, 12:15

A proud owner

Ian Fawbert · #27 27-10-06, 10:12

Phil! Wow, what a beauty of a tank you have there. I stood in the middle of the oval watching you go round and round with one of the biggest smiles on my face! To see your tank in all its glory, rolling around like a well oiled machine was excellent,. thanks for taking the effort to bring her along and i hope if i make it up there next year, you will have her out again.

How long was the restoration process- well, to where you are up to now?

I have several pics and some video of it i`ll try to get to you somehow.

Excellent mate, really excellent!

Cheers,
Ian.

oztankboy · #28 27-10-06, 10:34

Hey there Ian!

Well thanks for that mate. Well I got the beast up here Dec 2000. Then only tinkered with it for about the 1st 12 mths then when the chance of some movie work for it came up in 2002 I decided to pull the finger out. As it was going to be dressed up to look like a M5A1 we only concentrated on the driveline and interria of it.

It remained as a M5 look-alike for another 12mths or so then decided to get back into it. We were trying to get it ready for a parrade through Brisbane for VP60 but some unfortunate cercumtances put the brakes on that.

So it was decided to get it up and running for this years Show seeing it was going to be at new and better venue and a bit closer to home too!

The outside of the tank is just about done. Still have the sand guards to go on. Got a orriginal siren on it's way from a friend in the States. Plus 1 or 2 odd things to do on the outside.

About to get stuck into the interria now. Refit/renew the spall lineing and fit all the brackets and pockets for the CES. Then install and wire up the No.19 MkIII wireless set.

I still have to source a couple of the internal 37mm ammo boxes and I have none of the 37mm gun. It would be nice to have but on the other hand it does solve a few problems with the powers tobe only haveing a dummy barrel.

So off down south in a few weeks to see what goodies I can aquire to finnish it off.

All the best!
Phil...