That drivers console is better than most etch sets I've seen lately. This is turning in to a legendary build.

Hay I just love 100% scratch-builds, this is the stuff that Masters are made of. Keep up the outstanding work M8.

I love your work on this vehicle.

I've always liked the look of this vehicle and hoped some company would make it in 1/35 scale.. but I guess that's just a dream.

May I ask where you got the drawings you're using to scratch it.. I'd love to get a copy and try it out.

Cheers
Hisham

Paul: I forgot to mention earlier I'm going for original APC version and not the upgraded version as the older APC is what most of my reference material comes from.

Although visually this might not make an impact on the model itself I am leaning towards an Irish Border unit now during the 90's so it might be worth mentioning..

For anyone confused by this, its in regard to an upgrade the Irish army made to the Panhard M3 in 1983.

The engine reliability problem was challenged by Army Techical Officers and tests were carried out using Peugeot V6 Petrol Engines (140HP 2,2664CC), the same engines as used in the Peugeot 605 saloon car at the time (and the Panhard 6x6 VCR). These tests were very successful. Panhards agent in Ireland replaced 14 M3's in workshops near Dublin.
It is suggested that Panhard used these lessons when they designed the Buffalo APC that replaced the VTT in 1986. Panhard gifted a Buffalo to the Irish Army in 1994 as a gesture of thanks for helping develop the new APC.

The upgraded Irish Panhards had the new Peugeot V6 engine, a new power assisted Citroen braking system, an up-rated 6 speed manual gearbox and new electronics.


Karl: Thanks man, I was surprised I got everything fitted as soon as I did, with the tight fit & all the odd angles etc I was working around I thought it was going to be a nightmare

Caveman: cheers bud, its a learning curve for me too so thanks for the encouragement!

Hisham: Thanks for your kind words, I thought at least Azimut Productions would of produced one of these in 1/35th, especially after producing the basis of the AML series!

I know the M3 sold well in the Middle East but did Egypt have any out of interest??

I got the drawings from a very talented Irish modeller named Aaron Smith, I'll be chatting to him tonight so if its ok with him I'll forward them on to ya

..back to the build

I spent alot of yesterday sanding down the wheel well casts I had made to try refine the shape a bit better. I'll have that filling to do once I sit the interior section inside the hull..

Today I did some more work on the interior drivers section again.

I added the handbrake, and the steering colume. I attached the drivers seat and added a "hold grip" to the left side of the drivers hatch.
Lastly I added the drivers hatch arm (just right of the Drivers hatch)











..I'll try post more later

roy, how we doin, great job on the drivers station and steering wheel, i love the detail on the centre hub of the steering wheel reminds me of the old cie buses years ago( showing my age now).

i see your leaning towards a border dio now mid 90's, i still love the old 80's look ie; f.n.'s, old m1953 flak jackets, 58 webb and the izi lid ( not the old p**s Pot lid ) but that's just me.

Looking forward to seeing the turret and hull detail, keep at it your almost there man

al.

following this closely. Total scratch build with interior, very brave

Hey Roy,

Great to see this at the club the other night! Looks just as impressive if not more so in the flesh mate.
That SISU also blew me away, don't forget that and any other 'buck shee' pieces you have will be much appreciated in the 'Unit' display we got goin!
Can't wait to see this progress. Is giving me the desire to get stuck back into my Black Eagle conversion.
Cheers,
Glen

Alan: Thanks man! ..I'm glad your looking forward to the tureet because I'm not

KoSprueOne: Cheers my friend, I hope your going to be happy with the result!

Glen: We gotta stop meeting like this
The meet was great craic last Thursday, thanks for having me!
Didn't get much done this weekend with the fine weather but hoping to get plenty done next week.

The SISU as mentioned on the night was from a very talented modeller "Mecanix", a regular contributer to this site. I'm sure he will be moe than delighted his excellent scrath-build model will be finding a new happy home in your "unit"

BTW Glen your Black Eagle Project would make an amazing build log here on armorama if you think you were up to it??

chat soon bud

Roy

another update

Today I built the Radio mount and some associated items for the comms system, which is attached to the right side of the main interior hull





The Irish Army used AN/VRC 46 radio sets before the introduction of the present Singars system.


I was lucky to have one of these sets in my spare box (think its Real Model from Nam Gun Truck)




I also built the Amplifier and switch box which sit to the side of the radio.



(Later M3's & AML's had the ANVIC/1 intercom syetem)

The drivers station really looks the part. I reckon you could give DML a run for their money!

Roy the vent behind the drivers head is indeed the cooling duct for the petrol engine..which was the same unit that powered both the AML90 and AML 60.

The Buffalo reengined version has a different shaped grill witha slightly different exhaust set up .

Not quite a guru on the M3 but know enough to know what is good and you are doing it..thats good enough for anyone.

Be careful in the diorama as 14 Peugeot powered Buffalos were purchase along with the prototype and these primarily served with border units up to a couple of years ago in fact even after the Mowags came into use. Were some based in Finner up to 2001.So vehicle markings will be important. I can tell you that all those I photographed in the graveyard at Coolmoney did not include any buffalos....they were never called this in service,,or M3s or even VTTs..to infantry they were just 'Panhards' to Cavalry , generically APC to avoid confusion with AML 90 and AML 60.

http://gallery.kitmaker.net/showgallery.php/cat/25684

More Panhards

This is a 'buffalo' M3 VTT note difference in Air intake and cooling vents plus shape of exhaust boxes

Correction to my earlier post I hadn't believed there to be until I checked out the specific detail. Indeed these may be some of the batch from the border

Thanks for clearing all that up Paul! As usual your attention to detail leaves me in awe! You have saved me some amount of research let me tell ya!

Some of those Panhards are well dead now, I believe the red "x" on these meant they were destined for the heavy weapons range in The Glen.
Infact I saw four mowags with 30mm cannon & 40mm grenade MG obliterate one of these panhards on the range during 2008 ..it's a shame most couldn't be sold to private buyers

I watched a few AMl 90s have a days fun with them as well.

Some have survived and one has passed on to private hands.

unfortunately they were a very tricky vehicle to work on with Panhard having employs based here for many years.

Howya Roy

Are ye gona get this done for IPMS in Oct, go on be bold!

al.

... and don't forget C4! Like Alan said: be bold! After all it's just a scratch built model, not a pizza!



Cheers,
/E

Nice work Roy.

Allo Roy ... bloody nice work there so far matey ,,its looking brilliant ,,to be honest its not my type of machine but reading your blog has me very interested in its out come i noticed some of the blokes talking about how cramped it is in this thing ..i've never been in one and not likely to either ,,i'm nearly 6'5
Excellent build mate ..looking forward to this one finished .

Hello Roy
Nice build you got going on here,
Im planning on building the panhard in 1/9 scale ,i have a good few dimentions and measurements but i need more,could you furnish me with the same plans Aaron gave you?
Thank you in advance
Pat

I'm totally with you Gary....

I am from Malaysia. I have been following your scratch build from last year when I saw this buildup in the forum. How is the panhard now. Hope you don't mind can you possibly display the finish kit. Is okay if you can put the panhard plan too so I can build one with your assisted plan. Where do you get the wheel from? Panhard is use by Malaysia too in the Borneo side, French in Africa, Kenyan in Bosnia, Nigerian, Irish in Lebanon, Argentinian maybe in Falklands, some Arab nations.

Hi guys

Thanks for all your recent messages & posts, I really appreciate your interest!
This M3 project stalled last year when life got in the way.
When I finally got time to come back to plastic I had lost interest in this build & put it aside to complete other projects.

This Irish Panhard M3 is sitting here beside my bench partially finished.
I have not given up on the project, i just decided to deviate away from armour for time being.

I promise I'll start back in the new year with this build & I'll update the blog too!

For now I'm getting a few bits ready for the Telford gig

Back soon..

Roy, your interior is already very nice. The driver station is excellent and certainly more difficult to build than the troop compartment so the latter should be a piece of cake for you