That's an O.K. nitpick, Gamera. The Burnt Umber pin wash in the white areas didn't show up in the other photos. Here's a detail shot.

Hey Tom, she looks great!!! Interesting idea about the jerry cans, I'd never have thought of doing that and I too like looking around for different stuff that can be worked into a model.

Only teeny-tiny nitpick I'd toss in is the white markings look really clean- you could smudge them a little to look like there's dust and dirt smeared over them. Just a little nit-pick though- beautiful work there!

Yup, that's the ticket! I have the most fun when I'm improvising, converting stuff, and scratchbuilding what I need. For example, the academy accessory sets I special ordered for this project (one of which contained accurate IDF jerry cans) were out of stock at both of my local hobby shop's distributors. I didn't want to wait any longer to finish this project, so I bought a Revell M109A6 Paladin that was on sale for $15. Just for its M2 and jerry cans. I sanded the straps off the cans, filled identifying U.S. features with putty, and made holders from strip styrene and longer fill caps with a paper punch and .060 styrene. They're innacurate, but look enough like IDF cans to satisfy me.

Not at all...liked the enthusiasm, definitely shows how passionate you are of this hobby.

I definitely need to go to one of this craft stores and also to hardware store and go through each aisle and think how can I use things.

Thanks for all the details and advice.

Thank you very much garzonh! It's wire I found in the beading section at Michael's (a craft chain), coiled and wrapped with three little strips of masking tape, then sprayed with Krylon "Sterling Silver" and given a wash of Lamp Black artist's oil and Winsor & Newton Sansodor (a very gentle solvent). The clamp and hook mounts are made of strip styrene (and a bit oversized, I admit, but good enough for me). The whole model was hand brushed (except for the base coat on the tracks, which came from a rattle can of Rust O Leum "Anodized Bronze", a dark gray thats slightly metallic and slightly brown). The pin wash was Burnt Umber artist's oil and Sansodor (applied right over Model Master enamels that were allowed to cure for 48 hours). The drybrushing was done with the custom base color I mixed (Model Master enamels again), lightened with Titanium White artist's oil (which keeps the paint from drying too fast on the brush). It was applied lightly in a single application to just edges and raised details. All the markings, except the hull registration number, were hand painted because the kit's 25-year-old decals fell apart in water.

Did I tell you more than you wanted to know?

Me like it very much!

The grime and dust that is stuck in the wheels and gun brings out the details.

The white line over the top is also very well done.

What I like more is the wire at the front!!...is that actual wire or is it painted?? How did you did that?

MP Models M50. Finished yesterday.

Released around 1988, I believe this was the first injection-molded kit to feature individual track links.

I've been working on an MP Models M50 since December. After I pick up some special-order accessories for it at my LHS today, I should be finished in about a week. I'll post pics in this thread.

Here is my MP Models M50 from about 15 years ago .

The Academy M-51 also comes with plenty of stowage.Builds up real nice OOB.

Thank you!!

Now that is a big pancake for a muzzle!!, thank you very much for the pic.

I built the Tamiya Isherman,it really was a great build,not as detailed as the DML,but nice,and it could be had for not a decent  price

www.amazon.com/.../B005AFAR3U

Here ya go.Massive difference in main guns.

I knew that was coming.Let me dig up another pic.

Very nice!!

If at least we could see the muzzle break in the pics... =)

This is a DML M-50.Another nice kit.

This is my Academy M-51.Great kit and it's the only one I know of with the massive muzzle brake.

The quality is definitely the most important aspect for me. I'm not sure if I should just go with the M-51 or if I really need to have the M-50. I think a little more research is in order, but it is really good to know there is a resin aftermarket conversion part available. I do enjoy working with resin parts...

The MP Models kit was pretty decent for its day, but the details are a little clunky by today's standards like Al says. I wouldn't pay more than $20 for it. Both DML's M50 and M51 kits contain the same parts to make the M50.

Dragon reissued their M50 through their Cyber Hobby label. I see one on eBay in New Jersey for $15 with a buy it now price of $30. Shipping is listed as $8.75.

If money is no object and quality more important, DEF Models does a $30 resin M50 turret for either the Tamiya M1 Super Sherman or Tamiya M51 Isherman each of which run about $60+.

Yea I did come across the MP models one. I am also seeing a lot more availability in the m51 Super Sherman, I believe Tamiya makes one, at least from what I saw on Amazon.

AFIK, there were two kits of this in 1/35. MP Models a small, now defunct company with some soft details, and Dragon/DML. It appears neither is in production but both are available on Ebay from about $34 as a buy it now. .