Jaein Lee

This week, I’m sharing the detailing process of the VVSS (Vertical Volute Spring Suspension), one of the most critical aspects of the M3 Stuart.

After finishing the assembly, I compared it with reference photos of the real vehicle and the assembly diagram, only to discover that the vertical links are molded as a single, solid piece with the central arms. In reality, the suspension features independent links connected to the arms, creating a distinct mechanical depth. The kit, however, misses this, which leaves the mechanical realism a bit lacking.

I put a lot of thought into this since the assembly was already complete, but I’ve decided not to compromise.

Here is my plan:

1. Precision-grind the existing molded details on the outer side of the suspension.

2. Cut and shape thin styrene sheets to recreate the independent vertical link forms.

3. Add bolt details to the connection points to replicate the actual structural assembly.

Rather than disassembling the entire unit, I’ll focus on enhancing the exterior details to boost the overall quality. I believe that it’s the small details that define the density of the final build, and I look forward to showing you a much more mechanically refined suspension in my next update.