United States M3 Lee - A Stopgap Tank for a Global War

The United States M3 Lee was an interim tank design developed under urgent wartime conditions, intended to place a powerful 75mm gun into service before a fully turreted solution could be fielded. Produced by five different manufacturers, a total of 6,258 M3 Lees were built and saw service across multiple theaters, most notably in North Africa during the early stages of U.S. involvement in World War II.

This model represents my first olive drab U.S. armored vehicle and required a slightly different approach to weathering compared to European camouflage schemes. The finish emphasizes subtle tonal variation, restrained wear, and accumulated grime rather than heavy chipping, reflecting the practical, utilitarian nature of early-war American armor.

Queen of the Desert: The British Matilda II

The British Matilda II infantry tank depicted here represents service in the North African theater, where its heavy armor proved highly effective during the early stages of the desert war. Although slow and lightly armed by later standards, the Matilda’s protection made it exceptionally resilient against contemporary Axis anti-tank weapons.

This build is based on the Tamiya kit and was finished primarily with acrylic paints, using a deliberately restrained weathering approach. Only two weathering media were employed: VMS Black Steel pigment for subtle metallic wear and Tamiya panel liner to enhance surface detail. The result emphasizes accumulated dust, operational grime, and tonal variation appropriate to desert conditions without overwhelming the underlying paintwork.

Where Armor Was Born: Britain’s Mk.I Tank of the Great War

The British Mk.I was the first tank ever used in combat, marking the birth of armored warfare during World War One. Developed in 1915 and first deployed in 1916, it was designed specifically to break the deadlock of trench warfare by crossing barbed wire, trenches, and shell-torn ground that had stalled infantry advances.

This model represents the “Male” version of the Mk.I, armed with two 6-pounder guns mounted in side sponsons along with multiple Hotchkiss machine guns for close defense. Its distinctive rhomboid shape and track layout allowed it to climb obstacles that were otherwise impassable on the Western Front.

The kit is Takom’s 1/35 scale Mk.I and was finished using acrylics with restrained weathering to reflect the harsh operational conditions of early armored warfare. Mud, wear, and surface texture were emphasized to capture the crude, experimental nature of these pioneering machines and their place at the very beginning of tank history.